New Japan is finally entering the world of iPPV (internet PPV) starting with the big 8/5 Osaka show, one of the tastiest lineups of the 2012 G1 Climax with Tanahashi vs. Marufuji, Nakamura vs. Okada, and Makabe vs. Naito. But despite a campaign by SSS forum regular enuhito in Japan to show New Japan to the world, this is only available in Japan with no apparent workarounds at the moment. However, it’s my understanding that there may be plans to eventually screen New Japan shows live to the world using the iPPV format. If this happens it will be the first time this has ever happened, as having followed New Japan since the 1990s I’ve still never been able to see it live on my screen.

I remember All Japan airing the main matches of its 2/27/00 Budokan show (Kobashi vs. Vader and Misawa vs. Akiyama) live online at a cost and people in the west were able to watch it so didn’t expect iPPV to be such a distant reality, but there are signs now that in the near future we’ll be able to watch important New Japan shows as they happen. I will keep you updated if there is any confirmation of this.