7 Things You Need To Know About NJPW's American Expansion
4. A US Territory Is Planned
Following the G1 Specials, NJPW’s next step will likely be holding further shows in the United States in early 2018. Should the first events prove a success, Takaaki Kidani has stated that the company will send office staff to establish a foothold in the country, scouring the west coast for further venues before working towards setting up regular tours throughout the year.
NJPW would use California as their base of operations, but will likely hold events throughout the country. The long term goal is to establish a US-based territory that produces television in-line with their current Japanese content, that would then be shopped around to various American television networks with hope of securing a deal.
The company would also set up a new training school in California, with current IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion Rocky Romero as head trainer. The company’s old LA dojo closed in 2007, and once featured the likes of Samoa Joe and Daniel Bryan among its ranks.
Presumably, the new school’s goal would be to recruit and develop talent from around the country, with a view to establishing them as long-term fixtures on the NJPW roster.