- Joined
- Dec 23, 2011
- Messages
- 390,605
- Reaction score
- 160,134
- Points
- 128
- Age
- 28
- Location
- Texas
- Favorite Wrestler
-
- Favorite Wrestler
-
- Favorite Wrestler
-
- Favorite Wrestler
-
- Favorite Wrestler
-
- Favorite Wrestler
-
- Favorite Sports Team
-
- Favorite Sports Team
-
- Favorite Sports Team
-
- Favorite Sports Team
-
Source: f4wonline.com
NJPW programming is returning to AXS TV.
A video promo announcing a Thursday, March 3 return date for new episodes aired during today's Wrestle Kingdom 16 night one event. The show will air weekly following Impact Wrestling on AXS beginning on Thursday, January 20 with "classic" episodes.
According to an Anthem press release, AXS sister channel The Fight Network will also air the NJPW content throughout Canada, Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
While not announced, the show will likely be comprised of matches from major NJPW shows from months prior, rather than any new content being produced. The January 20 episode will feature Kenny Omega vs. Chris Jericho from Wrestle Kingdom 12.
NJPW previously aired on AXS from 2014 to 2019, with Jim Ross, Mauro Ranallo and Josh Barnett providing commentary at different points. The partnership ended after Anthem Sports and Entertainment, Impact's parent company, purchased a controlling interest in AXS.
Initially there was no business relationship between NJPW and Impact after Anthem's purchase, stemming from bad blood between NJPW and Impact following TNA's handling of Kazuchika Okada's excursion years earlier.
Impact and NJPW began working together again in 2020, and talks about NJPW returning to AXS date back as far as February 2021. NJPW reportedly was in search of a bigger television partner in the US. In the interim, their weekly show aired on Roku Channel. The Roku deal is reportedly not exclusive, so the new AXS agreement does not necessarily signal the end of that deal.
