MVP Claims He Pitched “New Japan World” Idea Long Before It Existed
MVP has made a major claim regarding the origin of New Japan Pro Wrestling’s streaming service, NJPW World. On the Marking out with MVP podcast, the former IWGP Intercontinental Champion stated that he was the one who originally pitched the concept of an English-language streaming service to NJPW management.
“This is an absolute fact,” MVP began. “The idea for New Japan World had pitched to President Sugabayashi, long before it became a reality. I had a meeting with Sugabayashi. He was the president back then, Jado, Red Shoes, and Tiger Hattori.”
“You Guys Are Missing Out”
During the meeting, MVP was blunt about the financial opportunity the company was ignoring by not catering to its massive international fan base.
“I was telling them, You guys are missing out on a lot of fu**ing money. You have a huge English speaking audience in the United States, in England and Australia. You’re not marketing to them,” he said. “You guys need a website that has an English translation. You’re not thinking about your audience outside of Japan. I said you need to make your product accessible to English speaking fans outside the country.”
MVP’s Specific Proposal
MVP didn’t just have a complaint; he had a specific business plan. “What you can do is set up like a YouTube page, but in English aimed at American fans,” he recalled pitching. I said, “Pick three matches a week that you want to highlight, put it on the YouTube channel. I’ll help you get two Americans to do the voice over in English for that match, and start feeding your English audience, give the American audience, or the English speaking audience, access to the merch.”
To prove his point, MVP even used social media to show the NJPW president the demand. “I was very active on Twitter, and I said, if you want New Japan to start promoting products in English, hit up at Sugabayashi”
“I Invented New Japan World”
MVP concluded his claim with a definitive statement. “So, yes, true story. I invented new Japan World. I pitched that idea to them before it existed. And I don’t know how long it took from the time we talked about it till it actually came to fruition, but I’m the one that suggested that they do that.”
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit Marking out with MVP and Dwayne Swayze with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription. You can find the full episode on their YouTube channel.
