NJPW Announces New Japan Pro-Wrestling of America

New Japan Pro-Wrestling announced today that they’re forming a US subsidiary called New Japan Pro-Wrestling of America.

This appears to be more of a business move that NJPW’s US operations will fall under rather than a new promotion. NJPW has already been running shows and tours in the United States, with their next shows scheduled for November in California.

NJPW opened the NJPW LA Dojo in Los Angeles in March of 2018 to train “homegrown” Western talent.

NJPW has a working relationship with ROH, but have been using ROH talent less and less recently. There’s been wide speculation that the formation of NJPW of America is probably not a good sign for the relationship.

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

NJPW posted this rundown of today’s press conference in a series of tweets:

Chairman Sugabayashi and CEO Takami Obari are on hand to explain the structure of the company.

Obari: Phase 1 of international business has been hunting for talent. Phase 2 has been running events in the US and other countries and markets. We are entering phase 3, which is to establish a subsidiary in the US to be fully established in the market & engage with fans.

Obari: There is plenty still to be undertaken when it comes to furthering the brand in the US. Fans though, have a very close association to talent and core concepts of strong style, as evidenced by market research in Dallas.

Obari: Live events will be an important basis of New japan of America. It is important that fans get close to our wrestlers and see our wrestling close-up.

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.

Events will be run in West Coast, Texas, South East and Mid areas, with tours running through cities in those four key areas.

Obari: There is absolutely no plans to sell the Japanese market short. An office in the US allows for better talent relations in the US, and allows talent to further our brand within the American market, while allowing American fans to more easily support the brand.

Obari on key differences between US and Japanese markets: America is skewed more toward male fans, and they consume content digitally as opposed to through TV.

In the immediate future, US tours will take place while the Japanese schedule is between tours, but there may be cases where tours run simultaneously, with talent schedules an important factor.

Obari: The plan will be to broadcast American events live on [NJPW] World wherever possible. Where that isn’t feasible, they will be available VOD on delay.

Want all the information specific to NJPW of America at your fingertips? Follow @NJPWofAmerica to stay up to date, as our new American arm begins operations this November!

Check out NJPW of America's touring plans!

We hope to reach at least 70% of our American fanbase with an event near you very soon, and we'll put all we have into making it 100%!

Are you on the map?#njpw #NJoA pic.twitter.com/xEMTK0co07

— NJPW Global (@njpwglobal) October 21, 2019