NJPW Roster in 1997: Full List of Wrestlers, Teams, Champions
On this page you find the full NJPW Roster in the year 1997. This includes the list of all NJPW Wrestlers, active Tag Teams & Stables, the current reigning Champions, as well as Managers, Announcers, Authority figures, Producers and other personalities in New Japan Pro Wrestling.
Our complete Pro Wrestlers Database allows you to travel through time and see the NJPW Roster by Year or any specific Date in history. Simply use the filters below! You even have the option to view a breakdown of the rosters split by Face and Heel divisions.
![NJPW Logo 1997 NJPW Logo 1997](/images/wrestling/promotions/white/njpw.png)
NJPW: All (53)
![Akira Nogami Akira Nogami](/images/jch-optimize/ng/images_wrestling_wrestlers_a_akira-nogami-1992.webp)
![Antonio Inoki Antonio Inoki](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/a/antonio-inoki-1997.png)
![The Barbarian The Barbarian](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/t/the-barbarian-1996.png)
![Black Cat Black Cat](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/b/black-cat-1995.png)
![Chavo Guerrero Jr. Chavo Guerrero Jr.](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/c/chavo-guerrero-1996.png)
![Chris Benoit Chris Benoit](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/c/chris-benoit-1992.png)
![Chris Jericho Chris Jericho](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/c/chris-jericho-1996-super-liger.png)
![Dean Malenko Dean Malenko](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/d/dean-malenko-1994.png)
![El Samurai El Samurai](/images/jch-optimize/ng/images_wrestling_wrestlers_e_el-samurai-1997.webp)
![Gran Naniwa Gran Naniwa](/images/jch-optimize/ng/images_wrestling_wrestlers_g_gran-naniwa-1993.webp)
![Great Kojika Great Kojika](/images/jch-optimize/ng/images_wrestling_wrestlers_g_great-kojika-1997.webp)
![Hidekazu Tanaka Hidekazu Tanaka](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/k/kero-tanaka-1989.png)
![Hiro Saito Hiro Saito](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/h/hiro-saito-2.png)
![Hiroyoshi Tenzan Hiroyoshi Tenzan](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/h/hiroyoshi-tenzan-1.png)
![Junji Hirata Junji Hirata](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/s/super-strong-machine-3.png)
![Jushin Thunder Liger Jushin Thunder Liger](/images/jch-optimize/ng/images_wrestling_wrestlers_j_jushin-thunder-liger-1996-00s.webp)
![Kantaro Hoshino Kantaro Hoshino](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/k/kantaro-hoshino-1992.png)
![Kazuyuki Fujita Kazuyuki Fujita](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/k/kazuyuki-fujita-1996.png)
![Keiji Muto Keiji Muto](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/t/the-great-muta-1997.png)
![Kendo Kashin Kendo Kashin](/images/jch-optimize/ng/images_wrestling_wrestlers_k_kendo-kashin-1996.webp)
![Kengo Kimura Kengo Kimura](/images/jch-optimize/ng/images_wrestling_wrestlers_k_kengo-kimura-1996.webp)
![Kensuke Sasaki Kensuke Sasaki](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/k/kensuke-sasaki-1996.png)
![Koji Kanemoto Koji Kanemoto](/images/jch-optimize/ng/images_wrestling_wrestlers_k_koji-kanemoto-1997.webp)
![Kuniaki Kobayashi Kuniaki Kobayashi](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/k/kuniaki-kobayashi-1990.png)
![Manabu Nakanishi Manabu Nakanishi](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/m/manabu-nakanishi-1996.png)
![Masa Saito Masa Saito](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/m/masa-saito-1997.png)
![Masahiro Chono Masahiro Chono](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/m/masahiro-chono-1996.png)
![Michiyoshi Ohara Michiyoshi Ohara](/images/jch-optimize/ng/images_wrestling_wrestlers_m_michiyoshi-ohara-1997.webp)
![Mike Rotunda Mike Rotunda](/images/jch-optimize/ng/images_wrestling_wrestlers_i_irwin-r-schyster-1995.webp)
![Norio Honaga Norio Honaga](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/n/norio-honaga-4.png)
![Osamu Kido Osamu Kido](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/o/osamu-kido-1986.png)
![Osamu Nishimura Osamu Nishimura](/images/jch-optimize/ng/images_wrestling_wrestlers_o_osamu-nishimura-1991.webp)
![Prince Iaukea Prince Iaukea](/images/jch-optimize/ng/images_wrestling_wrestlers_p_prince-iaukea-1996.webp)
![Rick Steiner Rick Steiner](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/r/rick-steiner-1991.png)
![Riki Choshu Riki Choshu](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/r/riki-choshu-1997.png)
![Robbie Brookside Robbie Brookside](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/r/robbie-brookside-1.png)
![Satoshi Kojima Satoshi Kojima](/images/jch-optimize/ng/images_wrestling_wrestlers_s_satoshi-kojima-1997.webp)
![Scott Norton Scott Norton](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/s/scott-norton.png)
![Seiji Sakaguchi Seiji Sakaguchi](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/s/seiji-sakaguchi-1989.png)
![Shinjiro Otani Shinjiro Otani](/images/jch-optimize/ng/images_wrestling_wrestlers_s_shinjiro-otani-1995.webp)
![Shinya Hashimoto Shinya Hashimoto](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/s/shinya-hashimoto-4.png)
![Shinya Makabe Shinya Makabe](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/t/togi-makabe.png)
![Shiro Koshinaka Shiro Koshinaka](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/s/shiro-koshinaka-1992.png)
![Tadao Yasuda Tadao Yasuda](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/t/tadao-yusuda-1993.png)
![Tajiri Tajiri](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/t/tajiri-1994.png)
![Takashi Iizuka Takashi Iizuka](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/t/takashi-iizuka-1996.png)
![Tatsuhito Takaiwa Tatsuhito Takaiwa](/images/jch-optimize/ng/images_wrestling_wrestlers_t_tatsuhito-takaiwa-1997.webp)
![Tatsumi Fujinami Tatsumi Fujinami](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/t/tatsumi-fujinami-1991.png)
![Tatsutoshi Goto Tatsutoshi Goto](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/t/tatsutoshi-goto-1997.png)
![Tiger King Tiger King](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/s/satoru-sayama-1994.png)
![Yuji Nagata Yuji Nagata](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/y/yuji-nagata-2.png)
![Yutaka Yoshie Yutaka Yoshie](/images/jch-optimize/ng/images_wrestling_wrestlers_y_yutaka-yoshie-1994.webp)
![Último Dragón Último Dragón](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/u/ultimo-dragon-1996-ultimate-dragon.png)
Teams
Bull Powers
Heisei Ishingun
Hiro Saito & Tatsutoshi Goto
Junji Hirata & Shinya Hashimoto
Jushin Thunder Liger & El Samurai
Kengo Kimura & Tatsumi Fujinami
Masahiro Chono & Keiji Muto
nWo Japan
Ookami Gundan
Riki Choshu & Kensuke Sasaki
Shinjiro Otani & Koji Kanemoto
Shinjiro Otani & Tatsuhito Takaiwa
Team Wolf
Yuji Nagata & Manabu Nakanishi
Champions
IWGP Heavyweight Championship![]() | ![]() | Kensuke Sasaki
| 122+
|
![]() | Shinya Hashimoto
| 489
|
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship![]() | ![]() | Shinjiro Otani
On November 5, 1997, Otani vacated all J-Crown belts but the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship, effectively ending the J-Crown. | 143+
|
![]() | El Samurai
| 35
| |
![]() | Jushin Thunder Liger
| 183
| |
![]() | Último Dragón
| 85
|
IWGP Tag Team Championship![]() | ![]() ![]() | nWo JapanKeiji Muto & Masahiro Chono
| 73+
|
![]() | Kensuke Sasaki & Kazuo Yamazaki
| 70
| |
![]() ![]() | The Bull PowersManabu Nakanishi & Satoshi Kojima
| 99
| |
![]() ![]() | Riki Choshu & Kensuke Sasaki
| 21
| |
![]() ![]() | Tatsumi Fujinami & Kengo Kimura
| 98
| |
![]() ![]() | Cho-TenHiroyoshi Tenzan & Masahiro Chono
| 172
|
WWF Light Heavyweight Championship![]() | ![]() | Vacant
The J-Crown championships (with the except the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship) were vacated. Shinjiro Otani returned its component belts to their home promotions, including the WWF Light Heavyweight Championship. Otani was the final wrestler in NJPW to hold the title before it was returned to WWF. | 32
|
![]() | Shinjiro Otani
| 87
| |
![]() | El Samurai
| 35
| |
![]() | Jushin Thunder Liger
| 183
| |
![]() | Último Dragón
| 85
|
Extras
Part Time Wrestler
Commentator
Ring Announcer
President
Promoters
Director of Operation
Referees
Producers
Coaches
The profile of each NJPW wrestler features their Career History, Ring Names, Face / Heel Turns, Accomplishments, Pictures, Bio and more information and statistics.
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