NJPW To Announce New English-Language TV Deal?

NJPW has lacked English-language television coverage since its AXS TV deal ended.

by Andy H Murray
NJPW US
NJPW

New Japan Pro Wrestling is currently negotiating a new English-language television deal, reports Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer.

Meltzer states that the deal is "very close," and that an announcement that would mark the promotion's return to full English-language TV coverage for the first time since 2019 could come imminently.

NJPW had previously broadcast on AXS TV in the United States. That deal started in 2014, with the network covering New Japan shows (usually on a delay) with English commentary as part of NJPW's expansion in the USA, with the likes of Jim Ross, Josh Barnett, and a pre-WWE Mauro Ranallo all passing through the announce booth. This deal finished when Anthem Sports and Entertainment purchased AXS TV in late 2019, confirming there would be no more NJPW programming on the network.

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Anthem is the parent company of Impact Wrestling, and effectively moved their own promotion onto AXS in NJPW's place. Impact resides there to this day.

Though NJPW's American expansion has slowed in recent years, the promotion has continued promoting its NJPW of America imprint throughout the global health crisis. using its World streaming service to broadcast weekly episodes of STRONG from California.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.