Top Indie Star Signs For NJPW
After over a year on STRONG, NJPW has added a US regular to its core talent roster.
Top independent wrestler Chris Dickinson has signed for New Japan Pro Wrestling.
Dickinson confirmed the news himself via Instagram earlier this week, stating that he was proud to have reached an agreement with a company he has always wanted to sign for:-
I am beyond proud to announce that I have officially signed an agreement with New Japan Pro Wrestling. I’ve heard you all for years say I should sign with other companies and I appreciate everyone of your hopes for my success but this is what I’ve always wanted. With the companies expansion in the USA on the rise and Japan finally reopening, the future is brighter than ever. I am still available to work independently in the USA and internationally excluding Japan but NJPW is now home. Let’s continue to bring the highest level of pro wrestling to the world together.
The 34-year-old has been a major player on the American indie scene for several years, playing leading roles for such companies as Game Changer Wrestling and the now-defunct Evolve Wrestling, and has competed on NJPW's US-based STRONG brand since January 2021. A steady 11 months on STRONG were sadly interrupted when Dickinson suffered a dislocated and fractured hip last November, though he returned to the ring at Josh Barnett's Bloodsport 8 on 31 March.
With the COVID-19 pandemic easing off in Japan and international travel becoming increasingly feasible, NJPW recently started applying for work visas for foreign wrestlers to wrestle for the promotion in Japan.
Dickinson, it seems, could be amongst that group.