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 WRESTLE LAND was announced as part of a New Japan brand extension at the end of March, 2006, along with Riki Choshu's LOCK UP. With New Japan in the midst of a reconstruction, the two brands were created to show two extremes of professional wrestling, which would allow New Japan management to study each style for ideas to use in the regular brand. WRESTLE LAND was created with the intent of showing "entertainment pro wrestling", the colorful American style, stressing storylines, characters, and individuality, without forgetting the in-ring side. Two of New Japan's most markettable wrestlers, Hiroshi Tanahashi and Tiger Mask, were appointed as aces of the project, and soon found themselves with new enemies, as Kantaro Hoshino revived his Makai Club in an attempt to take over WRESTLE LAND. The WRESTLE LAND brand would also allow various New Japan wrestlers to study the "character" side of professional wrestling to help them with their growth.
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