Sports · Other Sports · 14 hrs ago
NJPW closes its US subsidiary and Los Angeles dojo
New Japan Pro-Wrestling is closing its US subsidiary and its academy in Carson, California.
The subsidiary, New Japan Pro-Wrestling of America, was founded in 2019 as part of the promotion’s effort to expand globally.
Former UFC fighter and pro wrestler Josh Barnett said he offered to run the dojo, including training, classes and local events.
The offer did not go ahead, and Barnett said the company appeared to view the costs and debt as too high.
The closures end the promotion’s US subsidiary and dojo, but NJPW events in North America will continue with support from its parent group, TV Asahi.
The promotion says this arrangement is part of a new chapter in its global expansion.
New Japan Pro-Wrestling announced that its US subsidiary, New Japan Pro-Wrestling of America Inc., will cease operations and enter liquidation.
The company also confirmed the closure of its Los Angeles dojo, the NJPW Academy.
NJPW said it made the decision as it optimizes management resources in a rapidly changing business environment.
The promotion said North American events will continue with the backing and resources of the TV Asahi group.
Former wrestler Josh Barnett said he had offered to take over the US training program and related operations, but the proposal did not proceed.
- Who
- New Japan Pro-Wrestling announced the closures. Its subsidiary is New Japan Pro-Wrestling of America Inc.
- What
- The US subsidiary will cease operations and enter liquidation, and the Los Angeles dojo will close.
- When
- NJPW announced the subsidiary closure on Friday, November 6, 2026. The dojo closure was confirmed as part of the shutdown.
- Where
- The closures affect NJPW’s US subsidiary and its academy in Los Angeles, California.
- Why
- NJPW cited optimization of management resources in a rapidly changing business environment. Barnett said the cost compared with debt appeared to make closure the best move in the company’s view.
Josh Barnett
NJPW
Proposed future of the US program
Josh Barnett
Barnett offered to take over training, classes, local shows and more.
NJPW
NJPW announced that its US subsidiary would cease operations and enter liquidation.
Assessment of the dojo
Josh Barnett
Barnett said the asset was not being fully used and could become a crown jewel with the right direction.
NJPW
NJPW cited management resource allocation as the reason for closing the subsidiary; it did not give a separate reason for the dojo closure.
NJPW founded its American subsidiary, New Japan Pro-Wrestling of America Inc.
NJPW announced that the subsidiary would cease operations and enter liquidation.
Barnett said on social media that he had offered to take over the US program, but the proposal had not come to fruition.
NJPW confirmed that the NJPW Academy in Los Angeles would close as part of the shutdown.
- US subsidiary
- New Japan Pro-Wrestling of America Inc.
- Subsidiary founded
- 2019
- Los Angeles facility
- NJPW Academy
- North American events
- To continue with the backing and resources of the TV Asahi group
- Barnett’s proposal
- Take over US training, classes and local shows
6 sources
Josh Barnett offered to run NJPW United States dojo prior to closure
NJPW To Shut Down American Subsidiary After Seven Years
NJPW Announces Closure Of American Subsidiary
What people are saying
As NJPW continues to optimize allocation of management resources in a rapidly changing business environment, the decision was made to close the subsidiary, which was founded in 2019.
with the full backing and resources of the TV Asahi group, as part of a new chapter in NJPW’s ongoing global expansion.
I had offered to take over the whole program in the US – Training, classes, running local shows, and more.
Unfortunately, the cost versus debt was so bad it would seem, that closing it was the best move in their eyes.
Posts on X
【お知らせ】 新日本プロレスの連結子会社 New Japan Pro-Wrestling of America Inc.に関して https://t.co/JdD3N20nNo #njpw
Since this is going down today here's a little info: I had offered to take over the whole program in the US - Training, classes, running local shows, and more. I could tell that there was a very expensive asset here that wasn't being fully used, but knew with the right