on friday It has been reported that New Japan Pro-Wrestling is ceasing operations with its American subsidiary, New Japan Pro-Wrestling of America Inc. With that closing, it was announced that NJPW’s Los Angeles Dojo, the NJPW Academy (its chosen name from 2023), would also close for eight years, supporting the talent and today’s young AJP partners.
By: Wrestling Observer Journalist Brian Alvarez, speaking to those involved with the dojo, reported that despite how sad they were to find out it would be closing for good, some were “shocked” the news didn’t come out sooner.
“From talking to a lot of people involved over the years, it feels like the closing of the NJPW USA Dojo wasn’t a real surprise, a few even said they were shocked it didn’t happen sooner, but overall everyone was sad not only for an era to end, but because so many good people worked and still work there,” Alvarez said.
Opening its doors in 2018, the Los Angeles Dojo served as the training ground where Katsuyori Shibata (former Head Coach) took the helm, passing on the traditions of Strongstyle from the trailblazing Antonio Inoki to current and aspiring wrestlers hungry to expand their techniques. It also served as an expansion office to help NJPW reach its customers in the United States. Some notable athletes who have come through the dojo include Carl Fredericks, Clark Connors, Alex Coughlin, Gabe Kidd, Ren Narita, Kevin Knight, Yuya Uemura, and The DKC, as well as KUSHIDA, Fred Rosser, and Rocky Romero, who previously served as trainers.
As previously mentioned, NJPW will continue to compete in the United States with separate shows. They are powered and supported by TV Asahi and the media conglomerate CyberAgent that started this past May.