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Originally Posted by El Kabong
Yeah that's really cool. I'm not in America but how big is AXS in comparison to something like Spike or whatever network TNA is on now? They seem to be ok with spending money and taking a risk with NJPW content(hiring JR, running this event etc) so it must be getting some return for them.
Well, I believe Mark Cuban is the owner of AXS TV. They must have really liked NJPW enough to even consider doing a show that features matches from two years prior back in 2015 when New Japan was starting out doing their streaming service, NJPW World.
Viewerships, from what I hear, is all right. Around 300k or so on Friday nights and it goes well with AXS TV's Friday night fights. I watched that show all the time before I moved to the OC and we didn't have AXS TV anymore. It is a great show. Great matches, commentary with Mauro and Josh Barnett was pretty much GOAT (even with JR/Barnett is still good), wrestlers giving their thoughts about the matches was also great to hear as well.
Depending on how the Long Beach shows do in viewership, I am hearing that AXS TV has convinced NJPW and TV Asahi (who broadcasts NJPW in Japan and has a stake in NJPW as well) to make the AXS TV shows more current with the general product (since right now AXS TV shows matches like 6-8 months after it happens).
I wish them all the best. I don't know if the Long Beach shows is going to be on par with WK 11 or maybe the upcoming Dominion in quality (the buzz is strong though), but at least, I'm glad NJPW is putting some thought about how they want to go about hosting shows in the states by themselves (especially, in the SoCal area).