History Wrestling / HUSTLE

[[quoteright:176:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/hustlewrestling_5090.jpg]]

'''HUSTLE''' was a UsefulNotes/{{Japan}}ese ProfessionalWrestling promotion founded by Wrestling/NobuhikoTakada in 2004. He started it under the banner Dream Stage Entertainment, a corporation dedicated to the UsefulNotes/MixedMartialArts which owned PRIDE Fighting Championship at the time, but the premise was very different from the MMA or Japanese wrestling of its era. Takada filled HUSTLE with [[WidgetSeries weird storylines]], over-the-top gimmicks and {{Anime}} reminiscences, and worked with [[AllStarCast renowned wrestling veterans]], freelancers and even tarentos and TV personalities to create a scenic terrain he labelled as "Fighting Opera".

The main plot was Takada attempting to destroy the Professional Wrestling on behalf of the Mixed Martial Arts, leading his villanous Takada Monster Army against the good side represented by Naoya Ogawa and his wrestling allies from the HUSTLE Army. The story had his growths in the MMA-like wrestling company which Takada founded, [[Wrestling/UniversalWrestlingFederation UWF International]], which was later destroyed by the traditional pro wrestling and led to his founder to seek revenge (in {{kayfabe}}, but not too) against them.

At the time, HUSTLE figured as one of the biggest Japanese wrestling companies, standing toe-to-toe with Wrestling/NewJapanProWrestling, but it showed a slow decline which culminated with Takada departing from the promotion in 2009, and HUSTLE closed doors the same years. Despite its fall, HUSTLE had a solid fanbase both out and in Japan, and is fondly remembered by many puroresu fans.
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!!! Tropes associated with HUSTLE:
* ActionGirl: Karate Girl.
** DarkActionGirl: Yinling the Erotic Terrorist.
* AfroAsskicker: Wrestling/ShinyaHashimoto sported a massive afro during his fat Elvis gimmick. Also, Hustle Kamen Green
* AllAmericanFace: Mr. USA (Ryan Wilson), who was a parody of Wrestling/HulkHogan's Mr. America.
* AmazonBrigade: The Amazoness Army, led by Yinling.
* ArtificialHuman: The Esperanza, a wrestling cyborg created by Generalissimo Takada in his image and likeness.
* AssKicksYou: HardGay signature move.
* BigBad: Generalissimo Takada.
* BigGood: Naoya Ogawa.
* {{Brainwashed}}: Many.
** Naoya Ogawa was brainwashed by Takada and repacked as "Monster Celeb" Naoya Ogawa.
** Hard Gay was inadvertently brainwashed by the Dr. Nakamatsu and turned into the sadistic Monster HG, until Real Gay managed to free him.
** TAJIRI was hypnotised by Yinling, but snapped after a time when he was attacked by the also brainwashed ACHICHI.
** Shinjiro Otani was turned into [[PlayingWithFire "Fire Monster" ACHICHI]].
* ButtMonkey: Wataru Sakata, TAJIRI and Real Gay.
* TheChessmaster: Arguably Generalissimo Takada.
* CoolOldGuy: Shiro Koshinaka.
* DelayedReaction: Himalayan Big Foot
* TheDragon: Yoji Anjo.
* {{Emoticon}}: Banzai Chie's name was written '''\(^o^)/ Chie'''. Really.
* EvilCostumeSwitch: Subverted with HUSTLE Kamen Yellow. When he was brainwashed and turned Monster Kamen Yellow, he only changed his shirt.
* FacelessGoons: The Monster Soldiers.
** Monster C is an individual example.
* FunnyAnimal: The Monster Army has animal-themed mooks, like tortoises, catfishes and more.
* FunWithAcronyms: '''N'''ew '''J'''ersey '''P'''owerful '''W'''arrior, mocking New Japan Pro Wrestling.
* TheGiant: Wrestling/GiantSilva.
* TheHero: Wataru Sakata.
* HeroKiller: The Esperanza. He was so powerful than not even the legendary Great Muta could defeat him.
* {{Kayfabe}}: HUSTLE lived it.
* MartialArtsHeadband: Shinya Hashimoto.
* MaskedLuchador: Loads and loads.
* MightyGlacier: Giant Silva, Bono-chan, HUSTLE Wrestling/{{Rikishi}} and others.
* MundaneMadeAwesome
* PartsUnknown: HUSTLE Kamen Rangers, from "HUSTLE Nebula"
* ThePowerOfFriendship: Was used by Real Gay to bring Monster HG back to his true self.
* ThePowerOfLove: Used by Wataru Sakata's wife Eiko Koke to defeat The Esperanza.
* PsychoRangers: The Monster Kamen Rangers.
* RealLifeWritesThePlot: A long story.
** During the PRIDE rise, there were negotiations to stipulate a fight between Nobuhiko Takada and Naoya Ogawa, but Ogawa refused and the bout never had place. Takada retired from MMA and stayed as a Dream Stage Entertainment executive, while Ogawa left the business to work full time in Pro Wrestling ZERO-ONE. Shortly after, DSE and ZERO-ONE joined forces and created HUSTLE, whose theme was the feud between Takada and Ogawa, albeit with renovated motivations.
** In 2007, Ogawa turned heel and became "Monster Celeb", with Takada explaining that the judoka had been bribed with Monster Dollars to bring him to his side. This storyline was created to explain Ogawa's departure, as he was leaving HUSTLE for Inoki Genome Federation looking for a bigger pay.
* RealMenWearPink: Magnum TOKYO.
* RingOldies: Wrestling/AbdullahTheButcher, Tiger Jeet Singh
* SadistTeacher: Toshiaki Kawada towards his protegee Taichi Ishikari.
* ScaryBlackMan: Bob Sapp.
* SinisterShades: Generalissimo Takada wears shades as part of his costume.
* StoutStrength: Monster Bono [[Wrestling/AjaKong Erika]], [[Wrestling/KiaStevens Margaret]], Bubba Ray Dudley
* SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute: Parodied with Small Gama Daio, a very small wrestler that replaced the ''much'' larger Gama Daio.
* TagTeamTwins: The Neo Devil Pierroths, real names Shu and Kei Sato.
* TookALevelInBadass: In 2009, Real Gay swore to free Hard Gay from his brainwashing and started to make his best efforts in the ring against the Monster Army mooks to get it. [[spoiler:He finally got it.]]
* WrestlingMonster: What, you think the word monster is being thrown around on this page just for show? Hustle had guys who made Wrestling/TheUndertaker look ''mundane''. The Esperanza was perhaps the standout example.

* AfroAsskicker: Wrestling/ShinyaHashimoto sported a massive afro during his fat Elvis gimmick.

* AllStarCast

* TookALevelInBadass: In 2009, Real Gay swore to free Hard Gay from his brainwashing and started to make his best efforts in the ring against the Monster Army mooks to get it. [[spoiler:He finally got it.]]

The main plot was Takada attempting to destroy the Professional Wrestling on behalf of the Mixed Martial Arts, leading his villanous Takada Monster Army against the good side represented by Naoya Ogawa and his wrestling allies from the HUSTLE Army. The story had his growths in the MMA-like wrestling company which Takada founded, UWF International, which was later destroyed by the traditional pro wrestling and led to his founder to seek revenge (in {{kayfabe}}, but not too) against them.

The main plot was Takada attempting to destroy the Professional Wrestling on behalf of the Mixed Martial Arts, leading his villanous Takada Monster Army against the good side represented by Naoya Ogawa and his wrestling allies from the HUSTLE Army. The story had his growths in the MMA-like wrestling company which Takada founded, UWF International, which was later destroyed by the traditional pro wrestling and led to his founder to seek revenge (in {{kayfabe}}) against them.

At the time, HUSTLE figured as one of the biggest Japanese wrestling companies, standing toe-to-toe with Wrestling/NewJapanProWrestling, but it started a slow decline when Takada departed from the promotion in 2009, and closed doors the same years. Despite its fall, HUSTLE had a solid fanbase both out and in Japan, and is fondly remembered by many puroresu fans.

* TheGiant: Giant Silva.

* OurVampiresAreDifferent: The Flying Vampires.

'''HUSTLE''' was a UsefulNotes/{{Japan}}ese ProfessionalWrestling promotion founded by Nobuhiko Takada in 2004. He started it under the banner Dream Stage Entertainment, a corporation dedicated to the UsefulNotes/MixedMartialArts which owned PRIDE Fighting Championship at the time, but the premise was very different from the MMA or Japanese wrestling of its era. Takada filled HUSTLE with [[WidgetSeries weird storylines]], over-the-top gimmicks and {{Anime}} reminiscences, and worked with [[AllStarCast renowned wrestling veterans]], freelancers and even tarentos and TV personalities to create a scenic terrain he labelled as "Fighting Opera".

* MightyGlacier: Giant Silva, Bono-chan, HUSTLE Rikishi and others.

The main plot was Takada attempting to destroy the ProfessionalWrestling on behalf of the UsefulNotes/MixedMartialArts, leading his villanous Takada Monster Army against the good side represented by Naoya Ogawa and his wrestling allies from the HUSTLE Army. The story had his growths in the MMA-like wrestling company which Takada founded, UWF International, which was later destroyed by the traditional pro wrestling and led to his founder to seek revenge (in {{kayfabe}}) against them.

At the time, HUSTLE figured as one of the biggest Japanese wrestling companies, standing toe-to-toe with Wrestling/NewJapanProWrestling, but it started a slow declive when Takada departed from the promotion in 2009, and closed doors the same years. Despite its fall, HUSTLE had a solid fanbase both out and in Japan, and is fondly remembered by many puroresu fans.

! Tropes associated with HUSTLE:

* AllAmericanFace: Mr. USA (Ryan Wilson), who was a parody of HulkHogan's Mr. America.

* FunWithAcronyms: '''N'''ew '''J'''ersey '''P'''owerful '''W'''arrior, mocking Wrestling/NewJapanProWrestling.

* TheOtherDarrin: TigerMask character Zebra Man was played by Mikey Henderson and late by Kazuhiko Ogasawara.
** HUSTLE Kamen Red was played by Masaki Okimoto in his debut match against Super Crazy, but later Takuya Sugi adopted the character and Okimoto joined him as HUSTLE Kamen Blue.

'''HUSTLE''' was a [[UsefulNotes/{{Japan}} Japanese]] ProfessionalWrestling promotion founded by Nobuhiko Takada in 2004. He started it under the banner Dream Stage Entertainment, a corporation dedicated to the UsefulNotes/MixedMartialArts which owned PRIDE Fighting Championship at the time, but the premise was very different from the MMA or Japanese wrestling of its era. Takada filled HUSTLE with [[WidgetSeries weird storylines]], over-the-top gimmicks and {{Anime}} reminiscences, and worked with [[AllStarCast renowned wrestling veterans]], freelancers and even tarentos and TV personalities to create a scenic terrain he labelled as "Fighting Opera".

* AfroAsskicker: Shinya Hashimoto sported a massive afro during his fat Elvis gimmick.

* PartsUnknown:
** Hustle Kamen Ranger Red (Takuya Sugi), from "Hustling Nebula"
*** Hustle Kamen Yellow (Takayasu Fukuda) and Hustle Kamen Blue (Masaki Okimoto) were from "Hustle Nebula."

** During the PRIDE rise, there was negotiations to stipulate a fight between Nobuhiko Takada and Naoya Ogawa, but Ogawa refused and the bout never had place. Later Takada retired from MMA and stayed as a Dream Stage Entertainment executive, while Ogawa left the business to work full time in Pro Wrestling ZERO-ONE. Shortly after, DSE and ZERO-ONE joined forces and created HUSTLE, whose theme was the feud between Takada and Ogawa, albeit with renovated motivations.

* DarkActionGirl: Yinling the Erotic Terrorist.

* SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute: Parodied with Small Gama Daio, a very small wrestler that replaced the ''much'' larger Gama Daio.

The main plot was Takada attempting to destroy the ProfessionalWrestling on behalf of the UsefulNotes/MixedMartialArts, leading his villanous Takada Monster Army against the good side represented by Naoya Ogawa and his wrestling allies from the HUSTLE Army. The story had his growths in the MMA-like wrestling company which Takada founded, UWF International, which was later destroyed by the pro wrestling auge and led to his founder to seek revenge against them.

* {{Brainwashed}}: Ogawa was brainwashed by Takada and repacked as "Monster Celeb" Naoya Ogawa. Also Hard Gay, who was turned into the sadistic Monster HG.

* FacelessMook: The Monster Soldiers.

* HeroKiller: The Esperanza.

* ScaryBlackMan: Bob Sapp.

* AllAmericanFace: Mr. USA (Ryan Wilson), who was a parody of Hulk Hogan's Mr. America.

* Brainwashed: Ogawa was brainwashed by Takada and repacked as "Monster Celeb" Naoya Ogawa. Also Hard Gay, who was turned into the sadistic Monster HG.

* HeroKiller: The Esperanza.

'''HUSTLE''' was a [[UsefulNotes/{{Japan}} Japanese]] ProfessionalWrestling promotion founded by Nobuhiko Takada in 2004. He started it under the banner Dream Stage Entertainment, a corporation dedicated to the UsefulNotes/MixedMartialArts which owned PRIDE Fighting Championship at the time, but the premise was very different from the MMA or Japanese wrestling of its era. Takada filled HUSTLE with weird storylines, over-the-top gimmicks and {{Anime}} reminiscences, and worked with [[AllStarCast renowned wrestling veterans]], freelancers and even tarentos and TV personalities to create a scenic terrain he labelled as "Fighting Opera".

* DarkActionGirl: Yinling the Erotic Terrorist.

'''HUSTLE''' was a [[UsefulNotes/{{Japan}} Japanese]] ProfessionalWrestling promotion founded by Nobuhiko Takada in 2004. He started it under the banner Dream Stage Entertainment, a corporation dedicated to the UsefulNotes/{{MixedMartialArts}} which owned PRIDE Fighting Championship at the time, but the premise was very different from the MMA or Japanese wrestling of its era. Takada filled HUSTLE with weird storylines, over-the-top gimmicks and {{Anime}} reminiscences, and worked with renowned wrestling veterans, freelancers and even tarentos and TV personalities to create a scenic terrain he labelled as "Fighting Opera".

At the time, HUSTLE figured as one of the biggest Japanese wrestling companies, standing toe-to-toe with NewJapanProWrestling, but it started a slow declive when Takada departed from the promotion in 2009, and closed doors the same years. Despite its fall, HUSTLE had a solid fanbase both out and in Japan, and is fondly remembered by many puroresu fans.

* Big Bad: Generalissimo Takada.