New Japan Pro Wrestling once had one of the hottest television shows on AXS TV. Then Anthem Sports bought AXS TV and that suddenly changed.

Impact Wrestling found a new home on their parent company’s new network. That put NJPW in an awkward position and now they’re being ignored to a large extent.

There are currently no plans for AXS to air Wrestle Kingdom 14 special. That is pretty notable since Wrestle Kingdom will be two nights next month meaning that they could generate even more attention with multiple specials.

Dave Meltzer noted that the NJPW and AXS TV deal is ending one year early. The network has “lost interest in promoting a rival company to the company they own.”

This was not an issue with ratings. NJPW “run the same market as Impact.” That is the issue.

AXS TV fired lot of people when Anthem took over. That included “all the key people who made the New Japan deal.” Now we’ll just have to see where NJPW might land on television next.

December 28, 2019 9:05 am

I love pro wrestling and hate BS. These two things drive me. Years of experience in writing, journalism, and digging exclusive insider info for Ringside News. Worked in finance before realizing pro wrestling journalism made much less sense. Pro beachballs at pro wrestling shows, pro dives if someone catches, anti bullies, olives, and pineapples on pizza.

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