NJPW Shutting Down NJPW of America & NJPW Academy Update – Backstage Reaction To NJPW Academy Closure, Josh Barnett Reveals He Offered To Take Over NJPW Of America

As noted before, New Japan Pro Wrestling had announced on Friday that their NJPW of America subsidiary would be ceasing operations and entering liquidation. Besides the NJPW of America branch, the NJPW Academy in Los Angeles would also be shutting down as well.

The Wrestling Observer’s Bryan Alvarez reported that several people spoken to who have been involved with the NJPW Academy during its existence stated that they were sad about the end of the dojo due to it being both an end of an era and also because so many so many good people had worked there and were still working there up to its end.

Alvarez reported that a few people spoken to stated that they were shocked it did not happen sooner due to the dojo’s closure not being a real surprise to them.

Former MMA fighter and NJPW English commentator Josh Barnett recently revealed on Twitter that he had offered in the past to take over the entire NJPW of America branch, including the NJPW Academy. Barnett also revealed that costs-related issues was the reason why his offer was turned down.

“Since this is going down today here’s a little info:

I had offered to take over the whole program in the US – Training, classes, running local shows, and more. I could tell that there was a very expensive asset here that wasn’t being fully used, but knew with the right direction, it could be a crown jewel for them.

Unfortunately, the cost versus debt was so bad it would seem, that closing it was the best move in their eyes.

What could have been…

Onward though, as always.”

Since this is going down today here’s a little info: I had offered to take over the whole program in the US – Training, classes, running local shows, and more. I could tell that there was a very expensive asset here that wasn’t being fully used, but knew with the right direction, it could be a crown jewel for them. Unfortunately, the cost versus debt was so bad it would seem, that closing it was the best move in their eyes. What could have been… Onward though, as always.

— 𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝖂𝖆𝖗𝖒𝖆𝖘𝖙𝖊𝖗 (@JoshLBarnett) November 6, 2026