NJPW Strong

Last updated

NJPW Strong
NJPW Strong Logo.svg
Logo for the brand and the former television program as of August 7, 2020
Product type Professional wrestling
Owner New Japan Pro-Wrestling
Country United States
IntroducedAugust 7, 2020
NJPW Strong
NJPW Strong Logo.svg
Genre Professional wrestling
Created byTakami Ohbari
Written by Gedo
Directed byLogan Chegwidden
Presented by
Ian Riccaboni, and Matt Rehwoldt (English language commentators)
Starring New Japan Pro-Wrestling of America roster
Country of origin
  • Japan
  • United States
Original languages
  • English
  • Japanese
No. of seasons3
No. of episodes126 (as of January 28,2023) (list of episodes)
Production
Camera setup Multi-camera setup
Running time60 minutes
Production companies
Original release
Network
ReleaseAugust 7, 2020 (2020-08-07) –
January 28, 2023 (2023-01-28)
Related
NJPW World Pro Wrestling

NJPW Strong is a brand name utilized by Japanese professional wrestling promotion New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) and its New Japan Pro-Wrestling of America (NJoA) subsidiary. [3]

Contents

In its original incarnation, NJPW Strong was the name of a weekly professional wrestling streaming television show produced by NJoA. The series debuted on August 7, 2020, airing on Saturdays at 8 pm ET on NJPW World and FITE TV until its final episode aired on January 28, 2023.

After the program's end, NJPW Strong became the branding for NJPW events held in the United States. These events are distributed live via PPV under the NJPW Strong Live banner, and are later distributed as part of the NJPW Strong on Demand series.

History

Background and Early format

On November 24, 2014, AXS TV, under the AXS TV Fights banner, announced that it had acquired a thirteen-episode series produced by TV Asahi featuring matches from New Japan Pro Wrestling. The series premiered on January 16, 2015, airing on Friday evenings. [4] This was the first time NJPW had been aired on an American television network since its formation in 1972. [5] NJPW content would continue to air on AXS until December 2019. [6] [7]

On October 21, 2019, NJPW announced the formation of an American subsidiary called "New Japan Pro-Wrestling of America" (NJoA). [8] On July 31, 2020, NJPW announced a new weekly series titled NJPW Strong, with its initial episodes to feature matches from the inaugural New Japan Cup USA tournament. As part of NJPW's expansion into the United States, the series would be produced by NJoA. [9]

The premiere episode of Strong aired on August 7, 2020, broadcast live from NJPW's training dojo in Los Angeles, and streaming on NJPW's service NJPW World. [10] The event was held with no spectators due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [11] On August 19, NJPW announced that Strong would be streaming on FITE TV in conjunction with NJPW World. [12]

Change in format

On January 6, 2023, Hiroshi Tanahashi announced on his blog that the January Strong tapings would be the last, and that "overseas tournaments" would be held in a different format in the future. [13]

On January 30, NJPW announced that all of the promotion's future American events would be branded under the NJPW Strong name, and be available for purchase via pay-per-view (PPV) providers. Beginning with Battle in the Valley on February 18, the NJoA PPVs began airing as NJPW Strong Live. These PPV events will later air on NJPW World in hour-long installments known as NJPW Strong on Demand. [14]

Events

Roster

Commentators

Language Commentators Dates
Japanese Katsuyori Shibata, Hiroshi Tanahashi, and Shigeki Kiyono
Katsuyori Shibata/Hiroshi Tanahashi and Shigeki Kiyono		August 7, 2020 – October 24, 2020
November 28, 2020 – December 18, 2020
January 8, 2021 – April 30, 2021
May 21, 2021 – August 20, 2021
September 25, 2021 - October 2, 2021
November 6, 2021 - November 13, 2021
November 20, 2021 - January 8, 2022
January 22, 2022 - June 25, 2022
July 16, 2022 – August 27, 2022
October 29, 2022 - November 5, 2022
November 26, 2022 - December 17, 2022
January 8, 2023 - January 28, 2023
JapaneseKatsuyori Shibata, Hirooki Goto, and Shigeki KiyonoOctober 31, 2020 – November 21, 2020
Japanese Togi Makabe and Shigeki KiyonoMay 7, 2021 – May 14, 2021
Japanese Satoshi Kojima and Shigeki KiyonoAugust 27, 2021 - September 18, 2021
Japanese Yuji Nagata and Shigeki KiyonoOctober 9, 2021 - October 30, 2021
July 2, 2022 - July 9, 2022
September 3, 2022
September 24, 2022 - October 1, 2022
October 1, 2022 - October 22, 2022
JapaneseKatsuyori Shibata/Hiroshi Tanahashi, Yuji Nagata, and Shigeki KiyonoSeptember 10, 2022 - September 17, 2022
October 9, 2022
JapaneseTakami Ohbari and Shigeki KiyonoJanuary 15, 2022
JapaneseHiroshi Tanahashi, Takami Ohbari and Shigeki KiyonoNovember 12, 2022 - November 19, 2022
JapaneseKatsuyori Shibata, Takami Ohbari and Shigeki KiyonoDecember 24, 2022
English Kevin Kelly and Alex Koslov August 7, 2020 – October 2, 2021
December 4, 2021 - January 29, 2022
January 8, 2023 - January 28, 2023
EnglishAlex Koslov and Matt Rehwoldt October 9, 2021 - November 27, 2021
English Ian Riccaboni and Alex KoslovFebruary 12, 2022 - March 26, 2022
May 13, 2022 - June 4, 2022
July 9, 2022 – December 24, 2022
English Ian Riccaboni and Matt RehwoldtApril 2, 2022 - April 30, 2022
June 11, 2022 - July 2, 2022
EnglishKevin Kelly and Matt RehwoldtMay 7, 2022

Ring announcers

Language Ring announcers Dates
EnglishAdnan KureishyAugust 7, 2020 – January 28, 2023
JapaneseTakuro ShibataAugust 7, 2020 – January 28, 2023

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Japan Pro-Wrestling</span> Japanese professional wrestling promotion

New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion founded on January 13, 1972, by Antonio Inoki, and based in Nakano, Tokyo. It is currently owned by card game company Bushiroad, while TV Asahi and Amuse, Inc. own minority shares of the company. Naoki Sugabayashi has served as the promotion's Chairman since September 2013, while Hiroshi Tanahashi has served as the president of the promotion since December 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hiroshi Tanahashi</span> Japanese professional wrestler

Hiroshi Tanahashi is a Japanese professional wrestler, sports executive and podcaster. He is signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he serves as the president and representative director of the promotion, and is also an active wrestler, being one-third of the NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Champions alongside Toru Yano and Oleg Boltin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">King of Pro-Wrestling</span> Event promoted by the New Japan Pro-Wrestling

King of Pro-Wrestling is an annual professional wrestling event promoted by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). The event has been held every October since 2012 and aired domestically as a pay-per-view (PPV). The event also aired internationally as an internet pay-per-view (iPPV) until 2015, when it was moved to NJPW's worldwide internet streaming site, NJPW World.

New Japan Pro-Wrestling World, also referred to as NJPW World and New Japan World, is a subscription-based video streaming service owned by the Japanese professional wrestling promotion New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). On December 1, 2014, NJPW and its minority owner TV Asahi announced it as a new worldwide streaming site for the promotion's events. All major NJPW events air live on the service, which also features matches from the promotion's archives, dating back to 1972.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">G1 Special in USA</span>

G1 Special in USA was a two-day professional wrestling event promoted by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). The two shows took place on July 1 and 2, 2017, in Long Beach, California, United States at the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center. These were the first NJPW shows that the promotion had produced independently in the U.S.

AEW Dynamite, also known as Wednesday Night Dynamite or simply Dynamite, is an American professional wrestling television program produced by the American promotion All Elite Wrestling (AEW). It airs live every Wednesday at 8 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on TBS, with some exceptions. The show premiered on October 2, 2019, and is considered AEW's flagship program. It is one of the company's three weekly programs, along with its second main program, Saturday Night Collision, and Friday Night Rampage, which focuses on younger wrestlers in the company. Dynamite is the first professional wrestling program to air on TBS since the final episode of WCW Thunder on March 21, 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Japan Cup USA</span> Professional wrestling pay-per-view event series

New Japan Cup USA is an annual professional wrestling tournament produced by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). The tournament is a spin-off of NJPW's annual New Japan Cup introduced in 2020. The tournament was promoted under NJPW's North American branch, New Japan Pro-Wrestling of America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wrestle Kingdom 15</span> 2021 professional wrestling event

Wrestle Kingdom 15 in Tokyo Dome was a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). The event took place over two nights, on January 4 and 5, 2021 at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan. It was the 30th January 4 Tokyo Dome Show and the 15th promoted under the Wrestle Kingdom name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wrestle Kingdom 16</span> 2022 New Japan Pro-Wrestling and Pro Wrestling Noah event

Wrestle Kingdom 16 was a three-day professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event co-produced by the New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) and Pro Wrestling Noah (Noah) promotions. The event took place on January 4 and 5, 2022, at the Tokyo Dome, in Tokyo and January 8, at Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle in the Valley (2023)</span> New Japan Pro-Wrestling pay-per-view event

Battle in the Valley was a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). It took place on February 18, 2023, at San Jose Civic in San Jose, California. It was the second event under the Battle in the Valley chronology.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Multiverse United</span> Co-promoted professional wrestling pay-per-view event series

Multiverse United was a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event co-produced by Impact Wrestling and New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) as a part of WrestleCon. It took place on March 30, 2023, at the Globe Theater in Los Angeles, California. The event was the second Multiverse event promoted by Impact during WrestleMania Weekend as part of WrestleCon, following Multiverse of Matches in 2022, thus establishing the Multiverse event as an annual tradition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Capital Collision (2023)</span> 2023 New Japan Pro-Wrestling professional wrestling event

Capital Collision (2023) was a professional wrestling event produced by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). It took place on April 15, 2023, at the Entertainment and Sports Arena in Washington, D.C. Wrestlers from NJPW's partner promotions, All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and Impact Wrestling, also appeared on the card. This was the second event to be held under the Capital Collision name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Resurgence (2023)</span> 2023 New Japan Pro-Wrestling professional wrestling event

Resurgence (2023) was a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). It took place on May 21, 2023, at the Walter Pyramid in Long Beach, California. It is the second event under the Resurgence name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fighting Spirit Unleashed (2023)</span> 2023 New Japan Pro-Wrestling event

Fighting Spirit Unleashed (2023) was a professional wrestling event promoted by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). It took place at the Sam's Town Live venue in Las Vegas, Nevada on October 28, 2023. It was the sixth event held under the Fighting Spirit Unleashed name. Besides wrestlers from NJPW, the show featured talent from Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle in the Valley (2024)</span> New Japan Pro-Wrestling pay-per-view event

Battle in the Valley was a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). It took place on January 13, 2024, at San Jose Civic in San Jose, California. It is the third event under the Battle in the Valley chronology. The event features wrestlers from NJPW partner promotions All Elite Wrestling (AEW), World Wonder Ring Stardom, Major League Wrestling (MLW), and Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Windy City Riot (2024)</span> 2024 New Japan Pro-Wrestling professional wrestling event

Windy City Riot (2024) was a professional wrestling event produced by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). The event took place on April 12, 2024, at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. It was the second event under the Windy City Riot chronology.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Resurgence (2024)</span> 2024 New Japan Pro-Wrestling professional wrestling event

Resurgence (2024) was a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). It took place on May 11, 2024, at the Toyota Arena in Ontario, California. It was the third Resurgence event.

References

  1. ↑ Thompson, Andrew (August 5, 2020). "Alex Koslov returning to NJPW to do commentary for NJPW Strong". Post Wrestling. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  2. ↑ "Home, David Marquez Productions". David Marquez Productions. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
  3. ↑ Radican, Sean (August 5, 2020). "NJPW Strong details announced for NJPW World, new weekly show will debut with NJPW Cup USA tournament". Pro Wrestling Torch. TDH Communications LLC. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  4. ↑ "AXS announces New Japan TV deal, official details, time slot, debut date and more". Wrestling Observer Newsletter . November 24, 2014. Archived from the original on December 20, 2014.
  5. ↑ Meltzer, Dave (July 27, 2015). "July 27, 2015 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: The Undertaker returns at Battleground, NXT/ROH insanity with Liger booking, and more". Wrestling Observer Newsletter . Campbell, California. p. 24. ISSN   1083-9593.
  6. ↑ Nason, Josh (December 27, 2019). "NJPW NO LONGER AIRING ON AXS TV". F4WOnline. Wrestling Observer Newsletter . Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  7. ↑ "New Japan Pro Wrestling Won't Air in American TV In 2020". Uproxx . Warner Music Group. December 27, 2019. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  8. ↑ "NJPW Announced New Japan Pro Wrestling of America Subsidiary". f4wonline. October 21, 2019. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
  9. ↑ "New Japan Cup USA announced for NJPW STRONG debut 【NJoA】". New Japan Pro-Wrestling . Bushiroad . Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  10. ↑ "2020.08.07 NEW JAPAN CUP 2020 in the USA". New Japan Pro-Wrestling . Bushiroad. August 7, 2020. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  11. ↑ Vishwakoti, Anish (August 8, 2020). "8/7 NJPW Strong results: Anish V's review of Kenta vs. Karl Fredericks, Jeff Cobb vs. Tanga Loa, David Finlay vs. Chase Owens, and Brody King vs. Tama Tonga in New Japan Cup USA first round matches". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Last Row Media, LLC. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  12. ↑ "Watch NJPW STRONG on FITE! 【NJoA】". New Japan Pro-Wrestling . Bushiroad. August 19, 2020. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  13. ↑ "棚橋弘至『クライマックス今回』". 棚橋弘至 オフィシャルブログ powered by Ameba (in Japanese). Retrieved January 18, 2023.
  14. ↑ "NJPW of America, STRONG transform in 2023 【NJoA】". New Japan Pro-Wrestling . January 30, 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.