AXS TV sent in word that for the first time ever, the network will present NJPW Wrestle Kingdom with a same-day “near-live” two-hour broadcast on Friday, January 4 at 8pm (Eastern). Here’s the official press release, including a full schedule of their New Japan coverage through February.
AXS TV KICKS OFF REAL-TIME COVERAGE OF NEW JAPAN PRO WRESTLING WITH ITS FIRST EVER SAME-DAY BROADCAST OF WRESTLE KINGDOM 13 ON FRIDAY, JAN. 4 AT 8pE/5pP
Los Angeles (Nov. 21, 2018) – AXS TV ushers in a new era of its NEW JAPAN PRO WRESTLING (NJPW) coverage with real-time same-week coverage of the promotions’ biggest events in 2019. The new schedule kicks off with a same-day near-live two-hour broadcast of NJPW’s biggest event of the year, Wrestle Kingdom 13, on Friday, Jan. 4 at 8pE/5pP.
The Wrestle Kingdom special is headlined by IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kenny Omega vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi and IWGP Intercontinental Champion Chris Jericho vs. Tetsuya Naito, and will feature the network debut of the NJPW commentary team of Kevin Kelly and Don Callis.
“Same-day coverage of NJPW’s Wrestle Kingdom 13 ushers in a new era of NJPW on AXS TV,” said AXS TV FIGHTS CEO Andrew Simon. “Based on the tremendous growth of NJPW on AXS TV, we are making major changes to reward wrestling fans by delivering NJPW in primetime on Friday nights as close to when it takes place as possible.”
AXS TV produces the English language version of NEW JAPAN PRO WRESTLING in association with TV ASAHI CORPORATION, the distributor of NJPW.
AXS TV’s upcoming NJPW schedule is as follows (subject to change):
- Jan. 4 – Wrestle Kingdom 13 (2 hours)
- Jan. 11 – Wrestle Kingdom 13 (2 hours)
- Jan. 18 – Wrestle Kingdom 13
- Jan. 25 – New Year Dash
- Feb. 1 – New Year Dash
- Feb. 8 – New Beginning in Sapporo
- Feb. 15 – New Beginning in Sapporo
- Feb. 22 – New Beginning in Sapporo
