ODDS and EVENS | NJPW Strives for a Bigger Foothold in Asia and Beyond

To expand its global appeal, a sport needs to actively promote itself and its stars beyond a nation's borders. New Japan Pro-Wrestling, aka NJPW, is a prime example.

This topic was addressed during a news conference at The Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan in Tokyo on Wednesday, June 17.

Hiroshi Tanahashi, the president of New Japan Pro-Wrestling, and wrestler Aaron Wolf, the Olympic men's 100-kg division judo champion at the pandemic-delayed 2020 Tokyo Games, shared their insights on this subject at the media gathering. The theme of the event: "Japanese pro wrestling's global vision."

Wolf made his highly publicized NJPW debut at Wrestle Kingdom 20 on January 4, 2026, at Tokyo Dome, winning the NEVER openweight championship against an opponent named EVIL.

After losing the title in February, Wolf regained it on June 14 at the NJPW Dominion event in Osaka, defeating Ren Narita in a spirited rematch.

"My time as a pro wrestler is still quite short, so I have perhaps much to learn or improve," Wolf, 30, said. "However, I believe that with the technique, stamina and strength that I have developed within judo, and also the technique and the new mental side as well, which I am also learning from CEO Tanahashi, I would like to continue as an athlete or a wrestler in somewhat of a hybrid way."

How so?

"Based on my experience within judo, and also within the field of pro wrestling," Wolf continued. He added, "I believe that this is something where I have a particular contribution that I can make."

Origins of New Japan Pro-Wrestling

NJPW was founded by the wrestler, mixed-martial arts fighter and future politician Antonio Inoki in 1972. (Inoki faced boxing great Muhammad Ali in a boxing/MMA exhibition bout at Tokyo's Nippon Budokan on June 26, 1976, a week after they appeared together at an FCCJ press conference.)

One of NJPW's major meets is Wrestle Kingdom, which has been held every January since 1992 at Tokyo Dome.

In addition, NJPW aims to continue growing its fanbase outside of Japan.

"New Japan Pro-Wrestling has been proactively holding tournaments internationally, including in the United States, the United Kingdom and parts of Asia, including Taiwan," Tanahashi told the news conference. "And New Japan Pro-Wrestling has since 2014 been holding the New Japan World subscription service, which predominantly in the English-speaking world has contributed to expanding our fans globally.

"Particularly pro wrestling fans from the United States of WWE and so on have been really seeing the appeal of the New Japan style of wrestling. … And within Japanese pro wrestling, when the wrestlers are fighting in the ring, you can really see or experience the emotions within [a] fight as well, and it places this prioritized emphasis on the human story of wrestling."

NJPW's Upcoming International Competition

Wolf is scheduled to compete in a preliminary qualifier on June 23 for a berth in the 20-man field for G1 Climax 36. This marquee wrestling event is set to be held on July 11 in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, near Chicago.

The 100-kg men's judo world champion in 2017, Wolf emphasized his goal of staying active in the ring, gaining experience as a wrestler by frequently competing.

In summary, Wolf pointed out this is important "for my own strength and growth as a pro wrestler."

Speaking to the FCCJ audience, the son of a Japanese mother and American father described wrestling as a competition in which you "put all of your strength and all of your skill" into a match, whereas an opponent's strengths are also showcased at the same time.

As for judo, Wolf said "you are trying to avoid that the opponent will do something towards you."

Wolf's mindset as a wrestler is different, he pointed out. He summed it up by saying he's "not wanting to avoid what they are trying to do towards you, and taking that on as part of it (the challenge) as well."

Future Goals for NJPW

Tanahashi, 49, retired as a pro wrestler in January, competing for the final time at the event where Wolf made his NJPW debut.

The NJPW president traced the history of wrestling in Japan as part of his response to a question about popular aspects of "Brand Japan" overseas.

"It's quite interesting that pro wrestling was something that was initially introduced from the United States to Japan, for example, by Rikidozan [in the 1950s] and so on," Tanahashi said. "Then New Japan Pro-Wrestling was born. And now through this different taste of tournaments being done by New Japan Pro-Wrestling in the United States, this means that international fans can enjoy this phenomenon."

Looking ahead, Tanahashi told the FCCJ audience that he hopes NJPW will hold an event in the near future at New York City's Madison Square Garden, a venue he described as a "holy place" and "historical" for pro wrestling.

In the past, NJPW has staged events in Taiwan, Thailand and Indonesia. The organization is seeking to line up a tournament in South Korea, while "thinking about the possibility" of also doing so in China, Tanahashi said.

Furthermore, he said future cooperation with existing pro wrestling associations in South Korea and China is another option for increasing NJPW's presence and further expansion in Asia.

Could the Great O-Khan (Tomoyuki Oka), one of NJPW's most popular wrestlers, lead a tour in Mongolia?

Reacting to that question, Tanahashi smiled and said, "Nice idea."

"He has a really wonderful character," the NJPW president said of the Great O-Khan. "So I think he also has the potential for becoming very popular with fans throughout Asia as well."