AXS TV to Broadcast Inaugural NJPW United States Event

In what will be a historic moment for New Japan Pro Wrestling, AXS TV will be broadcasting the company’s first event held in the United States.

Below is some information from the official press release:

LOS ANGELES – May 18, 2016 – AXS TV, TV ASAHI and NEW JAPAN PRO WRESTLING today announced AXS TV will be the exclusive U.S. television broadcast home of NEW JAPAN PRO WRESTING’s first-ever U.S. event—the G1 SPECIAL IN THE USA—live Saturday, July 1 at 8pE/5pP from the Long Beach Convention Center in Long Beach, California.

The G1 SPECIAL marks AXS TV’s first live broadcast of NEW JAPAN PRO WRESTLING, the world’s fastest growing and second largest wrestling promotion, which the network has showcased on Friday nights in its award-winning, hour-long weekly series since 2015. AXS TV’s NJPW broadcast team—Wrestling Hall of Famer Jim Ross and former UFC Heavyweight Champion and NJPW veteran Josh Barnett—will be ringside for both nights of the event to call the action for the network.

“New Japan is coming to the U.S. for the first time in its illustrious 45-year history,” said AXS TV FIGHTS CEO Andrew Simon. “The timing for the first-ever U.S. event and live TV broadcast is perfect—the weekly NJPW television show on AXS TV is a hit and the tickets for the G1 SPECIAL in the USA sold out within hours. We are excited to see how fans respond to this historic live broadcast.”

“New Japan Pro Wrestling is simply delighted to have our very first event in the United States, and to have it air live on TV marks a major breakthrough for the Japanese pro-wrestling promoters,” said Mr. Naoki Sugabayashi, Chairman of the Board, New Japan Pro Wrestling. “It is definitely going to have the most exciting matches by the most formidable wrestlers… don’t miss it!”

“New Japan Pro Wrestling has been one of our most important partners over the years and we are absolutely excited that NJPW is now holding its premier major event in the United States,” said Mr. Hitoshi Matsumoto, Deputy General Manager, Business Division, TV Asahi. “NJPW content is a big success in Japan supported by fans of all generations and genders, so we do hope the viewers in the United States will find themselves hooked with the same explosion of excitement.”

“This is going to be one of the most eagerly anticipated events that I have broadcast in my 40+ year career,” said Jim Ross. “Restaurant-quality slobberknockers will be abundant on this historic weekend of pro wrestling excellence.”

“New Japan is bringing the lead in to the most prestigious tournament in the world of professional wrestling to the U.S.,” said Josh Barnett, “and I am pumped to call the blood, sweat, and tears ringside with J.R.!”

Also announced today, the G1 SPECIAL is scheduled to feature American stars Cody Rhodes and “The Young Bucks” Matt and Nick Jackson, in addition to NJPW superstars Kenny Omega, Kazuchika Okada, Hiroshi Tanahashi and Tetsuya Naito. More wrestlers and official match listings are forthcoming.

It had been previously announced that NJPW will be debuting its version of the United States Championship this summer as well.