AXS TV to broadcast first New Japan Pro Wrestling event in U.S.
AXS TV will be the exclusive television broadcast home of New Japan Pro Wrestling’s first U.S. event -- the G1 Special in the USA -- live Saturday, July 1 at 8 p.m.ET/5 p.m. PT from the Long Beach Convention Center in Long Beach, Calif.
Following Saturday night’s live event broadcast of the G1 SPECIAL, AXS TV will premiere the second night of the event in a four-hour showcase on Friday, July 7 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. The special presentation will feature every match from night two in Long Beach with limited commercial interruption.
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.”
Mr. Naoki Sugabayashi, Chairman of the Board, New Japan Pro Wrestling, said: “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. It is definitely going to have the most exciting matches by the most formidable wrestlers…Don’t miss it!”
Mr. Hitoshi Matsumoto, Deputy General Manager, Business Division, TV Asahi, said: “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. 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.”
Jim Ross said: “This is going to be one of the most eagerly anticipated events that I have broadcast in my 40+ year career. Restaurant-quality slobberknockers will be abundant on this historic weekend of pro wrestling excellence.”
Josh Barnett said: “New Japan is bringing the lead in to the most prestigious tournament in the world of professional wrestling to the U.S., and I am pumped to call the blood, sweat, and tears ringside with J.R.”
Also announced, the G1 SPECIAL is scheduled to feature American stars Cody Rhodes and The Young Bucks (Mike 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.
Leading up to the live G1 SPECIAL broadcast, AXS TV will give viewers the opportunity to catch up on the latest NJPW events during the networks’ Friday night series with the “Summer of Strong Style” event showcasing all of the promotion’s 2017 events. Upcoming episodes include top matches from New Beginning in Sapporo and Osaka; New Japan Cup; Sakura Genesis; Wrestling Toyo and Dontaku; and, the night before G1 SPECIAL—Friday, June 30—back-to-back episodes featuring June’s Dominion 6.11 event.
Following the G1 SPECIAL, AXS TV will continue to showcase NJPW events closer to their original airdate during its Friday night series, starting with the Best of the Super Juniors and the G1 Climax 27 tournament.
AXS TV’s upcoming NJPW schedule (subject to change):
· May 26 @ 7pE – “Wrestle Kingdom 11” 4-Part Marathon
· June 2 @ 7pE & 8pE – “New Beginning in Sapporo”
· June 9 @ 7pE & 8pE – “New Beginning in Osaka”
· June 16 @ 7pE, 8pE & 9pE – “New Japan Cup” & “Sakura Genesis”
· June 23 @ 7pE & 8pE – “Wrestling Toyo” & “Wrestling Dontaku”
· June 30 @ 7pE & 8pE – “Dominion 2017”
· LIVE – July 1 @ 8pE/5pP – “G1 Special in the USA Night 1”
· July 7 @ 8pE – “G1 Special in the USA Night 2”
ABOUT AXS TV
Launched in July 2012 by visionary entrepreneur CEO Mark Cuban, AXS TV is dedicated to providing groundbreaking music programming, stand-up comedy performances from today’s top comedians, and hard-hitting mixed martial arts promotions. The network’s hit franchise series include THE BIG INTERVIEW with Dan Rather; ROCK & ROLL ROAD TRIP WITH SAMMY HAGAR; THE WORLD’S GREATEST TRIBUTE BANDS; GOTHAM COMEDY LIVE; AXS TV FIGHTS; and NEW JAPAN PRO WRESTLING.
AXS TV is a partnership between Mark Cuban, AEG, Ryan Seacrest Media, Creative Artists Agency (CAA) and CBS. The network is available in the United States via AT&T U-verse, Charter/Spectrum TV, Comcast/Xfinity, DIRECTV, DIRECTV NOW, DISH, Frontier, Sling TV, Altice/Suddenlink, Time Warner Cable/Spectrum TV, Verizon FiOS, and other cable, satellite and telco providers, including members of the National Cable Television Cooperative. The network is also distributed in Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. For more information, visit www.axs.tv and www.axs.tv/press. Follow AXS TV on Facebook, Twitter @axstv; Instagram; Cyber Dust and YouTube.
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This story was originally published May 21, 2017 at 4:39 AM with the headline "AXS TV to broadcast first New Japan Pro Wrestling event in U.S.."