In the early 2000s, inside a dimly lit venue, aspiring wrestlers used foam puzzle mats as a makeshift ring. These wrestlers copied the moves of the legendary performers they watched on television, competing with nothing but passion. That’s what the earliest days of professional wrestling in Taiwan looked like.
Looking back, it was undeniably dangerous. However, at the time there were no professional training opportunities in Taiwan, so learning through imitation was perhaps the fastest way to improve. As more people joined the group, it gradually became more organized. Training began regularly, as the wrestlers were determined to pursue their dream of of doing it professionally. In those days, Taichung gained a little more passion and a little more madness because of this group of young dreamers.
Not long afterward, they met the founder of the Republic of China (Taiwan) Professional Wrestling Association. After many discussions and coordination, they finally acquired their first official professional wrestling ring.
A few years later, a group of like-minded wrestlers decided to establish a new promotion with the goal of expanding professional wrestling in Taiwan. That promotion was NTW (New Taiwan Entertainment Wrestling), which would go on to become one of the country's most important training grounds for future stars.
With guidance from Japanese wrestling legend Ikuto Hidaka and internationally respected wrestler Jonathan Gresham, these young wrestlers received professional training that significantly raised the standard of professional wrestling in Taiwan.
In 2011, NTW officially held its inaugural event. Many wrestlers and supporters came together to celebrate the occasion, and the outstanding performances of Taiwan's wrestlers introduced NTW to a wider audience. The NTW Undifferentiated Championship soon became the ultimate prize every wrestler in the promotion dreamed of winning. Perhaps their determination inspired fate itself.
Over the following years, NTW began collaborating with promotions from overseas. In 2017, Japanese wrestling legend CIMA traveled to Taiwan to compete, marking another major milestone for the promotion. In 2018, Taiwan's wrestling scene reached one of its greatest moments when former WWE Superstar John Morrison faced Matt Sydal in a dream match that thrilled wrestling fans across the country. The following year, Kenny Omega's appearance became another historic milestone for Taiwanese professional wrestling.
Looking back over the past several years, nearly every major NTW event has featured internationally recognized wrestlers. At the same time, NTW's own talent has continued to impress visiting Japanese wrestlers, leading to new opportunities overseas. Two years ago, Syan Syan earned the opportunity to train with DIANA shortly after making her debut, opening a new chapter for women's wrestling in NTW.
Over the past two years, NTW has continued to improve both inside and outside the ring. While its wrestlers have continued to develop, the promotion has also built a strong social media presence. That online exposure has helped NTW gain recognition throughout the international independent wrestling scene. In addition to welcoming European wrestler Barbarossa, the promotion also brought WWE ID prospect Jordan Oasis to Taiwan.
Although professional wrestling developed later in Taiwan than in many other countries, NTW has steadily earned international recognition through consistent growth, strong social media outreach, and the continued improvement of its wrestlers. With its momentum continuing to build, NTW appears well positioned to deliver even more exciting events in the years ahead. It has the potential to become one of Asia's premier professional wrestling promotions and continue earning respect from fans around the world.
DSR/CBC will be bringing you introductions to NTW's wrestlers, match coverage, and hopefully even more stories from independent wrestling promotions across Asia going forward. Stay tuned!