During a press conference held today, New Japan Pro Wrestling announced the latest phase of their American expansion with the launch of a new subsidiary called New Japan Pro Wrestling of America. This follows the Japanese based promotion rolling out more live events in the United States recently including the recent G1 Climax event held in Dallas and a sold-out Madison Square Garden in New York City the night before WWE’s WrestleMania which they co-promoted with Ring of Honor.
According to additional information on the New Japan website, the new venture will focus on live events in 27 cities across 18 states. These events will focus on the Northeast, Southwest, West coast, Great Lakes, and Texas regions, and the plan is for the majority of the US fanbase, “some 70% according to market research” (via NJPW) to be able to attend an event in closer proximity to them.
Currently NJPW talent has ventured across the Pacific for tours, but this could open a situation where an American roster present their own cards simultaneously with an event in Japan.
BREAKING: NJPW officially announces US subsidiary, named New Japan Pro-Wrestling of America.
More details to follow on https://t.co/GsbwNuSDkw#njpw #NJoA pic.twitter.com/b49dNqPEiS
— NJPW Global (@njpwglobal) October 21, 2019
Obari: What fans in America value is the NJPW brand and concept, and the style of wrestling that represents. The NJPW brand is important, hence the name of New Japan of America. #NJoA
— NJPW Global (@njpwglobal) October 21, 2019
New Japan will present New Japan Showdown in Los Angeles and San Jose on November 9th and 11th. It has been confirmed that the legendary Jushin Thunder Liger will have his final match in the States at the San Jose event on the 11th. Liger will have his last two matches in January at the Tokyo Dome during the first two-night version of Wrestle Kingdom, NJPW’s WrestleMania mega-event.
WrestleZone’s resident NJPW expert Ross Berman will have more on this developing story in the coming days. For the most in-depth analysis and more on the ‘King of Sport’, read his latest article.
