New Japan Pro-Wrestling (新日本プロレス , Shin Nihon Puroresu ) (NJPW), is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion based in Nakano , Tokyo . NJPW personnel consists of professional wrestlers , commentators , color commentators , ring announcers , referees , trainers , producers , bookers , and various other positions. Executives and board members are also listed.
NJPW contracts typically range from developmental deals for dojo trainees to full-time contracts. Personnel appear on untelevised live events and on televised events which are aired on various broadcasters or on NJPW's own international streaming service, New Japan World .
Personnel is organized by their role in NJPW. The performer's ring name is listed on the left and their real name is on the right. This list also acknowledges which stable (referred to by NJPW as "units") a wrestler is a part of – this is listed as it is considered by NJPW to be a vital part of their product. "(L)" indicates the leader of the group.
As of 2023, there are seven central units in NJPW:
In addition to the promotion's seven central units, G・B・H is regarded by NJPW as a unit although they are now simply a tag team ; NJPW additionally lists Seigigun as Yuji Nagata ’s unit even though he is the group's sole member.[1] NJPW produces a U.S.-based internet television program titled NJPW Strong Live ; Strong features its own distinct roster and units. Beginning in 2022, NJPW launched NJPW Tamashii , an Australasian -based subsidiary. Tamashii additionally features its own distinct roster and units. NJPW refers to their dojo trainees as "Young Lions".
As NJPW has working relationships with All Elite Wrestling (AEW), Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL), Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), Major League Wrestling (MLW), Revolution Pro Wrestling (RPW), Ring of Honor (ROH) and numerous Japanese promotions, wrestlers from these promotions may appear on NJPW events and have their home promotions or stables from their home promotions listed as their affiliated unit.
Heavyweight division [ edit ] Tetsuya Naito David Finlay Henare Jeff Cobb Great-O-Khan Gabe Kidd Mikey Nicholls Shane Haste Hiroshi Tanahashi Oleg Boltin Toru Yano Junior heavyweight division [ edit ] Mayu Iwatani
Ring name
Real name
Notes
Chad Rico
Chad Rico
Strong Live referee
Jeremy Marcus
Jeremy Marcus
Strong Live referee Operations Leader of New Japan Pro-Wrestling of America
Justin Borden
Justin Borden
Strong Live referee
Kenta Sato
Kenta Sato
Marty Asami
Marty Asami
Red Shoes Unno
Hiroyuki Umino
Senior referee
Taito Nakabayashi
Taito Nakabayashi
Yuya Sakamoto
Yuya Sakamoto
Ring name
Real name
Notes
Daisuke Takahashi
Daisuke Takahashi
Commentator
Haruo Murata
Haruo Murata
Commentator
Jushin Thunder Liger
Keiichi Yamada
Color commentator Trainer[98]
Katsuhiko Kanazawa
Katsuhiko Kanazawa
Color commentator
Kazuo Yamazaki
Kazuo Yamazaki
Commentator Trainer
Koki Yamazaki
Koki Yamazaki
Commentator
Makoto Abe
Makoto Abe
Ring announcer
Miki Motoi
Miki Motoi
Color commentator
Milano Collection A.T.
Akihito Sawafuji
Color commentator IWGP Championship Committee member
Shigeki Kiyono
Shigeki Kiyono
Commentator Host of NJPW's press conferences
Shinji Yoshino
Shinji Yoshino
Commentator
Shinpei Nogami
Shinpei Nogami
Commentator
Souichi Shibata
Souichi Shibata
Commentator
Taisei Watanabe
Taisei Watanabe
Ring announcer[99]
Takuro Shibata
Takuro Shibata
Strong Live ring announcer
Yuichi Tabata
Yuichi Tabata
Commentator
Ring name
Real name
Notes
Alain Mistrangélo
Alain Mistrangélo
French-language commentator[100]
Alex Koslov
Alex Sherman
English-language commentator[101]
Chris Charlton
Chris Charlton
English-language commentator Translator[102] Narrator of Finish Strong
Emily Mae
Emily Mae Heller
English-language interviewer Host of Strong Live ' s press conferences
Gino Gambino
Adam Kostovski
English-language commentator
Ian Riccaboni
Ian Riccaboni
English-language commentator Signed to All Elite Wrestling and Ring of Honor
Matt Rehwoldt
Matthew Rehwoldt
English-language commentator Signed to TNA Wrestling
Norbert Feuillan
Norbert Feuillan
French-language commentator[100]
Tom Partridge
Tom Partridge
English-language commentator Translator[103]
Veda Scott
Veda Scott
English-language commentator
Walker Stewart
Walker Stewart
English-language commentator[104]
Ring name
Real name
Notes
Masayuki Hayashi
Masayuki Hayashi
Doctor
Takeshi Misawa
Takeshi Misawa
Medical trainer
Name
Notes
Julia Claris
Musician
May's
Band
[Q]Brick
Band
No Name Tim
Music producer Audio engineer Audio mixer
Yonosuke Kitamura
Composer of the RM Label[109]
Takaaki Kidani
Name
Notes
Junya Iwasaki
Auditor
Kaoru Mikumo
Director
Keizo Kayama
Auditor
Hitoshi Matsumoto
Director
Taro Okada
Director President and CEO of World Wonder Ring Stardom
Naoki Sugabayashi
Chairman of the Board
Takaaki Kidani
Director of Bushiroad
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