TV Asahi, Stardom’s Taro Okada comment on future of NJPW following ownership change

Following Wednesday’s surprise news that TV Asahi and CyberAgent had acquired the majority of shares in New Japan Pro Wrestling from Bushiroad, the Japanese broadcast outlet has spoken about the deal to Tokyo Sport.

In the story (translated into English), an unnamed spokesperson said the deal was made “to further strengthen cooperation in the development and rollout of content and IP, and to work together to create powerful content and IP with an eye toward global expansion, thereby further increasing the corporate value of both companies.”

Bushiroad, which oversaw NJPW through its 2010s revival and international expansion efforts, transferred all of its shares in the promotion to TV Asahi and CyberAgent, making the wrestling brand a consolidated subsidiary of the broadcaster with support from the massive entertainment company publicly traded in Japan.

In terms of how they are going to run it, the only comment relayed was from Tokyo Sport who wrote “it is highly likely that a new system will be established with TV Asahi as the main operator.”

The article also mentions Stardom and speculates as to the future of the women’s brand. It included a quote from Stardom president Taro Okada who said that “coordination between the two sides will start from here” but they would like to continue working together.

Both NJPW president Hiroshi Tanahashi and Bushiroad founder Takaaki Kidani issued positive statements about the change Wednesday.

We’ll have more on this story with Dave Meltzer and Bryan Alvarez tonight on Wrestling Observer Radio.

Hiroshi Tanahashi, Takaaki Kidani issue statements on NJPW ownership change

NJPW president Hiroshi Tanahashi has issued a statement assuring fans that the promotion remains committed to its mission of delivering the best wrestling possible.

News broke early Wednesday morning that ownership of NJPW has changed hands with Bushiroad transferring all of its shares to TV Asahi and CyberAgent. In a statement posted to NJPW’s Japanese website, Tanahashi expressed his gratitude for the support Bushiroad has given during its 14 years leading the promotion. NJPW hopes to achieve significant growth under its new owners while continuing to deliver the product fans expect.

Tanahashi wrote:

  • To all New Japan Pro-Wrestling fans and everyone who has supported and assisted us,
  • We are pleased to announce that Bushiroad Co., Ltd. will be transferring its shares in our company to TV Asahi Corporation and CyberAgent, Inc. Bushiroad became our parent company in 2012, and through various forms of support — including large-scale advertising campaigns — it has enabled New Japan Pro-Wrestling to achieve significant growth. We are deeply grateful.
  • To repay this kindness, we will now strive as a consolidated subsidiary of TV Asahi, with the support of CyberAgent, to achieve significant growth for New Japan Pro-Wrestling as a united company. Our mission to create the best possible wrestling and provide entertainment for all of you remains unchanged. We sincerely ask for your continued support and encouragement.

Takaaki Kidani statement —

Takaaki Kidani, a wrestling fan and the founder of Bushiroad, put out his own statement reflecting on the time he spent overseeing NJPW. He called the ownership change a positive step, with TV Asahi and CyberAgent able to maximize NJPW’s video assets and advance its digital media operations.

Kidani wrote:

  • Thank you very much for your continued support of New Japan Pro-Wrestling.
  • Today, we have decided to transfer all of our shares in New Japan Pro-Wrestling to TV Asahi and CyberAgent. We realize this announcement may come as a surprise to many of our fans.
  • In 2012, at a major turning point when New Japan Pro-Wrestling was aiming for its next phase of growth, we had the privilege of welcoming the company into our group. Over the past 14 years, believing in the power of pro-wrestling as a wonderful form of entertainment, we have worked tirelessly alongside all of you to bring its appeal to an even wider audience.
  • Thanks to these efforts, at the Tokyo Dome event on January 4 of this year, we recorded an attendance of 46,913, achieving a sold-out crowd for the first time in 28 years. Having overcome the challenge of generational transition, young stars in their 20s and 30s are now rising one after another, shining brilliantly in the ring. As Bushiroad, it is a great source of pride in my life to have witnessed New Japan Pro-Wrestling grow so powerfully and to be able to pass the baton to the next generation.
  • However, for New Japan Pro-Wrestling to make even greater strides globally and continue its golden age, it is essential to maximize the use of our accumulated video assets and evolve into a diversified revenue-generating business centered on a powerful streaming platform.
  • Therefore, I am convinced that the best course of action is to entrust the future to the very best possible owners: first, by returning the reins to TV Asahi, our partner since our founding who has consistently supported New Japan Pro-Wrestling through terrestrial broadcasts; and second, by welcoming CyberAgent as a partner to bring a breath of fresh air through cutting-edge digital media.
  • To all our fans, and to the wrestlers and staff who have continued to support New Japan with their passionate battles, thank you so much for walking alongside Bushiroad all this time. Your passion and cheers have been our greatest driving force.
  • Although [NJPW is] parting ways with Bushiroad, I can confidently say that the future of New Japan Pro-Wrestling is brighter than ever. As a passionate pro-wrestling fan myself, I will continue to cheer on the new golden age that you all will create.
  • Thank you so much for the past 14 years. Please look forward to the future of New Japan Pro-Wrestling.

NJPW ownership transfer —

Before this transfer, Bushiroad — a trading card company — owned 70 percent of NJPW and TV Asahi owned 22.7 percent. TV Asahi and CyberAgent now each own 46.3 percent. The promotion will operate as a “consolidated subsidiary” of TV Asahi while receiving support from CyberAgent.

TV Asahi is NJPW’s longtime broadcast partner and also owns a stake in the NJPW World streaming service. CyberAgent operates the streaming platform Abema and already owns Pro Wrestling NOAH, DDT Pro Wrestling, and Tokyo Joshi Pro through its subsidiary CyberFight.

The share transfer is valued at approximately 3.6 billion yen, which is roughly $22.6 million.

NJPW announces ownership change with Bushiroad transferring all shares

A huge story in professional wrestling broke overnight with ownership of NJPW changing hands.

Bushiroad, which oversaw NJPW through its 2010s revival and international expansion efforts, announced that it has transferred all of its shares in the promotion to TV Asahi and CyberAgent. NJPW now becomes a “consolidated subsidiary” of TV Asahi with support from CyberAgent.

TV Asahi is NJPW’s longtime broadcast partner and already owned 22.7 percent of the voting shares in the promotion. Bushiroad owned 70 percent of NJPW, with the transfer of their shares being broken down into 3,550,200 shares to TV Asahi and 6,950,200 shares to CyberAgent. TV Asahi and CyberAgent now own an equal number of shares at 46.3 percent.

The share transfer is valued at approximately 3.6 billion yen, or roughly $22.6 million.

CyberAgent (through its subsidiary CyberFight) already owns three of Japan’s biggest wrestling companies in Pro Wrestling NOAH, DDT Pro Wrestling, and Tokyo Joshi Pro, so it will be interesting to see how closely NJPW collaborates with them going forward. CyberAgent operates the streaming platform Abema, which broadcasts WWE content in Japan. However, WWE programming will be moving to Netflix in Japan before the end of 2026.

In statements regarding the share transfer, NJPW says this will be a good move for the company given TV Asahi’s strong broadcasting and video business base and CyberAgent’s excellent digital media operations. NJPW does not plan to make any changes to its event schedule. As for NJPW World, its future has not been directly addressed, but TV Asahi has been part-owner since the streaming service’s launch and controls the NJPW video library.

“Currently, we have no plans to make any changes to our various business operations, including the events we organize, as a result of this Share Transfer,” NJPW said. “We would like to express our gratitude to Bushiroad, which has supported our business for many years as our largest shareholder, and we look forward to working together with TV Asahi and CyberAgent to further expand our business.”

NJPW/Stardom relationship —

One potentially significant change is that Bushiroad still owns Stardom, meaning that NJPW and Stardom are no longer under the same umbrella. NJPW transferred its ownership stake in Stardom to Bushiroad back in March.

Stardom president Taro Okada — who also works for NJPW — tweeted that the two promotions will continue to work together as fellow members of the Japanese wrestling community.

Bushiroad’s NJPW ownership history —

Bushiroad, a Japanese trading card company led by wrestling fan Takaaki Kidani, acquired NJPW from Yuke’s in 2012. The following years were an important period for NJPW as the promotion continued to break out of its dark ages and find business success during the Hiroshi Tanahashi & Kazuchika Okada era. Developments in streaming technology meant that NJPW was now able to broadcast its events live worldwide, which helped build the NJPW fan base internationally and give existing fans easier access to the product.

The impacts of COVID brought another lull as the Japanese wrestling scene was hit hard economically. But the final Wrestle Kingdom of the Bushiroad era did serve as a high point, with NJPW selling out the Tokyo Dome this January for Tanahashi’s retirement match. Tanahashi currently serves as NJPW’s real-life president amid this ownership change.

“Our mission to create the best wrestling and bring joy to everyone remains unchanged,” Tanahashi said. “We sincerely appreciate your continued support and encouragement.”

NJPW agrees to transfer Stardom shares to parent company

NJPW has agreed to give shares of Stardom to its parent company.

The company announced on Tuesday that they have agreed to give their share of their sister company Stardom to Bushiroad, which is the parent company of both promotions.

“We hereby announce that at a Board of Directors meeting held on March 25, 2026, we resolved to transfer all of our shares in Stardom Co., Ltd. to our parent company, Bushiroad Co., Ltd,” they wrote on their website.

Bushiroad first acquired Stardom back in 2019. In 2024, it was announced that New Japan Pro Wrestling would fully acquire the company. One of Stardom’s original owners, Rossy Ogawa, was fired from the company in 2024 after being accused of poaching talent.

On Tuesday, Stardom announced the first matches for their event that will take place during WrestleMania weekend, American Dream 2026. These include Alex Windsor vs. Saya Iida for the NJPW Strong Women’s title,  Mei Seira, Starlight Kid, and AZM vs. Babes of Wrath and Kris Statlander, Athena vs. Rina, and Maika & Mina Shirakawa vs. Hanako and Yuria Hime.

Bushiroad fires Stardom founder Rossy Ogawa

Stardom founder Rossy Ogawa is no longer employed as their parent company announced Sunday night that they have terminated his contract.

In their statement, Bushiroad stated the reason was because they learned he had “poached many Stardom players and staff.”

From their statement (via Google Translate)

“Since 2019, our company has entered into a contract with Rossy Ogawa, the founder of Stardom, and has appointed him as an executive producer and outsourced work related to Stardom. However, we would like to inform you that we have come to know that he has poached many Stardom players and staff, and we have decided to cancel this contract.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you. As a company, we will continue to aim for the further development of Stardom, and the players and staff will continue to work together to deliver excitement to all the fans, so we will continue to receive the same compliments as before. I am very fortunate.”

The release didn’t go into further detail about Ogawa’s alleged actions.

Ogawa posted on X Sunday night that he was told about his firing after Stardom’s Saturday night event and that “the truth of the matter may be told someday” and that he is “worried about the players right now.”

After thanking Ogawa on X for creating the company ten hours prior, the company later announced on X that wrestlers and staff were told about his firing after the event.

The 66-year-old promoter founded Stardom in 2010, selling the company to Bushiroad, owners of New Japan Pro Wrestling, in 2019.

This website’s Bryan Alvarez posted on X that “the Stardom story is way bigger than just Rossy leaving” and that he and Dave Meltzer will have more on the situation on tonight’s Wrestling Observer Radio.

AEW head and NJPW partner Tony Khan seemed happy with the news, sharing the following on X:

WWE interested in Giulia, no tryout planned

Reigning NJPW Strong Women’s Champion Giulia has drawn interest from WWE, but there is no tryout for the 29-year-old currently on the books.

The reason: she is still under contract with Bushiroad until March 2024 with a verbal commitment for afterward, according to Dave Meltzer. 

Talking about the PWInsider report from Monday, Meltzer confirmed on Wrestling Observer Radio that there is interest from WWE but also that there has been since 2019. He said WWE confirmed with him they are interested, but the tryout isn’t happening.

He did not confirm whether she is interested in signing with WWE or anywhere other than Bushiroad when her deal is up. She currently lives in Japan.

While Giulia is set to visit the United States for January’s NJPW Battle in the Valley to defend her Strong title against Trish Adora, Meltzer said that unless Bushiroad gives her permission, she wouldn’t be allowed to do a tryout with WWE. He also added that her schedule is booked throughout the end of the year.

Since winning the title in July, Giulia has secured five title defenses with the most recent being at last month’s NJPW Strong Fighting Spirit Unleashed against Hyan. She is also part of the reigning Artist of Stardom trios champions along with Mai Sakurai & Thekla.

Mercedes Mone agrees to contract extension with NJPW/Stardom

Mercedes Mone and Bushiroad have agreed to an extension on her current NJPW/Stardom contract, according to Dave Meltzer.

The news comes hours before she is set to defend her IWGP Women’s title against Mayu Iwatani at Stardom All Star Grand Queendom later tonight.

Meltzer is also reporting that it’s believed Mone’s next match will be on an event in the U.S. He did not indicate the length of the extension.

There has been some question as to Mone’s contract status as Bushiroad previously confirmed her deal was to expire after tonight’s event. However, Mone had said in an interview that wasn’t the case, perhaps alluding to the fact a deal had already been done. In an interview this week, she said Japan was becoming her second home and that she was “committed to staying here to make history.”

Mone, the former Sasha Banks in WWE, debuted at January’s Wrestle Kingdom 17 and confronted then-champion KAIRI. She followed that up by defeating KAIRI for the title at February’s Battle in the Valley.

A disguised Mone made a surprise debut appearance in Stardom last Saturday, attacking Iwatani.

NJPW and Stardom reveal name for first-ever joint show

New details have been released regarding the joint NJPW and Stardom show on November 20. 

In a press release issued on Saturday, it was revealed that the event will be titled Historic X-Over. It was also announced that there will be mixed tag matches on the show. 

“With mixed tag matches, championship action and more besides, the top flight in both male and female wrestling will meet in Ariake, and the event title reflects just that,” reads NJPW1972.com. 

Fan club members will be able to purchase tickets beginning on August 18. Tickets will go on sale to the general public beginning September 23.

The event will take place from the Ariake Arena in Ariake, Tokyo, Japan. The venue was built for the 2020 Olympics and served as the venue for volleyball competitions. Its capacity for volleyball is listed at 12,000 fans. 

Bushiroad first announced they were planning a joint show featuring NJPW and Stardom on June 6. On Friday, it was revealed that the first-ever IWGP Women’s Champion will be decided on the November 20 show. 

Stardom match to take place at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 16

Stardom will take part in NJPW’s Wrestle Kingdom for the third consecutive year. 

NJPW announced that Stardom talent will take part in night two of Wrestle Kingdom 16 in Tokyo Dome on Wednesday, January 5, 2022. It was not stated whether this would be a main card match or a pre-show bout, but Stardom’s inclusion on NJPW cards in the past has been limited to the pre-show. 

Stardom and NJPW share the same parent company in Bushiroad. In addition to the Wrestle Kingdom pre-show bouts, Stardom matches also took place on the Wrestle Grand Slam in MetLife Dome pre-shows on September 4 and September 5 of this year. 

At Wrestle Kingdom 14, Mayu Iwatani and Arisa Hoshiki defeated Giulia and the late Hana Kimura. Two pre-show bouts were held on night two of Wrestle Kingdom 15, as AZM, Saya Kamitani and Utami Hayashishita defeated Himeka, Maika and Natsupoi in a trios match, plus Giulia and Syuri defeated Iwatani and Tam Nakano in a tag bout. 

Daily Update: Stephanie McMahon, Bushiroad, WWE Backstage ratings

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WON NEWSLETTER: June 1, 2020 Observer Newsletter: Death of Hana Kimura Dave Meltzer covers a sad week for pro wrestling, reviews AEW Double or Nothing, and more.

An extensive story on the death of Hana Kimura is the focal point of this week’s double issue of the Wrestling Observer.

The story covers numerous aspects, from cyber bullying to the realities of reality shows, comments from those who knew her well, pro wrestling and much more.  We look at everything from legislation being introduced, similar things with two reality stars in South Korea, and what happened on the show and after the show.

We look at why she was on Terrace House, her life as the daughter of a wrestler, her reality show story, what Terrace House is, what is and isn’t real, her death, the immediate reaction to her death in wrestling, cast members talk about the show, story of what happened the night of her death, reactions from wrestlers, reactions from politicians, as well as a look at her career in the ring.

The new issue also covers:

AEW Double or Nothing show, PPV numbers, poll results, what this says about PPV, wrestling in the previous depression, Stadium Stampede background, match-by-match coverage with star ratings and more.

More on WWE’s COVID-19 procedures at the last tapings, Matt Riddle to Smackdown, changes regarding usage of NXT talent on Raw or Smackdown, behind Drew Gulak signing new deal, what’s up with Nigel McGuinness, A.J. Styles to Smackdown, IC title tournament, Kairi Sane injury, Samoa Joe health update, Ric Flair talks new deal, highest sports ratings of the week, Canadian pro wrestling ratings, Ronda Rousey update, Drew McIntyre has words with Colby Covington, Next week’s TV, Seth Rollins talks Austin Theory, Becky Lynch update, value of WWE, and the most watched shows of the past week on the WWE network.

The ability of foreign wrestles and fighters to get into the U.S.

Safety precautions for the UFC shows in Las Vegas, what Nevada is mandating, as well as how the other major companies around the world are handling the situation.

AEW’s angle with Mike Tyson, the good and bad of it as well as notes on the coverage.

An update on the XFL bankruptcy and Vince McMahon.

Update the financial issues with DAZN.

WWE’s decision to follow AEW and use wrestlers as fans for the empty arena shows this pas week.

More on the death of Shad Gaspard and his memorial service.

Circumstances surrounding the death of Owen Hart including clearing up a lot of misconceptions that have been spread over the last 20 years. 

WWE and AEW television shows from the past week.

Ratings of all the major shows, the key demos and quarters for AEW and WWE, what happened head-to-head and what can be learned from them.

Results of all the major pro wrestling events around the world over the past week. 

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WEDNESDAY NEWS UPDATE

WWE

  • Stephanie McMahon posted a tweet today vowing to use her voice for anyone who has ever felt the impact and fear of racial injustice: “‘In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends’ – MLK. I love and support my Black friends and colleagues. To everyone who has ever felt the impact and fear of racial injustice, I will use my voice for you.”
  • Pete Dunne, Tyler Bate, and Trent Seven sold 2,000 T-shirts in under 24 hours to raise money for Black Lives Matter.
  • Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced today that the state will be moving to phase two of their reopening on June 5. Part of phase two reads: “Entertainment businesses, including but not limited to movie theaters, concert houses, auditoriums, playhouses, bowling alleys and arcades, may operate at 50 percent capacity with appropriate social distancing and sanitization protocols.”
  • WWE Backstage scored 121,000 viewers last night, down from the 125,000 the show scored last week. It ranked #143 for the night.
  • Wrestletalk reported that Chelsea Green has been discussed as a potential call-up to the WWE main roster.
  • In an interview with Sports Illustrated, Triple H spoke about the importance of the NXT Women’s Championship: “The NXT women’s title is one of the most meaningful ones in the business. That is a testament to all the women who played a role in that. The women in NXT, they’ve got something to prove. They’re really going out of their way to make a name for themselves.”
  • Ric Flair, JTG, Gallus, Drave Maverick, and Darren Young were guests on today’s episode of The Bump. The Street Profits have been announced for next week’s show.
  • A special edition of The Bump will air on Sunday featuring X-Pac, Mauro Ranallo, Keith Lee, and Mia Yim.
  • On The Bump it was revealed that, in storyline, Elias has been discharged from the hospital following the hit and run storyline on SmackDown last Friday.
  • Road Dogg will be this week’s guest on Corey Graves’ After the Bell podcast.
  • Edge will star with Kelsey Grammer and Denise Richards in “Money Plane,” an action movie that is due to be released on digital platforms on July 10.
  • Today’s free matches added to WWE’s YouTube page include Samoa Joe vs. Finn Balor from NXT TakeOver: The End and Kurt Angle vs. Edge from Backlash 2002.

Other Wrestling

  • Bushiroad said today in a statement that they are restarting live events in the wake of emergency orders being lifted across Japan. They also said that everyone in both New Japan Pro Wrestling and Stardom will undergo antibody tests.
  • After it was announced that she’s coming to the promotion, Deonna Purrazzo will make her first appearance on next Tuesday’s episode of Impact. Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace will also defend her title against Taya Valkyrie on the episode.
  • Cash Wheeler announced that FTR will be auctioning off ring-worn items to raise money for Black Lives Matter charities on Friday and auctioning ring-worn items in support of Pride Month on Tuesday, with there also being items donated and signed by Sonya Deville. FTR plan on matching and donating any amount they raise with the auctions.
  • Flip Gordon spoke to Wrestling Inc about his new contract with ROH.
  • ROH stars will play Dungeons & Dragons on their YouTube channel this Saturday at 7 p.m. ET. Participants include Cheeseburger, Session Moth Martina, Beer City Bruiser, Joe Hendry, and Brawler Milonas.
  • DDP bestowed the Diamond Cutter to QT Marshall.
  • Sugar Dunkerton is the guest on the latest episode of Talk is Jericho.

MMA

  • The first episode of UFC 250 Embedded is now available. 
  • Rose Namajunas vs. Jessica Andrade has been set for July 11, while a fight between Carla Esparza and Marina Rodriguez is being targeted for July 15.
  • Rafael dos Anjos is interested in a number of fights, including Anthony Pettis and Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson.
  • Former UFC fighter Takeya Mizugaki, 36, has announced his retirement from MMA.
  • UFC has a video on the rise of Sean O’Malley. 
  • Tim Sylvia wrote on Instagram that he is still having trouble from the broken arm he suffered when he fought Frank Mir back in 2004: :So my arm been giving me problems for over a year now. The screws are backing out from my arm break when i fought @thefrankmir my dr. Contacted the @ufc cause it was paid for by them the first time. Sort of under workman’s comp. The ufc says it’s not there problem and will not cover it. I don’t have insurance and it’s going to cost well over 10,000 dollars to get fixed. Any thoughts on what i should do?:

Daily Pro Wrestling History: All-time classic Misawa vs. Kawada match

CONTACT INFORMATION

NJPW parent company Bushiroad acquires Stardom

World Wonder Ring Stardom, the Japanese women’s pro wrestling company best known as Stardom, has been sold to Kix Road, a subsidiary of Bushiroad, in a deal announced Thursday afternoon in Japan.

The story is likely to be misinterpreted as either New Japan buying Stardom, a merger between the two groups, or that New Japan will start using women wrestlers on their shows. None of this would be accurate.

But what is accurate is New Japan and Stardom would both be owned by the same parent company, but they are being run and kept completely separate. Stardom will be under the umbrella of Kix Road, which is the parent company of Knock Out, the Bushiroad kickboxing company.

As part of the deal, Kix Road, on December 1, Kix Road Co,. Ltd will have its name changed to Bushiroad Fight Co, Ltd. There are no plans for any interaction between Knock out and Stardom.

Hiroshi “Rossy” Ogawa will remain CEO of the women’s wrestling promotion, which will main using the name Stardom, but World Wonder Ring Stardom will no longer exist as a company.

There will be people at Bushiroad joining Stardom to work in the front office but the Stardom staff will stay in place.

Bushiroad’s role will be attempting through advertising and television to build the popularity of the brand, similar to how the resurgence of New Japan Pro Wrestling was built.

As part of the deal, a TV show will air on BS NTV and Tokyo MX starting in January, with the BS NTV show being a 30 minute show on Thursdays.

The streaming service Stardom World will remain the exclusive for Stardom events. New Japan World will not be streaming Stardom, and with New Japan World part-owned by TV-Asahi and the Stardom TV deal with rival NTV, politically that would be almost impossible to work out.

There are no plans at present for Stardom talent to appear on New Japan shows, or vice versa. However, if New Japan does see a demand for women’s matches on foreign shows, where there is no sign of any at this point, this will give them easier access to broker a deal for such talent. 

Bushiroad will begin marketing Stardom in January with more advertising in wrestling magazines, on billboards and on television, and will be marketed as part of the Bushiroad family.

As an example, on December 7 and December 8, Stardom talent will participate in CharaExpo 2019 at the Anaheim Convention Center, with a main event of Mayu Iwatani & Tam Nakano vs.Samie Sakai & Nicole Savoy.

The Stardom talent will also be signed to full-time contracts.