New Japan Pro Wrestling is returning to English-language television.
During tonight’s Wrestle Kingdom 15, a commercial executed announcing that they would be on television in the United States and the United Kingdom ‘soon’.
Dave Meltzer confirmed on Sunday that the promotion is very close to an English television deal. The deal is close enough that an announcement can be made at any time.
NJPW already had a television contract with AXS TV, which broadcast NJPW content from 2014 to 2019. The relationship ended after AXS TV was purchased by Anthem Sports and Entertainment, owner of Impact Wrestling. The promotion later confirmed in late 2019 that there were no more programs scheduled to air on US television in 2020. Women of Wrestling, another promotion that aired on AXS before the purchase of Anthem, was canceled in June.
Just before the end of NJPW’s association with AXS, the promotion launched a new subsidiary called NJPW of America. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, NJPW continued to run programs in the U.S. with a weekly program called Strong that airs in New Japan World.