Top 12 Wrestling Anime of All Time: The Ultimate List
Let’s dive into the world of wrestling anime where thrilling matches, exciting stories, and larger-than-life characters come together. In this blog post, we will take you on a journey to discover the 12 best wrestling anime of all time.
There are so many popular genres in the world of anime, within that wrestling as a genre is unique and underrated. Still, there is much good anime in this genre that has captured the hearts of millions of fans around the world, mainly because of the intense action scenes and engaging plot. This also helped the viewers to be hooked on these types of anime.
Whether you are a fan of wrestling types of anime or a newbie in this genre, you’ll get to know some fantastic anime of this genre through the post. So, without spending any more time let’s get to the point.
12 Wrestling Anime of All Time
The following list of wrestling anime is made according to popularity, critical claim and overall impact in the industry of that particular anime. It does not mean one anime is better than another as it’s purely subjective to each person.
12) Rowdy Sumo Wrestler Matsutaro!!
Rowdy Sumo Wrestler Matsutaro is one of the best wrestling anime which also combines sports, comedy and drama to create an entertaining storyline. The anime highlights the intense training for sumo wrestling, and the physical and mental strength required to improve skill for this sport.
The series is focused on Matsutaro, who is a lazy and unmotivated student, although he has a natural talent for sumo wrestling.
Despite that, as his life progressed, he found his true passion and meaning in life through sumo wrestling, and become one of the best and most respected sumo wrestlers. In his wrestling journey, he faced numerous challenges and learned the value of hard work & dedication.
11) Kick-Heart
Kick Heart is a unique wrestling anime short film that brings romance in a new way. The anime is focused on two wrestlers Romeo Maki & Julietta Sakamoto, and how their love hare relationship will bring them close to each other. The anime is directed by Masaaki Yuasa.
Romeo Maki who is a masked pro wrestler, one day found out his biggest fan who is also his opponent, is actually a nun. Although the relationship between them started differently, this slowly brings them closer to each without their attention.
10) Plastic Model Wrestling Sanshiro
Plastic Model Wrestling Sanshiro or Plawres Sanshirou revolves around Sanshirou, a young boy with a passion for plastic model kit building and mecha wrestling.
In the series, Mecha wrestling is described as a popular sport where competitors control small, customizable robots called “Plawres” in intense battles.
Sanshirou who is also passionate about mecha wrestling, and dreams to be a Plawres champion, decided to create his own Plawres to enter the wrestling match.
With help from his friends and his father’s workshop, he created his own plawres robot ‘Juohmaru’. With that, Sanshirou enters mecha wrestling where so many other skilled participants are already and many upcoming challenges he has to face to win the competition.
9) Wanna Be The Strongest in the World
Wanna Be the Strongest in the World which is a women’s wrestling anime, focuses on Sakura Hagiwara. Sakura is a member of a popular idol group but decided to become a professional wrestler.
The anime also explores the journey of Sakura, as she undergoes intense training, also overcomes her physical and mental obstacles and finally enters the women’s professional wrestling competition. There she will have to face various other skilled opponents.
8) Keijo
The series is based on a fictional sport called Keijo which consists of competitive swimming and sumo wrestling.
Keijo is a woman only sport, where the objective is to push opponents off the land into the water using only their breasts and buttocks. Keijo involves “Land”, which is a floating platform in a pool where female athletes stand.
The plot is focused on Nozomi Kaminashi, who is a skilled Gymnast but to support her poor family, decided to enter the training school of Keijo and dreams to become the best Keijo Player in Japan.
Nozomi faces various challenges and dangers, but eventually, she developed a new technique and reached the top as a Keijo Player.
7) Jushin Liger
Jushin Liger is a superhero-themed wrestling anime that also has a blend of science fiction and fantasy. The anime was created by Go Nagai and produced by Toei Animation.
The story is based on a future timeline where a powerful sorcerer named Lord Odio, wants to conquer the earth. To stop Odio, a legendary hero Jushin Liger, who is also a professional skilled wrestler, and has superhuman abilities challenged him.
Liger is originally a humanoid lion who wears a high-tech wrestling suit. He is actually chosen by the Gods to defend humanity from Lord Odio. As the series progresses, Justin faces numerous challenges, while his main goal is to save the earth.
6) Kemono Michi: Rise Up
Kemono Michi: Rise Up is based on the manga with the same title, written by Natsume Akatsuki who is also the creator of another popular anime series “Konosuba: God’s Blessing on This Wonderful World!”
This wrestling anime is based on its comedy and fantasy element, which gave it a unique storyline.
The story focuses on a professional wrestler named Genzou Shibata, who suddenly one day is summoned into a fantasy world.
After getting to know from the princess of the fantasy world that he will have to kill the dangerous animal monsters in the kingdom, Genzou refused to accept the request as he was an animal lover.
But, he used his skill to save the princess and successfully escape from that place to another. However, Genzou decided to open a pet shop in the fantasy world and becomes a beastman trainer. He used his skill and trained and tamed various monster-like animals in the kingdom.
5) Hinomaru Sumo
This wrestling anime is focused on sumo wrestling and revolves around a passionate wrestler named Ushio Hinomaru. Despite his small structure, he dreams to be the sumo wrestling champion one day.
He decided to join Oodachi High School, which has a struggling sumo club and also aims to lead the team to victory in the national championships.
The wrestling anime series also explores the intense physical and mental challenges faced by sumo wrestlers, and it also shows us various strategies, techniques, and traditions which are used in sumo wrestling.
4) Ultimate Muscle
This classic wrestling anime series is very popular in the world of anime. Ultimate Muscle features over-the-top wrestling moves, colourful characters, and humorous moments. It was first aired in 2002.
The anime focused on Mantarou Kinniku, who is the son of legendary wrestler Suguru Kinniku aka Kinnikuman. Mantarou is an aspiring wrestler and also wants to be the next wrestling champion following in his father’s footsteps.
However, as he joined the Muscle League which is an organization of superhero wrestlers, he faced numerous strong opponents. But, Mantarou finally competes in intense matches and uncovers the mysteries surrounding his father’s legacy.
3) Hajime No Ippo
Based on the same name from the manga, Hajime No Ippo is one of the most popular wrestling anime series which has been running since 2000. The series is written by George Morikawa.
The story is focused on a timid and introverted high school named Ippo Makunouchi, who gets often bullied in school. One day, he was saved from a group of bullies by a professional boxer named Mamoru Takamura.
Inspired by Takamura’s strength and determination, Ippo decides to pursue boxing as a means of self-improvement. He begins his training under his coach Genji Kamogawa.
The story explores the physical and mental training which Ippo goes through and how he gradually becomes one of the best professional boxers.
2) Baki the Grappler
Baki the Grappler, the wrestling anime originally aired from 2001 to 2002, is focused on Baki Hanma, who is a young and highly skilled martial artist who seeks to become the strongest fighter in the world.
Baki faces numerous opponents from various fighting disciplines, including professional wrestlers, street fighters, and martial arts masters.
The series explores the intense and brutal fights as Baki pushes himself to his physical and mental limits. It also shows the complicated relationship between Baki and his father Yujiro Hanma.
1) Tiger Mask W
One of the top wrestling anime, Tiger Mask W follows the journey of Naoto Azuma, who is a professional wrestler and adopts the persona of Tiger Mask.
Naoto is determined to take revenge for his father’s death, who was killed in the ring by a wrestler from the notorious wrestling organization Global Wrestling Monopoly (GWM).
Tiger Mask decided to join the Tiger’s Den, which is a secret wrestling organization, to train and develop his skills. As Naoto fights against GWM and its wrestlers, aiming to expose their corrupt practices and bring them down.
He encounters various opponents and alliances with fellow wrestlers, all while maintaining his secret identity. Throughout the series, the anime explores themes of justice, friendship, and the sacrifices made by professional wrestlers.
Final Thoughts
Wrestling anime series offers a unique blend of sports, action, and drama, alongside providing many thrilling matches, intense rivalries, and strong character arcs. From classics like “Ultimate Muscle” and “Hajime no Ippo” to newer series like “Kemono Michi: Rise Up” and “Baki the Grappler,” wrestling anime series has left a lasting impact on fans worldwide.
