AXS TV sent out the following press release on Tuesday, announcing that they will be airing in four parts the upcoming New Japan Wrestlekingdom 11 iPPV that takes place on January 4, 2017 from the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan beginning on January 13. It was also announced that the weekly NJPW on AXS TV series, hosted by WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross and UFC fighter Josh Barnett, will be renewed for 50 episodes in 2017.
AXS TV PRESENTS NEW JAPAN PRO WRESTLING’S ‘WRESTLE KINGDOM 11’ IN A SPECIAL FOUR-PART EVENT STARTING JANUARY 13
AXS TV Also Announces NJPW Has Been Renewed for Over 50 Episodes in 2017 and Will Move to an Hour Earlier at 8pE/5pP on Friday Nights
LOS ANGELES – Dec. 13, 2016
– AXS TV today announced it will present NEW JAPAN PRO WRESTLING’s biggest show of the year, WRESTLE KINGDOM 11, in a four-part TV event starting Friday, Jan. 13, the week after it takes place at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo. In addition to WRESTLE KINGDOM 11, AXS TV also renewed the popular weekly wrestling series for over 50 episodes in 2017 and it will premiere an hour earlier at 8pE/5pP.
AXS TV’s acclaimed commentary duo, WWE Hall-of-Famer Jim Ross and former UFC Heavyweight Champion and NJPW veteran Josh Barnett, will call the action for WRESTLE KINGDOM 11. The first of four Friday night WRESTLE KINGDOM episodes kicks off Jan. 13 with WRESTLE KINGDOM 11’s scheduled main event featuring four-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada, who defends his championship against 2016 G1 Climax Tournament Champion Kenny Omega. The highly anticipated bout is the first meeting between Okada and Omega, who was a breakout star in 2016.
The second episode on Friday, Jan. 20 will feature the scheduled co-main event match between NJPW legend Hiroshi Tanahashi and IWGP Intercontinental Champion Tetsuya Naito. The scheduled matches for the final two episodes from WRESTLE KINGDOM 11 will be announced at a later date.
“The response and critical acclaim for the NEW JAPAN PRO WRESTLING weekly series has exceeded our wildest expectations and we are looking forward to furthering our relationship in 2017,” said AXS TV FIGHTS CEO Andrew Simon. “We appreciate that TV Asahi and New Japan Pro Wrestling are allowing us to broadcast WRESTLE KINGDOM 11 to their loyal fans in the United States just a week after the event in Japan. This is a huge step for our companies and we hope to offer more events in this timely format in the future.”
“Wrestle Kingdom is a pro wrestling broadcaster’s dream event,” said Ross. “It’s the Japanese equivalent to the Super Bowl. The biggest NJPW stars in the most important bouts on the most lucrative card of the year where everyone brings their ‘A’ game in the Tokyo Dome!”
“Wrestle Kingdom is one of the greatest events in the world of professional wrestling year after year!” said Barnett. “The Tokyo Dome sets the stage for the biggest and best New Japan has to offer.”