Bushiroad released its financial results for the first quarter of fiscal year 2026, which encompassed July 1 to Sept. 30, 2025.
Bushiroad’s sports division, which consists of New Japan Pro Wrestling and Stardom, recorded quarterly net sales of 1.483 billion Japanese yen, which is approximately $9.5 million USD. That’s a decrease of 1% from the prior year, or 22 million Japanese yen, equal to a decrease of about $140,000.
Notably, the company has stopped reporting profitability by division, so we don’t know how profitable — or unprofitable — the combined New Japan and Stardom segment was. The change, which coincides with the beginning of the company’s new fiscal year, means we’ll have less visibility into how financially successful the segment is.
Bushiroad noted that attendance for G1 Climax 35 decreased year over year compared to G1 Climax 34. According to data from Cagematch and WrestleTix, the average attendance for NJPW shows was consistent sequentially from quarter to quarter at over 1,800. However, average attendance was down 8% from the prior year in the same quarter, from 2,035 to 1,879.
Bushiroad doesn’t break out New Japan and Stardom finances specifically but called out that attendance, revenue, and profitability for Stardom’s 5STAR GP increased year over year. Specific numbers weren’t provided. However, according to data from Cagematch, average attendance for Stardom events was slightly down sequentially from the prior quarter though still over 900, and 34% higher than the 687 average from last year in the same quarter.
World of Stardom champion Saya Kamitani was credited as a regular on the TBS morning variety show “LOVE IT!” In September, Kamitani faced Hanan for an exhibition match on the show. This marked the first time a women’s pro wrestling match was broadcast live on terrestrial Japanese TV in 23 years.
The sports division makes up a minority of Bushiroad’s overall business. According to disclosures published last week, the company reported an overall gross profit of 5.216 billion Japanese yen and operating profit of 1.668 billion Japanese yen for the quarter, which converts to approximately $33.5 million USD and $10.7 million USD, respectively.
In a more final measure of profit, what Bushiroad calls “net profit attributable to owners of the parent,” the company recorded 1.663 billion yen ($10.7 million), up strongly from the prior year at just 59 million yen (about $380,000).
Overall, revenue was up 12% on the quarter, generating 13.766 billion yen, or $88.5 million.
Looking ahead, Bushiroad highlighted Wrestle Kingdom 20, which features Hiroshi Tanahashi’s retirement match against Kazuchika Okada. New Japan Pro Wrestling announced the event sold out seven weeks in advance. It also announced 31,548 tickets were sold as of Nov. 4. On Sunday, New Japan said the event was sold out and that the capacity was being expanded.
Bushiroad noted that tickets for Dream Queendom 2025 were “selling at a pace that surpasses past Stardom events at Ryogoku Kokugikan.” The last Stardom event at Sumo Hall was Dream Queendom 2024, which was an announced sell-out at 4,023 tickets, and was headlined by Kamitani defeating Tam Nakano to start her current World of Stardom title reign. Kamitani is scheduled to face Saori Anou in the main event. YouTube and comedian Fuwa-chan, who made her Stardom in-ring debut in 2022, will have her re-debut match after returning at the 2025 Goddesses of Stardom Tag League.
Stardom President and CEO Taro Okada appeared on CMLL Informa in October to announce a business partnership between the promotions, which builds on NJPW and CMLL’s relationship, which began in 2009.
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November 18, 2025November 18, 2025
AloJapan.com