*Due to scheduling conflicts, this week’s New Japan Pro Wednesday is a dozen or so hours late. Apologies for the delay.
New President Causing Backstage Tension
As reported in the Wrestling Observer, NJPW President Harold Meij instituted an administrative culling that has caused backstage tensions. Meij became president of New Japan Pro Wrestling earlier this year, in the midst of a swell in business for the company, and set about releasing popular members of the NJPW office. These jobs were then filled by people from outside the wrestling industry, which has caused a culture clash akin to the stories of early-90s WCW.
It’s disheartening that Meij would dismantle the team that brought NJPW to a new financial boom period. Ticket sales have been up, and this year’s G1 Climax was the most viewed in the history of the tournament. Meij’s administrative moves suggest the company doubling down on their western expansion. As strong as NJPW is at home, it is fragile abroad. Fighting Spirit Unleashed on 9/30 was rife with empty seats, despite partnerships with Ring Of Honor, CMLL & RevPRO in western markets. Meij is trying to steer NJPW from a subsidiary of a Japanese trading card company, to a global entertainment brand. It’s possible that he’s moving too quickly, too soon.
Hopefully the backstage tensions are alleviated sooner, rather than later. These backstage tensions could be a backlash to NJPW’s relentless pursuit of western markets. It’s not hard to imagine a situation where wrestlers grow wary of current leadership, and set off on their own. It happened in 2001, when Mitsuharu Misawa took all but two members of the All Japan Pro Wrestling roster, and formed Pro Wrestling NOAH. Meij must be careful that he doesn’t let Manifest Destiny tear apart a nearly 50-year old company.
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