RINGS
Fighting Network RINGS · 1991 – 2002
Defunct
- Founded
- 1991
- Founders
- Akira Maeda
- Home base
- Tokyo, Japan
- Fate
- The Japanese promotion held its last event on February 15, 2002.
Notable Eras
- Shoot-style wrestling era, 1991–1999
- KOK (King of Kings) real-fight era, 1999–2002
Key Events
- King of Kings 1999 and 2000 tournaments
- Final original event, Feb 15, 2002
Legendary Champions
- Fedor Emelianenko
- Dan Henderson
- Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira
- Volk Han
The Full History
1991–1999: Shoot Wrestling
Akira Maeda founded RINGS in 1991 after the UWF split up. It began as worked shoot-style wrestling backed by satellite broadcaster WOWOW.
1999–2002: King of Kings
RINGS moved to real fights. Its international scouting brought in Fedor Emelianenko, Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira and Dan Henderson.
2002: The End
WOWOW did not renew the TV contract that ran out in March 2002, and the Japanese promotion held its last event on February 15, 2002 in Yokohama.
Why It Closed
It lost its TV money. Satellite broadcaster WOWOW, its main backer, did not renew the contract that ran out in March 2002, and the promotion stopped after its February 15, 2002 event.
Legacy
RINGS scouted the world and found Fedor, Nogueira and Henderson before anyone else did.
