New Japan Pro Wrestling’s highlights show on AXS-TV has been renewed with a multi-year after surprisingly strong viewership.
Season 3 will run from August 4th – December 11th on Friday nights (taking a week off for Thanksgiving). AXS-TV is looking for NJPW’s show to air weekly in 2016, regularly featuring matches taped only 3-4 months prior.
New Japan’s weekly show has been a surprise hit, averaging around 200,000 viewers – making it the #4 most watched national wrestling show in the United States. The fact that many of the top cable providers in the United States don’t carry AXS-TV makes the number even more impressive. RAW, Smackdown and Impact do better numbers – but [great] NJPW matches from last year are drawing more viewers than Ring of Honor on Destination America and Lucha Underground. Throw NXT into the mix and there really is a lot of good wrestling out from a diverse group of promotions.
Mauro Ranallo and Josh Barnett will be back for Season 3. For 5 weeks starting in October, they’ll call the action on matches from Wrestle Kingdom 9 only previously broadcast with Jim Ross and Matt Stryker on commentary.
Hit up Page 2 below for the official press release from AXS-TV regarding NJPW’s new multi-year deal.Â
