And in This Corner: A Rival from Japan Takes on the Pro Wrestling Establishment
- 6 years ago
And in This Corner: A Rival from Japan Takes on the Pro Wrestling Establishment
Founded in 1972 by the wrestler Antonio Inoki, New Japan Pro-Wrestling has carefully developed a reputation rooted in old-school tradition
and reverence — one quite unlike the image Mr. Cuban has perfected for himself as the flamboyant owner of the Dallas Mavericks and on the television show “Shark Tank.”
But Mr. Cuban, who once got slammed through a table during an appearance with World Wrestling Entertainment,
has now made New Japan a staple of his AXS cable network’s Friday night lineup.
Network — in December 2014.
does the ‘entertainment’ part of ‘sports entertainment’ so, so well,” said Cody Rhodes, a New Japan star who left W. W.E.
A company like New Japan builds the set, fills the seats, but allows us to do what we do how we want to do it.”
For years, wrestling in Japan was seen as a rite of passage for foreigners.
Now with Japan as their base, Mr. Rhodes and his North American colleagues Matt
and Nick Jackson and Kenny Omega — collectively known as The Bullet Club — have become among the most popular wrestlers in the industry.
“New Japan does the ‘sports’ part of ‘sports entertainment’ like nobody else.”
Last year, New Japan sold out its first two shows in the United States,
and all the seats for an event on Sunday in Long Beach, Calif., were gone shortly after going on sale in January.
Founded in 1972 by the wrestler Antonio Inoki, New Japan Pro-Wrestling has carefully developed a reputation rooted in old-school tradition
and reverence — one quite unlike the image Mr. Cuban has perfected for himself as the flamboyant owner of the Dallas Mavericks and on the television show “Shark Tank.”
But Mr. Cuban, who once got slammed through a table during an appearance with World Wrestling Entertainment,
has now made New Japan a staple of his AXS cable network’s Friday night lineup.
Network — in December 2014.
does the ‘entertainment’ part of ‘sports entertainment’ so, so well,” said Cody Rhodes, a New Japan star who left W. W.E.
A company like New Japan builds the set, fills the seats, but allows us to do what we do how we want to do it.”
For years, wrestling in Japan was seen as a rite of passage for foreigners.
Now with Japan as their base, Mr. Rhodes and his North American colleagues Matt
and Nick Jackson and Kenny Omega — collectively known as The Bullet Club — have become among the most popular wrestlers in the industry.
“New Japan does the ‘sports’ part of ‘sports entertainment’ like nobody else.”
Last year, New Japan sold out its first two shows in the United States,
and all the seats for an event on Sunday in Long Beach, Calif., were gone shortly after going on sale in January.