Puroresu (プãƒãƒ¬ã‚¹, Puro-resu) is a Japanese term referring to professional wrestling in Japan and abroad. It is a Japanese loanword that stems from the pronunciation of "professional wrestling" (プãƒãƒ•ã‚§ãƒƒã‚·ãƒ§ãƒŠãƒ«ãƒ»ãƒ¬ã‚¹ãƒªãƒ³ã‚°, purofesshonaru resuringu), which is abbreviated in Japanese to puro (プム- "pro") and resu (レス - an abbreviation of "wrestling"). The term became popular among English-speaking fans following the Usenet member Hisaharu Tanabe's online activities.
Puroresu grew out of the traditional American style but has become a separate entity based on Japanese culture that is distinct in its psychology, presentation, and function. It is treated much more like a legitimate competition with fewer theatrics, and the stories told in Japanese wrestling are often about a wrestler's spirit and perseverance. Professional wrestling in Japan led to the development of shoot wrestling and has been closely related to mixed martial arts, starting with Shooto and Pancrase, organizations which predate the UFC, and has influenced subsequent promotions such as Fighting Network Rings and Pride Fighting Championships. There is more overlap between professional wrestlers and mixed martial artists in Japan than other countries.