By admin 
New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), a titan in the global professional wrestling landscape, is poised to further solidify its presence in the United States with its highly anticipated event, "The New Beginning," taking place this Friday in Trenton, New Jersey. The CURE Insurance Arena will serve as the battleground for what promises to be a spectacular display of "strong-style" professional wrestling, a discipline renowned for its hard-hitting action and intense physicality.
Rocky Romero, a veteran NJPW performer and influential ambassador who also holds a prominent role in All Elite Wrestling (AEW), highlighted the strategic brilliance of choosing Trenton as the event’s host city. "New Japan Pro-Wrestling, obviously, has been doing shows for the last seven years in the United States, all over. Usually we hit New York and Philadelphia – we found a spot right in the middle in Trenton, New Jersey," Romero told Fox News Digital. He elaborated on the logistical advantage, stating, "I think it’s a good place to appeal to both markets and I think just overall, the excitement of coming back to the East Coast, New Japan Pro-Wrestling, it’s really an event unlike any other. The hard-hitting style of Japanese professional wrestling here on American soil. There’s nothing like it." This geographical positioning allows NJPW to tap into the passionate fan bases of two major metropolitan areas, maximizing accessibility and potential attendance.
The card for "The New Beginning" is stacked with a compelling lineup of talent, featuring both established NJPW stars and notable crossover talent from other promotions. A marquee singles match will see David Finlay go head-to-head with Fred Rosser. In a high-stakes championship bout, Ricochet will put his AEW National Championship on the line against the formidable Taiji Ishimori. The NJPW World Television Championship will also be contested, with champion El Phantasmo defending his title against the talented Kosuke Takeshita. Adding another layer of inter-promotional intrigue, IWGP Women’s Champion Syuri will face off against Ring of Honor (ROH) Women’s World Champion Athena in a clash of champions. Furthermore, AEW superstar Andrade El Idolo is set to challenge Yota Tsuji for the prestigious IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship, a testament to NJPW’s commitment to featuring top-tier talent and creating must-see matchups.
This series of events in New Jersey is a crucial component of NJPW’s broader strategy for expansion into the American market. The show marks the promotion’s return to the U.S. for the first time since July, signaling a renewed focus on building momentum and engaging with the North American audience. Romero emphasized that cultivating increased interest in NJPW among American wrestling fans has been a long-standing objective for the company, dating back to the mid-2010s.
"It’s always been the goal of New Japan since 2017-2018 to grow internationally," Romero explained. "They are the No. 1 wrestling promotion in Japan and all of Asia. So, it only makes sense to come to America and expand the product globally. A few years ago, maybe 10 years ago, there was no way to watch New Japan Wrestling but now it’s so easy. NJPWworld.com, you can just log in and it’s like $9 per month and anybody can watch from anywhere around the world." This accessibility through streaming services has democratized access to NJPW’s unique product, allowing fans worldwide to connect with the promotion’s distinct brand of wrestling.
Romero further articulated NJPW’s ambitious vision for global domination. "I think the mission now is to really take New Japan just further globally. And not only in the United States, but you’re looking at other places like now going to China, Australia is always there, the United Kingdom, possibly Germany. So, there’s different markets all around the world that I would be very interested in seeing the New Japan product." This strategic diversification into various international markets underscores NJPW’s commitment to becoming a truly global wrestling powerhouse, transcending geographical boundaries.
Beyond the convenience of streaming, Romero highlighted the significant role of strategic partnerships in NJPW’s growth trajectory. Collaborations with AEW and Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) have proven invaluable in expanding NJPW’s reach and influence. The current landscape of professional wrestling offers an unprecedented wealth of content for fans, with shows available on multiple days of the week. However, Romero asserts that NJPW distinguishes itself through its unique style and presentation.
"New Japan just brings something different," he told Fox News Digital. "I think the presentation feels similar to a big boxing match. When I used to watch as a kid like a (Mike) Tyson pay-per-view on HBO or something like that. It feels like that. I think bringing that flavor, and honestly the athleticism of our talent is just not comparable to anyone. And as well, just the style is just more focused on the in-ring. We do have great characters as well but it’s just our guys just take it to the next level in physicality and emotion." This emphasis on in-ring action, coupled with a presentation that evokes the grandeur of major sporting events, creates a distinct appeal for NJPW.
Romero elaborated on the immediate impact NJPW has on new viewers. "I think it’s just the way it’s presented just feels like, wow, this is something that’s really cool. A lot of fans that I think are casual fans who are used to watching North American professional wrestling, the first time they watch New Japan, they’re just kind of hooked – the energy of the crowd." This sentiment suggests that NJPW’s captivating blend of athleticism, intensity, and crowd engagement is a potent formula for converting casual observers into devoted fans.
Romero’s deep connection with New Japan Pro-Wrestling spans over a decade. His journey began in 2010, following prior stints in promotions like CMLL, Ring of Honor, and Lucha Libre AAA World Wide. He vividly recalls his debut in NJPW, a transition from performing in smaller venues to wrestling in front of a colossal crowd at the Tokyo Dome at the tender age of 20. "My first and biggest memory was my debut match in the Tokyo Dome in front of 50,000 people. And, you know, I’m just a kid. I’m a kid. And walking down the long ramp and seeing the sea of people, I remember somebody telling me like, ‘When you go out there, don’t look up too quick because you’re gonna see a bunch of people and you’re probably gonna get freaked out.’ And I couldn’t help but look up and there was a sea of people and I was freaked out. I was like, oh my gosh, this is really real and it’s really happening." This profound experience underscores the magnitude of performing on such a prestigious stage and the emotional impact it had on a young Romero.
Since his debut, Romero has cultivated a robust relationship with NJPW, evolving into a crucial "bridge builder" between the Japanese promotion and the North American wrestling scene. His current role in AEW, where he is partnered with Trent Beretta and aligned with the Don Callis Family faction, further solidifies this cross-promotional synergy. Romero expressed his contentment with his multifaceted roles, stating, "What’s cool about it is AEW, especially Tony Khan, has so much respect and so much love for New Japan and New Japan has always been supportive of AEW. I think it’s a partnership that really works and obviously it’s an essential partnership when you’re going against someone who has such a huge market share in WWE." This mutually beneficial relationship between AEW and NJPW is strategically vital in a competitive wrestling landscape.
The recent inclusion of CMLL into this alliance has further amplified the potential for dream matchups and compelling storytelling. "So, I think it’s very strategic and now that we’ve thrown CMLL into the mix, these three big promotions really working fluidly together and working on storylines that cross all three promotions and having talent go from each company and champions." This intricate web of collaborations allows for unprecedented cross-pollination of talent and narratives.
Romero firmly believes that the ultimate beneficiaries of these inter-promotional alliances are the fans. "I think the people who make out the most in this are fans because the fans get to see these dream matches and these dream situations. I think the fans are the ones who are winning the most on this." This sentiment encapsulates the excitement and anticipation generated by the possibility of seeing wrestlers from different promotions clash, creating unique and memorable moments for the audience. The "New Beginning" event in Trenton represents another significant step in NJPW’s ongoing mission to captivate a global audience with its distinct and exhilarating brand of professional wrestling.