NEWYou can now listen to Pakinomist articles!
New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) is one of the top pro wrestling companies around the world, and it’s looking to build on its influence in the United States with its upcoming show this week.
The New Beginning takes place on Friday in Trenton, New Jersey, at the CURE Insurance Arena, and fans eager to try professional wrestling in a strong style will be able to see a packed card.
Rocky Romero, a longtime NJPW wrestler and ambassador who also performs for AEW, told Pakinomist Digital that the show in central New Jersey was a perfect location because of its location between New York City and Philadelphia.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON Pakinomist
New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s The New Beginning will take place on February 27, 2026. (New Japan Pro-Wrestling)
“New Japan Pro-Wrestling has obviously been doing shows for the last seven years in the US all over the place. Usually we hit New York and Philadelphia – we found a place right in the middle in Trenton, New Jersey,” he said. “I think it’s a good place to appeal to both markets, and I think the excitement of coming back to the East Coast, New Japan Pro-Wrestling, is really an event like no other. The hard-hitting Japanese professional wrestling here on American soil. There’s nothing like it.”
There are several big names set to compete on the card.
David Finlay will take on Fred Rosser in a singles match, Ricochet will defend the All Elite Wrestling (AEW) National Championship against Taiji Ishimori, NJPW World Television Champion El Phantasmo will defend his title against Kosuke Takeshita, International Wrestling Grand Prix (IWGP) Women’s Champion Syuri will take on Ring of Honor star El Phantasmo (ROH World Women’s star, Andra) Idolo will challenge IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion Yota Tsuji for his title – just to name a few few.
The set of matches in New Jersey is part of NJPW’s strategy to further expand into the United States. It is the first time since July that the campaign has had a show in the US
But increasing interest in NJPW from American pro wrestling fans has been one of the goals of the company since the mid-2010s, Romero said.
“It has always been New Japan’s goal since 2017-2018 to grow internationally,” he explained. “They’re the No. 1 wrestling promotion in Japan and all of Asia. So it only makes sense to come to America and expand the product globally. A few years ago, maybe 10 years ago, there was no way to watch New Japan Wrestling, but now it’s so easy. NJPWworld.com, you just log in and it’s $9 a month, anywhere in the world, and everybody can watch.
“I think the mission now is really to bring New Japan just further globally. And not just in the US, but you look at other places like now going to China, Australia is always there, the UK, possibly Germany. So there are different markets around the world that I would be very interested in seeing the New Japan product.”
Rocky Romero enters the ring during New Japan Pro-Wrestling – Wrestle Kingdom 16 at the Tokyo Dome on January 4, 2022 in Tokyo, Japan. (Etsuo Hara/Getty Images)
While Romero brought up streaming as a way to expand the way wrestling fans can access NJPW product, he emphasized that partnerships with AEW and Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) have also been valuable for New Japan.
The pro wrestling fan’s menu of options continues to grow every year. The average pro wrestling fan could watch a show at least six days a week. Romero said while that is true, New Japan brings a different style of wrestling to the table.
“New Japan just brings something different,” he told Pakinomist Digital. “I think the presentation is like a big boxing match. When I was a kid, I used to watch like a (Mike) Tyson pay-per-view on HBO or something. It feels like that. I think we bring that flavor, and honestly, the athleticism of our talent just doesn’t compare to anybody. And just as well, the style is just as much more focused on our guys, but we’re just more focused on our guys, but we’re just as good. take it to the next level in physicality and emotions.
“I think it’s just the way it’s presented, it just feels like, wow, this is something that’s really cool. A lot of fans, who I think are casual fans who are used to watching North American professional wrestling, the first time they see New Japan, they’re just kind of hooked — the energy of the crowd.”
Romero knows New Japan well.
He got his start in New Japan in 2010 after appearing in CMLL, Ring of Honor and Lucha Libre AAA World Wide. He reminisced to Pakinomist Digital about his debut in New Japan, where he went from performing in gymnasiums to packed arenas at just 20 years old.
“My first and biggest memory was my debut fight in the Tokyo Dome in front of 50,000 people. And you know, I’m just a kid. I’m a kid. And walking down the long ramp and seeing the sea of people, I remember somebody saying to me like, ‘When you go out there, don’t look up too fast, because you’re probably going to be startled by people.’
“And I couldn’t help but look up and there was a sea of people and I freaked out. I was like, oh my god, this is really real and it’s really happening.”
Konosuke Takeshita and Rocky Romero celebrate victory during New Japan Pro-Wrestling at Ota-City General Gymnasium on January 5, 2026 in Tokyo, Japan. (Etsuo Hara/Getty Images)
Since then, Romero has built his relationship with New Japan and is now a “bridge builder” between the company and other wrestling cultures in North America. In AEW he teams up with Trent Beretta and they align with the Don Callis Family faction.
He suggested to Pakinomist Digital that he enjoys his roles with the two professional wrestling companies.
“What’s cool about it is that AEW, especially Tony Khan, has so much respect and so much love for New Japan, and New Japan has always supported AEW,” Romero said. “I think it’s a partnership that really works, and obviously it’s an essential partnership when you’re going against someone who has such a large market share in WWE. So I think it’s very strategic, and now that we’ve thrown CMLL into the mix, these three big promotions are really working together fluidly and working on storylines that cross all three promotions, and that talent goes from each company and champion.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE Pakinomist APP
“I think the people who make the most out of this are the fans, because the fans get to see these dream matches and these dream situations. I think the fans are the ones who gain the most from this.”
Related article
