NJPW Considering Running Major US Arena In July

[Big Red Machine]

Source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter

New Japan may be doing its most ambitious test of the U.S. market to date as they have a preliminary hold on a date for a show on 7/7 at the Cow Palace in San Francisco.

There is also talk of the July return being in a major arena in either Long Beach or Las Vegas. The show as planned right now would be on the same night as UFC’s show in Las Vegas for International Fight Week, which is traditionally one of its biggest events of the year, which would be significant head-to-head competition.

While an ancient building as compared to the modern arenas in most major markets, the Cow Palace was, along with Madison Square Garden and Kiel Auditorium in St. Louis, one of the big three arenas for pro wrestling in the U.S. during the 1960s.

WWE also ran the building frequently for decades, including it being the site of Eddie Guerrero’s WWE title win over Brock Lesnar on February, 15, 2004. This is the most famous match of this generation in a building known for huge events like Lou Thesz title defenses against Leo Nomellini in the 50s, Ray Stevens’ feuds with the likes of Pepper Gomez and Pat Patterson in the 60s and early 70s, and the annual Cow Palace Battle Royal.

The Cow Palace lists a capacity of more than 14,000 for wrestling, and in an old configuration, put more than 17,000 in more than once, most notably for a 1963 Stevens vs Gomez match which saw promoter Roy Shire honored shortly after for putting the largest crowd ever in the building. However, when Lesnar vs. Guerrero sold the building out for the No Way Out PPV, it was only 9,000 fans.

While New Japan could have sold out a building of that size in Southern California for 3/25, this is a quick turnaround for what is largely a promotion that draws traveling fans. At some point the uniqueness of the product in the U.S. will slow down ticket sales because the number of people who will travel that frequently to the West Coast for a show can’t be that large.

Chris Jericho is not touring with Fozzy that week. Jericho vs. Naito would at least be the kind of a main event worth coming back that quickly and running such a large arena, which would be New Japan’s first true major test to date. Jericho last week on Twitter said that he was no longer working for New Japan, but wouldn’t confirm it anywhere else and he’s always very secretive regarding his schedule until he wants the information out.

As of right now, it is not clear whether AXS will do live coverage of this event.