Ex-Bloodsport Promoter Josh Barnett Reveals He Offered To Take Over NJPW Of America

After it was revealed this week that New Japan Pro-Wrestling is shuttering its American subsidiary, New Japan Pro-Wrestling of America Inc., GCW promoter, and former promoter of Bloodsport, Josh Barnett, took to social media to reveal he offered to take over before the closure.

Barnett posted to X (formerly Twitter) on Friday. He quoted NJPW's announcement, and said that he offered to take over the entire program in the United States.

"Training, classes, running local shows, and more," Barnett wrote. "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."

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... https://t.co/xddH6BTYDf

— 𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝖂𝖆𝖗𝖒𝖆𝖘𝖙𝖊𝖗 (@JoshLBarnett) November 6, 2026

Barnett ended the post with a simple, "onward though, as always." The star revealed in April, following Bloodsport XV over WrestleMania 42 weekend, that the event would be going on indefinite hiatus. Barnett did comment at the time that he wasn't burying the event "six feet under with a gravestone," however.

It has also since been confirmed that NJPW will be shutting the doors of the NJPW Academy in Los Angeles, as well. In its statement about the closure, NJPW said that events in North America will continue to be held, "as part of a new chapter in NJPW's ongoing global expansion." The promotion said that North American events will go forward with the "full backing and resources" of the TV Asahi group, the new owner of NJPW as of May of this year.