The relationship between AXS and New Japan Pro Wrestling has ended following the news Friday that the series will no longer be running on the network.
New Japan issued a statement that no more events, including Wrestle Kingdom 14, would be broadcast on AXS TV and encouraged viewers to join New Japan World.
In response to US fan queries
There are currently no plans for TV broadcast of NJPW events in 2020 (WK14 included) in the US.
Thank you for joining us on TV so far. We invite you to join @njpwworld for all the action in 2020, LIVE and in English!https://t.co/ldAvP7y3CH#njpw pic.twitter.com/C0gV2JuJ37
— NJPW Global (@njpwglobal) December 27, 2019
AXS TV has confirmed to POST Wrestling that they will no longer be airing episodes of New Japan.
The die was cast in recent weeks following the purchase of majority control of AXS TV by Anthem Sports and Entertainment. The deal was followed by a drastically reduced presence for New Japan on its U.S. broadcaster.
It had been previously reported that the deal between the two sides was set to expire in January 2021.
The deal to bring New Japan onto AXS TV was largely the work of Adam Swift, who was let go by AXS after the purchase by Anthem. The initial incarnation of the series featured Mauro Ranallo and Josh Barnett providing English commentary. The matches were accompanied by subtitled interviews from the talent that added layers to the matches in their presentation.
After Ranallo joined WWE in 2015, he was replaced by Jim Ross, who would later be signed by WWE in 2017 and worked concurrently calling matches on AXS TV while under contract to WWE for a time.
AXS TV’s prime wrestling content is their weekly airing of Impact Wrestling on Tuesday nights and is continuing to run WOW: Women of Wrestling on the station.
