DDT Pro, one of Japan’s top wrestling promotions, announced yesterday that the company had been purchased by CyberAgent Ventures, a Japanese internet and media magnate. The deal was announced by DDT Pro President Sanshiro Takagi on his personal Twitter.
Japan’s DDT Pro Sold To CyberAgent Ventures
このたびご縁がありまして株式会社DDTプロレスリングはサイバーエージェントグループの一員となりました。サイバーエージェントさんは『AbemaTV』を運営しており、そこでの露出を図ることで、若い世代によりアピールし、認知度を向上させ、更なる業務拡大を目指します。#ddtpro pic.twitter.com/UxlLVegFFt
— 高木三四郎 SanshiroTakagi (@t346fire) September 22, 2017
According to reports from solowrestling.com, DDT Pro sold all 100% of its shares to CyberAgent with the intent of DDT Pro joining CyberAgent’s other wrestling ventures (Pro-Wrestling BASARA, Ganbare Wrestling, Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling, and DNA) on it’s Abema TV, a 24-hour internet channel.
As part of the deal, Takagi will remain as DDT Pro’s President, but this move officially means that DDT Pro is no longer an indie promotion in Japan – in fact, it’s now Japan’s wealthiest promotion. CyberAgent‘s capital is listed as 7,203 million yen (approx. $64m USD), while Bushiroad, NJPW’s parent company, lists its capital for NJPW at 92.5 million yen (approx. $825k). CyberAgent director Takahiro Yamauchi will now take over as the new managing director of DDT Pro.
DDT Pro (Dramatic Dream Team) was founded in 1997 by Takagi and created a new sense of Sports Entertainment in Japan, featuring more outlandish and comedic wrestling, a stark contrast to the Strong Style of All-Japan and NJPW. Many tops stars went through DDT, such as current NJPW stars Kenny Omega and Kota Ibushi, as well as WWE Superstars like Sami Zayn (back during his El Generico days). DDT’s 24/7 belt, the Ironman Heavymetalweight Championship, has also been a huge prop in Joey Ryan‘s past few years (he’s a 44x Champion).
No further news yet on how this ownership will change the company’s vision going forward, but the hopes are that partnering with an internet media company will help DDT Pro expand it’s audience in Japan (and globally) and attract a younger audience.
