NJPW Planning To Run Standalone US Shows

[Black Iron PJ]

– New Japan’s Takaaki Kidani recently spoke with Weekly Pro Wrestling magazine (viaThe Wrestling Observer Newsletter), and said that while they are happy with their partnership with ROH, that they still want to do standalone shows in the US. They would like to set up shows in 3,000 to 4,000 seat venues, and have made some “specific plans” to do so.

Kidani also spoke about bringing Shinya Aoki to the Dominion event. He said that he would love to book Aoki, noting matches like Aoki vs. Kyle O’Reilly or Aoki & Kazushi Sakuraba vs. O’Reilly & Bobby Fish as things he wants to see. Kidani wants to make sure that NJPW has a variety of styles, including an MMA/grappling style.
411MANIA | NJPW Hopes to Run Standalone US Shows

I guess that explains why Okada and Kidani were in LA a few months ago. But if this goes through, I REALLY want them to have their first show in Los Angeles, I will totally buy tickets to front row seats.

 

[Prince Bálor]

That's cool.

 

[Leo C]

I guess with a strong card and a bunch of promotion ahead of time they could do a good number... not sure about 3-4k, perhaps. The language barrier is something to consider, also.

 

[Not Awesomenrh]

I thought they were running 2 in August.

Spoiler

:kappa:

 

[Stopspot]

lol at Kidani thinking New Japan can draw 3-4K people by itself in the United States. That's really exaggerating your brand power

 

[Swift]

I'd go to their show if it's in LA tbh.

 

[leojay]

They should really try and run a 5-6k venue, I think it's entirely possible with the right card and month of marketing. They've got 200k viewers on their AXS TV Show and their product has spread via word of mouth like wildfire.

 

[Roadster]

They should really try and run a 5-6k venue, I think it's entirely possible with the right card and month of marketing. They've got 200k viewers on their AXS TV Show and their product has spread via word of mouth like wildfire.

TV ratings hardly ever translates into attendance success. TNA gets more than that, and they struggle to fill a 5k person arena, and they have great exposure.

They need to aim at Hammerstein and other New York arenas, that doesn't make the promotion nor it's product look trashy. If they want to go around the country, then 1k person arena should be the first aim.

 

[Stopspot]

TV ratings hardly ever translates into attendance success. TNA gets more than that, and they struggle to fill a 5k person arena, and they have great exposure.

They need to aim at Hammerstein and other New York arenas, that doesn't make the promotion nor it's product look trashy. If they want to go around the country, then 1k person arena should be the first aim.

Which makes it iffy with ROH. Since ROH runs on the east coast. The main reason for Kidani wanting to run stand alone shows on the west coast is that ROH does not run there. They are already on the east coast 6 times a year with ROH

 

[Geese]

Tickets for New Japan's shows in July 1st and 2nd have sold out. Here is the link: Tickets for New Japan Pro-Wrestling's G1 Special Shows Sell Out in Two Hours - eWrestlingNews.com

It is a 3,000 seat venue.