DG's Puro Wrestling Academy

About DG's Puro Wrestling Academy

Class is in session at the Puro Wrestling Academy! Join host Dan Ginnetty, as he travels back in time and discusses the ins and outs of the history of Pro Wrestling in Japan. Dan has spent decades studying the world of Japanese Wrestling and now he offers up his historian-level knowledge for the English speaking fans out there who have been dying to learn more about the world of "Puroresu"!

Publisher

The WrestleCopia Network

Category

sports · sports

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

8 Feb 2024

Latest episode

12 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

24 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   12 Oct 2026

   PURO #16: Puroresu Academy 1964 (Life After Rikidozan, Baba Returns, Inoki Departs)

   Dan Ginnetty and Ray Russell are back as The Puroresu Academy enters 1964 and Japanese Pro Wrestling faces its greatest test yet: life after Rikidozan. We explore how the JWA’s four pillars of Toyonobori, Yoshinosato, Kokichi Endo, and Michiaki Yoshimura take responsibility for holding the promotion together and carrying their late leader’s vision forward. Toyonobori takes the main event slot, while Giant Baba’s growing push offers a glimpse of the superstar who will help define Japanese wrestling’s future. Baba’s homecoming brings out 20,000 fans in Sanjo, giving the hometown boy made good a hero’s welcome and providing a major boost to the rebuilding promotion. Meanwhile, Antonio Inoki heads overseas with big ambitions, as the development of the next generation becomes crucial to the JWA’s future. We spotlight the year’s record number of events and the new arrivals and future stars taking their earliest steps, including the debut of the man who will become the Great Kabuki. Major foreign attractions include Gene Kiniski, Nick Bockwinkel, Johnny Barend, Bull Curry, and the returning Destroyer, with the All Asia Tag Team title changes and Toyonobori’s WWA World Heavyweight Championship victory marking important shifts at the top. Join us for a year of uncertainty, rebuilding, and emerging stars, as Japanese wrestling begins discovering what it can become without the man who built it. If you're enjoying WrestleCopia and interested in helping us continue to grow, please consider Subscribing to our Patreon to help us cover some of our costs! https://www.patreon.com/wrestlecopia (https://www.patreon.com/wrestlecopia) YOU CAN ALSO GIFT SOMEONE A PATREON MEMBERSHIP (OR ASK THEM TO GIFT YOU ONE) AT https://www.patreon.com/WrestleCopia/gift (https://www.patreon.com/WrestleCopia/gift) Includes the $5 “All Access” Tier $9 "VIP Superfan" Tier, and "The ULLLTIMATE Tier", featuring our various VIDEO-CAST Series, Early Show Releases, our insanely detailed show notes (for the Grenade, Monday Warfare, Regional Rasslin, Puro Academy, & Retro Re-View), monthly DIGITAL DOWNLOADS for your viewing and reading pleasure, & more! HELP SUPPORT THE SELF-FUNDED WRESTLECOPIA BRAND, CONSIDER DONATING TO OUR PAYPAL (https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=EA24QVRSAV6NW) WRESTLECOPIA MERCHANDISE - https://www.teepublic.com/user/wrestlecopia (https://www.teepublic.com/user/wrestlecopia) Visit the WrestleCopia Podcast Network https://wrestlecopia.com (https://wrestlecopia.com/) Follow WrestleCopia on “X” (Formerly Twitter) @RasslinGrenade (https://twitter.com/RasslinGrenade) Follow & LIKE our FACEBOOK PAGE – https://www.facebook.com/RasslinGrenade (https://www.facebook.com/RasslinGrenade) Subscribe to the WrestleCopia Youtube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/RasslinGrenade (https://www.youtube.com/RasslinGrenade) ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ (https://www.patreon.com/wrestlecopia)

2. 

   28 Sept 2026

   PURO #15: Puroresu Academy Returns! (1963 - Part 2, Rikidozan Killed!)

   After a lengthy absence, the Puroresu Academy Podcast is finally back as "The Professor of Puroresu" Dan Ginnetty and Ray Russell resume the journey through the history of Japanese professional wrestling. We spend some time at the beginning of the program re-familiarizing the listeners with the Top 8 players in Japan as of 1963. Rikidozan remains the unquestioned king of the JWA, but Giant Baba is rapidly emerging, Antonio Inoki is still fighting his way up the native ranks, and trusted veterans Toyonobori, Michiaki Yoshimura, Kokichi Endo and Yoshinosato each occupy vital roles within the promotion. We pick up with the second half of the Summer Battle tour as Japan’s top stars collide with Sonny Myers, Don Jardine and Mr. Zero. From there, we follow the JWA through its long fall campaign and the return of The Destroyer for Rikidozan’s final series of matches. Behind the booming business and packed arenas, however, Rikidozan’s declining health and complicated ties to the Japanese underworld cast a growing shadow over the promotion. We then examine the disputed circumstances surrounding his stabbing at the New Latin Quarter, the medical decisions that followed and the many rumors that have clouded the truth for more than six decades. It is the dramatic conclusion to Rikidozan’s remarkable life, and the beginning of an uncertain new era for professional wrestling in Japan. Please consider joining us for a separate VIDEO version of the Puroresu Academy currently covering 1970s All Japan with 50+ episodes already available. Located at the VIP Tier of https://www.patreon.com/wrestlecopia (https://www.patreon.com/wrestlecopia) Help keep WrestleCopia growing by joining us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/WrestleCopia (https://www.patreon.com/WrestleCopia) Members receive premium VideoCast series, early podcast releases, extensively researched show notes, digital downloads, access to our large wrestling archive at select tiers, and much more. Give the gift of WrestleCopia: Patreon Gift Membership (https://www.patreon.com/WrestleCopia/gift) Merchandise: WrestleCopia on TeePublic (https://www.teepublic.com/user/wrestlecopia) Direct Support: Donate Through Paypal (https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=EA24QVRSAV6NW) Visit the WrestleCopia Podcast Network https://wrestlecopia.com (https://wrestlecopia.com/) Follow WrestleCopia on “X” (Formerly Twitter) @RasslinGrenade (https://twitter.com/RasslinGrenade) Follow & LIKE our FACEBOOK PAGE – https://www.facebook.com/RasslinGrenade (https://www.facebook.com/RasslinGrenade) Subscribe to the WrestleCopia Youtube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/RasslinGrenade (https://www.youtube.com/RasslinGrenade) ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ (https://www.patreon.com/wrestlecopia)

3. 

   3 Feb 2025

   Episode #14: (1963, Part 1) Gorillas, Haystacks, & Killers... OH MY!

   The Puro Wrestling Academy returns, as Professor Dan Ginnetty covers the first 8 months of 1963 in Japan. Giant Baba returns from his 2 -Year North American excursion, the 5th Annual World League is upon us, Rikidozan married for a 4th time, even in losing Antonio Inoki continues to generate much-needed experience, "Mammoth" Suzuki demoted to a "Gorilla", Toyonobori comes out of hiding due to gambling debts (again), a young Umanosuke Ueda appears, rules of a Japanese Battle Royal, Buddy Rogers' entourage, both Killer X and Mr. ZERO unmasked. Plus, a loaded ensemble of foreign talent arrive including The Destroyer's debut in Japan, Haystacks Calhoun, Killer Kowalski, Gino Marella (Gorilla Monsoon), Pat O'Connor, Fred Atkins, Bob Ellis, Sandor Szabo, Hard Boiled Haggerty, Don Jardine, Bull Ortega, Tony Marino, & much more! Please Subscribe to our Patreon to help pay the bills, https://www.patreon.com/wrestlecopia (https://www.patreon.com/wrestlecopia) Includes the $5 “All Access” Tier & $9 "VIP Superfan" Tier featuring our VIDEO CASTS, Patreon Watch-Along Series, our insanely detailed show notes (for the Grenade, Monday Warfare, Regional Rasslin, Puro Academy, & Retro Re-View), Early Show Releases! PLUS, monthly DIGITAL DOWNLOADS for your viewing and reading pleasure! WRESTLECOPIA MERCHANDISE - https://www.teepublic.com/user/wrestlecopia (https://www.teepublic.com/user/wrestlecopia) Visit the WrestleCopia Podcast Network https://wrestlecopia.com (https://wrestlecopia.com/) Follow WrestleCopia on “X” (Formerly Twitter) @RasslinGrenade (https://twitter.com/RasslinGrenade) Follow & LIKE our FACEBOOK PAGE – https://www.facebook.com/RasslinGrenade (https://www.facebook.com/RasslinGrenade) Subscribe to the WrestleCopia Youtube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/RasslinGrenade (https://www.youtube.com/RasslinGrenade) ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ (https://www.patreon.com/wrestlecopia)

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

3,256,344

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

7 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

7 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 68 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

70

Social presence

0

YouTube

93

Engagement

71

Contact DG's Puro Wrestling Academy

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.