Enough is enough for NJPW. The Japanese promotion is planning a major contract overhaul to prevent more major talents from leaving for their rivals. The company has traditionally negotiated rolling one-year contracts that expire just before Wrestle Kingdom in January. But President Hiroshi Tanahashi has recognized that this model doesn’t necessarily work in today’s competitive market.
Speaking to Pro Wrestling Today, Tanahashi marked out a multi-year contract strategy as the central target for NJPW. In line with the contract overhaul, which has been a point of debate in NJPW for some time, Tanahashi also hoped to increase pay across the board for its roster.
“I strongly feel that we must create a ‘barrier’ to prevent top talent from being poached by other promotions such as by introducing multi-year contracts and maintain the quality that makes New Japan Pro Wrestling great,” argued Tanahashi.
Is this the beginning of a revolution at NJPW under the wing of President Tanahashi?
NJPW has been left with a massive hole to fill following the exits of several major talents. The Bullet Club War Dogs have moved to AEW following months of speculation. As for EVIL and Hiromu Takahashi, they are expected to sign for WWE in the near future following the expiry of their NJPW contracts.
WWE and AEW continue to strengthen financially following lucrative television and streaming deals. WWE is also reportedly looking to expand into other international markets. The company is strengthening that push with talent acquisitions from around the world – including Japan. Tanahashi acknowledged that it’s difficult to go toe-to-toe with the American giants, citing Japan’s struggling economy as another factor against NJPW.
But Tanahashi does see a way out. The President believes that sustainability lies in improving NJPW as a business. The Ace cites stronger PLE-style showcases and increased advertising as ways to increase revenue and awareness of the brand. Tanahashi is also hoping to improve NJPW’s online presence, with the hope of improving their roster’s profiles through increased media coverage and promotion.
