Press Release: New Japan Pro Wrestling's New TV Series In The United States

AXS TV announced the following last night:

AXS TV EXPANDS FRIDAY NIGHT LINEUP ACQUIRING ‘NEW JAPAN PRO WRESTLING’ SERIES FOR 2015

13-Episode Series Premieres on U.S. Television Jan. 16, 2015 at 9 p.m. ET/ 6 p.m. PT Leading Into the Weekly Live AXS TV FIGHTS Broadcast

Also read: ?AXS TV’s NJPW Series Set To Premiere This January - Details Inside Here

Josh Barnett and Mauro Ranallo Serve As English Language Commentators

LOS ANGELES – Nov. 24, 2014 – Building on the success of the AXS TV FIGHTS Friday night franchise, AXS TV has acquired a 13 episode series from Japan’s largest professional wrestling promotion, NEW JAPAN PRO WRESTLING (NJPW). Premiering Jan. 16, 2015, NJPW will air on Friday nights at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT leading into the network’s weekly live MMA, Muay Thai, and kickboxing broadcasts.

Airing for the first time ever in the U.S., the hour-long weekly series features the most exciting matches from NJPW’s Japanese broadcasts and pay-per-view events. Former UFC Heavyweight champion and NJPW veteran Josh Barnett and famed combat sports commentator Mauro Ranallo are providing English language commentary for the series.

Founded in 1972, NJPW has established itself as the premier wrestling organization in Japan and the second largest and fastest growing wrestling promotion in the world. In recent years, NJPW has gained international recognition, winning the Wrestling Observer Newsletter “Promotion of the Year” award two years running and boasting three-year reigning “Wrestler of the Year” Hiroshi Tanahashi.

The series premiere features Tanahashi defending the promotion’s prestigious IWGP Heavyweight Title against his long-time rival Kazuchika Okada in front of 29,000 fans at the Tokyo Dome.

“With this acquisition, AXS TV FIGHTS now offers one of the most diverse combat sports and sports entertainment programming line-ups on television,” said AXS TV FIGHTS CEO Andrew Simon. “There is a strong relationship and influence between professional wrestling and MMA, and with the addition of Josh Barnett and Mauro Ranallo as our commentators, we’re confident this new venture will be a crossover hit with wrestling and MMA fans alike.”

AXS TV’s NJPW episodes were produced by and purchased from TV ASAHI CORPORATION.

Update On The New Japan Pro Wrestling WrestleKingdom 9 PPV Event - The Price & More

It was announced earlier this week that Global Force Wrestling will present New Japan Pro Wrestling’s Wrestle Kingdom 9 live on US PPV on January 4th. The show will air live in North America at 2AM ET, and then there will be a 7PM ET showing of the event.

Also read: The Latest On The Plans & Working Relationship Between The GFW/NJPW Promotions, More

In an update on this, the pay-per-view will cost $34.95. The PPV, which will have a four-hour run time, is basically New Japan’s version of WrestleMania.

Hulk Hogan Comments On Earthquake In Japan

Hulk Hogan posted the following tweet during his recent Japan trip:

Wow what a crazy morning 4:22 am an earthquake made my bed roll around the room,I thought Andre was trying to wake me WWE style brother. HH

Also read: ?Hulk Hogan Lands In Wrong Country En Route To SD

— Hulk Hogan (@HulkHogan) July 11, 2014

Presser: Hulk Hogan Headed To Japan With WWE

WWE issued the following today:

HULK HOGAN RETURNS TO JAPAN

TOKYO, Japan, April 24, 2014 – WWE® (NYSE:WWE) today announced that WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan will appear at WWE Live in Tokyo on Friday, July 11 and in Osaka on Saturday, July 12.

A larger-than-life pop-culture icon, Hogan is one of the biggest names in WWE history. Earlier this month, Hogan was the host of WrestleMania® 30 at a sold out Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans. He has also appeared on WWE’s flagship television program Monday Night Raw® and on WWE Network.

“Hulkamania™” was officially born on January 23, 1984 when Hogan defeated The Iron Sheik to become WWE Champion at Madison Square Garden. He headlined WrestleMania III, where he successfully defended the WWE Championship against Andre The Giant in front of a record 93,173 fans at the Pontiac Silverdome. Hogan went on to win six WWE Championships, starred in movies, television shows and became an idol to a vast legion of fans he dubbed “Hulkamaniacs™.” Hogan was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005 by Hollywood legend Sylvester Stallone.

“Words cannot express how excited I am to be back in the WWE family,” said Hulk Hogan. “I only have one question for the WWE Universe in Japan: ‘whatcha gonna do when Hulkamania runs wild in Tokyo and Osaka, brother?’”

WWE Live takes place on Thursday, July 10 and Friday, July 11 at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo and on Saturday, July 12 at Maishima Arena in Osaka. Tickets go on sale to the general public this Saturday.

Manik: CM Punk Would Go To Japan Before TNA

Credit: v2 Wrestling PodcastTNA's Manik recently spoke about advice from Hulk Hogan and more. Here are the highlights…On Hulk Hogan: "It's crazy to have him give you advice and compliments. Like, he'd give me advice on my presence or my charisma and I'd be like, wow, you're the king of that!"On his friend CM Punk's WWE departure: "I'm sure he's doing what he feels is best for him. It sucks because what's right for him may be wrong for the fans".On whether Punk could turn up in ...