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NJPW announcer Chris Charlton said one of the ways that NJPW President Hiroshi Tanahashi’s influence on the company can be seen is in the resurgence of the recent Korakeun Hall cards. “I think one of the big things was when Tanahashi was sort of active in pulling New Japan to the mid 2000s kind of era, I think there was a focus back then of, well, let’s hone in, let’s start in Korakuen,” said Charlton during a new interview on Radican Worldwide available for PWTorch VIP members ahead of NJPW’s G1 Climax 36: Night 1 in Chicago on July 11.
“You know what I mean? Korakuen has always been the base for most promotions in Japan. But let’s make sure we’re in a position where Korakuen Hall is rocking and rolling and that has… you know, once you’re in a position that where you’re selling out Korakuen Hall every night with hot crowds, you know, and we’ve sold out Korakuen Hall the last few nights with hot crowds, um, then that’s something that kind of, the appeal for that radiates out from Tokyo and goes into the other markets that are outside and further away.”
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The July 6 Road to G1 show featured two G1 Climax 36 qualifying matches, Shota Umino defending the IWGP Global Hvt. Championship against Gabe Kidd in a red hot match, and Yoh defending the IWGP Jr. Hvt. Championship against Francesco Akira in the main event. The July 7 Tiger Mask Retirement Match show at Korakuen Hall was built around Tiger Mask’s last match. Both shows drew nearly 1500 fans for NJPW.
Charlton said that NJPW’s recent run of sold out shows in Korakuen Hall in Tokyo with Tanahashi putting an emphasis on making those shows stronger has had a ripple effect on NJPW’s business heading into G1 as they set out to run markets further away from Tokyo in Japan. “Certainly from what I gather the uptake has been strong for G1 in that regard as well.” said Charlton. “So yeah, I mean, I think that makes a lot of sense in terms of when you have those really red hot sort of Korakuen Hall cards, you know what I mean?
“I think there’s a sort of likeness in a sense where Korakuen Hall is almost like your, your television, so to speak. Those Road To’s are almost like the TV events, and then you have those bigger events that are pay-per-views maybe in other cities. Yeah, it’s been really fun to have those big time Korakuen Hall cards recently.”
Charlton said that Tanahashi has brought a light atmosphere behind the scenes while taking on his current role as president of NJPW. “Tanahashi, I mean, I think one of the biggest things that we always feel is it’s just a real positive sense,” said Charlton. “You know what I mean? There’s a light atmosphere, you know what I mean? I think that’s something that Tanahashi brings to every room that he comes in.
“But having that, I mean, just in the office day-to-day, you know what I mean? I think that’s a great thing to have. And obviously him having the level of perception and awareness that he had of having wrestled for so many years, you know what I mean? He understands how the talent feels. He understands how the publicity work feels. He’s understood over the last few years how the business end feels as well. So, yeah, I mean, he’s become an all-rounder and growing into that role, too.”
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NJPW G1 Climax 36: Night 1 airs on July 11 at 8pm Eastern on NJPW World. The tournament then resumes in Japan on July 18 and you can watch every G1 Climax 36 event with a subscription to NJPW World. Tickets are currently on sale for the G1 Climax 36: Night 1 in Chicago at ticketmaster.com and fans can get 20% off tickets using the code G1CHICAGO.
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