Plenty of New Japan Pro Wrestling on AXS TV
With less than two weeks until AXS TV’s exclusive live broadcast of New Japan Pro Wrestling’s STRONG STYLE EVOLVED on Sunday, March 25 at 8 p.m. ET/5p.m. PT, the network’s weekly Friday night series will feature coverage from NJPW’s New Beginning in Osaka (March 16 and 23), plus a special bonus episode from Honor Rising: Japan 2018 (March 23).
In the weeks following the live broadcast, AXS TV will continue its Friday night series with coverage of NJPW’s 46th Anniversary Show.
The New Beginning in Osaka drop-kicks off Friday, March 16 at 8pE/5pP with two title matches featuring Hirooki Goto vs. EVIL for the NEVER Openweight Championship and Will Ospreay vs. Hiromu Takahashi for the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship.
WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross calls the action with pro wrestler and MMA fighter Josh Barnett adding analysis/commentary.
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A second hour from Osaka premieres Friday, March 23 at 8pE/5pP as IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada takes on challenger SANADA; then at 9pE/6pP AXS TV premieres a special hour from Honor Rising: Japan 2018 featuring the Golden Lovers (Kenny Omega and Kota Ibushi) versus Bullet Club members Cody and Marty Scurll; plus The Young Bucks (Matt and Nick Jackson) and Hangman Page take on Jay White, Chuckie T and YOSHI-HASHI.
AXS TV goes live for STRONG STYLE EVOLVED from the Walter Pyramid at California State University Long Beach on Sunday, March 25 at 8pE/5pP. Wrestling Hall of Famer Jim Ross and former UFC Heavyweight Champion Josh Barnett will call the action ringside for a stacked card headlined by the Golden Lovers vs. The Young Bucks. In the co-main event, IWGP U.S. Heavyweight Champion Jay White puts his title on the line for the first time against Hangman Page; and in a matchup of two legends, Jushin Thunder Liger wrestles Rey Mysterio. The complete televised card for STRONG STYLE EVOLVED is forthcoming.
Following an encore presentation of STRONG STYLE EVOLVED on Friday, March 30 at 8pE/5pP, AXS TV presents two nights from NJPW’s 46th Anniversary Show. First, on Friday, April 6, Minoru Suzuki and Togi Makabe battle for the IWGP Intercontinental championship and three tag teams fight for the IWGP Jr. Tag Team Championship.
Then on Friday, April 13, Kazuchika Okada and Will Ospreay face off in a special IWGP Heavyweight Champion vs. IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion match, and Tetsuya Naito wrestles Taichi.
AXS TV’s upcoming NJPW schedule:
(Subject to change):
Friday, March 16 at 8pE – The New Beginning in Osaka Part 1
NEVER Openweight Championship – Hirooki Goto vs. EVIL
IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship – Will Ospreay vs. Hiromu Takahashi
Friday, March 23 at 8pE – The New Beginning in Osaka Part 2
IWGP Heavyweight Championship – Kazuchika Okada vs. SANADA
Friday, March 23 at 9pE – Honor Rising: Japan 2018
Golden Lovers (Kenny Omega and Kota Ibushi) vs. Cody and Marty Scurll
The Young Bucks (Matt and Nick Jackson) and Hangman Page vs. Jay White, Chuckie T and YOSHI-HASHI
LIVE – Sunday, March 25 at 8pE – STRONG STYLE EVOLVED
Golden Lovers (Kenny Omega and Kota Ibushi) vs. The Young Bucks (Matt and Nick Jackson)
IWGP U.S. Heavyweight Championship – Jay White vs. Hangman Page
Jushin Thunder Liger vs. Rey Mysterio Jr.
More matches to be announced
Friday, March 30 – STRONG STYLE EVOLVED (Encore Presentation)
Friday, April 6 – 46th Anniversary Show Part 1
IWGP Intercontinental Championship – Minoru Suzuki vs. Togi Makabe
IWGP Jr. Tag Team Championship 3-Way Match – Roppongi 3K (SHO and YOH) vs. BUSHI and Hiromu Takahashi vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru and El Desperado
Friday, April 13 – 46th Anniversary Show Part 2
Kazuchika Okada vs. Will Osprey
Tetsuya Naito vs. Taichi
- About AXS TV
Launched in July 2012 by visionary entrepreneur CEO Mark Cuban, AXS TV delivers the ultimate in music entertainment programming with an eclectic lineup that includes classic concerts from music's most iconic bands, as well as exclusive music festival coverage, original hit series, docs that rock, insightful specials, and knock-out live mixed martial arts action.
AXS TV is a partnership between Cuban, AEG, Ryan Seacrest Media, Creative Artists Agency (CAA) and CBS. The network is available nationally in the United States and can be seen in parts of Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. For a list of providers, visit axs.tv/subscribe. For more information, see www.axs.tv and www.axs.tv/press. Follow AXSTV on Facebook,Twitter @axstv; Instagram; and YouTube.
- Pro Wrestling on the Web and Social Media
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This story was originally published March 16, 2018 at 8:14 AM with the headline "Plenty of New Japan Pro Wrestling on AXS TV."