One of the few truly positive outcomes of 2020 was surely the emergence of ChocoPro, the straight-to-camera Gatoh Move spin off that sprung from the mind of Emi Sakura.
Launched in March of last year as restrictions in response to COVID-19 had come into effect, ChocoPro was designed as an antidote to the various no-fan concepts that had began to proliferate professional wrestling.
As described by one of the company’s breakout stars, Baliyan Akki, on Episode 10 of The Wrstling Podcast, Sakura’s vision rebelled against the idea of ‘no fans’:
I remember Emi Sakura very clearly saying that she doesn’t want to do Gatoh Move without an audience. Emi Sakura hates the words ‘without an audience’.
At one point, we were the only company in the world who was still wrestling and she did an interview one time, and it was hard as she was trying to tell them ‘it (ChocoPro) is not without an audience – we have an audience! There’s 300 people watching us on YouTube live!
As a result, the performers play directly to the camera, whilst acknowledging comments within the YouTube live chat to create a unique and inclusive presentation.
One year later, the company is set to celebrate both its conceptual anniversary as well as its 100th episode with a special event spread over March 27th and 28th.
3月27日、3月28日、チョコプロ1周年＆100回記念大会開催！
この1年でどれだけ多くの人に出会えたのだろう。地球の反対側にも私たちを好きになってくれる人がいると知れたこと。みんなが私たちに可能性を教えてくれました。
同時視聴1000人を目標に、あと15日！#chocopro#chocopro100https://t.co/3sR5lk5C2w— Emi Sakura (@EmiSakura_gtmv) March 9, 2021
The promotion has featured big names throughout its short existence, with the likes of New Japan’s Minoru Suzuki, Aja Kong and AEW’s Hikaru Shida, among others.
In turn, ChocoPro has given rise to the likes of Mei Suruga, who recently competed in the AEW Women’s Eliminator tournament, Lulu Pencil, Yuna Mizumori and the aforementioned, Baliyan Akki.
Whilst the card for the show has yet to be announced, we’ll be sure to keep you posted as information becomes available.