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It will be a very busy and historic weekend for New Japan Pro Wrestling in the United States as the promotion will run its first live events Stateside without a promotional partner. While the company's talents have appeared in the past in the United States and even had "New Japan" shows, it was either partnered with WCW, Jersey All Pro Wrestling or in conjunction with Ring of Honor as part of the ROH tours. This will be the first NJPW show with the company importing its own ring and presenting as many elements as possible to give the pure NJPW experience to fans.
AXS TV will be handling the live TV production of the shows this weekend, so Jim Ross and Josh Barnett will not only be doing commentary for the AXS broadcasts but the New Japan World stream as well. Kevin Kelly will be in California handling additional duties for NJPW..
Tomorrow at 7 PM Eastern, New Japan will hold a press conference at Marukai (1740 W Artesia Blvd) in Gardena, CA which is free for all to attend. The conference will be live streamed on the company's Facebook page.
At 7 PM Eastern, AXS TV will be airing a two hour broadcast of New Japan Dominion 2017 for first time in United States, including the excellent 60 minute Kenny Omega vs. Kazuchika Okada match.
A number of top Ring of Honor officials will be in attendance at the live events this weekend.
On Saturday 7/1, the New Japan Pro Wrestling debut in Long Beach, California at the Convention Center will air live on AXS TV in the United States, The Fight Network in Canada and worldwide on New Japan World featuring:
*IWGP champion Kazuchika Okada vs. ROH champion Cody Rhodes (only IWGP title on the line).
*IWGP Tag Team champions The Guerillas of Destiny, Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa vs. War Machine, Ray Rowe & Hanson
*IWGP U.S. Championship First Round match: Tetsuya Naito vs Tomohiro Ishii
*IWGP U.S. Championship First Round match: Kenny Omega vs. Michael Elgin
*IWGP U.S. Championship First Round match: Jay Lethal vs. Adam Hangman Page
*IWGP U.S. Championship First Round match: Juice Robinson vs. Zack Sabre Jr
*IWGP Intercontinental champion Hiroshi Tanahashi & IWGP Junior Heavyweight champion KUSHIDA & Jay White & David Finlay vs. Yoshitatsu & Billy Gunn & Yohei Komatsu & Sho Tanaka
*Jushin Liger & Volador Jr & Dragon Lee & Titan. vs BUSHI & EVIL & SANADA & Hiromu Takahashi.
Sunday 7/2, New Japan's second event will feature:
New Japan Pro Wrestling event in Long Beach, airing on 7/7 on AXS TV, featuring:
*IWGP Intercontinental champion Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Billy Gunn
*IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team champions The Young Bucks vs. Roppongi Vice
*IWGP U.S. championship tournament finals.
PWInsider.com will have complete coverage of both NJPW events.
New Japan announced the following guidelines for audience behavior at their United States events:
New Japan Pro-Wrestling is just as excited about the G1 Special in the USA, as you the fans are. As we prepare to bring these historic events to the United States, we want go over the Manners & Rules.
We request that you please stay to your seating area. Do not stand in the isles or open area’s.
During the events, we encourage you to chant, yell and support your favorites, boo those you don’t like, but please be aware of the language and getting in the way of others also trying to enjoy the spectacle.
For your own safety, please stay behind the railing during wrestler entrances and the match.
There will be no paper tape or streamers allowed in the Long Beach Convention Center. This is a rule set by the LBCC and we must abide by it. All streamers and paper tape will be confiscated by the LBCC staff upon entrance to the arena.
There is no video taping allowed inside the arena. You are not allowed to film with a digital camera, smart phone or cellular device at anytime. Security is trained to recognize this and have been instructed to confiscate equipment and eject you from the arena.
Posting any video of these events online without express written consent is copyright infringement. This is against the law. There are serious fines related to this and we want you to avoid this.
We do support you taking pictures at the events. Please feel free to take as many as you want, share them on social media and your blogs. Be sure to tag @njpwglobal and plug www.njpw1972.com when discussing the event.
Please locate signage or speak with a LBCC staff member to inquire into designated smoking areas.
Follow the rules and have a great time. We cannot wait to see you in Long Beach!!
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