Takami Ohbari says NJPW's dream came true with NJPW STRONG.
New Japan Pro-Wrestling launched NJPW STRONG in 2020, largely as an attempt to pivot its expansion into the United States despite the travel restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Once travel opened back up, NJPW STRONG became a touring brand and started holding its own events in the United States. NJPW STRONG continues to hold some pay-per-view shows throughout the year, but NJPW took a new approach with its format by having the weekly show shift to an on demand model earlier in 2023.
On July 4 and July 5, NJPW STRONG made its debut in Japan with NJPW STRONG Independence Day, a two-day show that emanated from Korakuen Hall. The event featured several buzzworthy matches and included names like Jon Moxley, Eddie Kingston, Willow Nightingale, Hiroshi Tanahashi, and more.
In a tweet, NJPW President Takami Ohbari shared his thoughts on the growth of NJPW STRONG and noted that they always dreamed of holding a show at Korakuen Hall. He highlighted the fans' support and noted that the company will now pursue the next dream.
When we launched this brand, we dreamed of growing it in the US and one day holding a NJPW STRONG at packed Korakuen Hall.
— 大張高己/Takami Ohbari (@TAKAMIOHBARI) July 5, 2023
Our dream came true.
This success is not only thanks to the fans who watched the show yesterday and today, but also to the fans in the US and all over the… https://t.co/YAUojgFTxz
Catch up on our coverage of NJPW STRONG Independence Day Night Two here.
To catch up on all things NJPW, check out the newest episode of Bread Club on Fightful Overbooked.
Results from past NJPW STRONG shows and other events can be found at Fightful's results section.
