NJPW shows signs of decline: G1 Climax attendance reflects it

The health of New Japan Pro-Wrestling is starting to be affected in terms of attendance, both in their G1 Climax tours and in their flagship event Wrestle Kingdom. A table, disclosed by Wrestlenomics, with the official data of the G1 Climax reveals that, after the solid peak of 2019, with an average of 5,130 attendees per show, the audience response has clearly decreased, reaching only 2,267 in the 2025 edition.

This decline is even more pronounced when we look at Wrestle Kingdom: in 2024 it attracted 27,422 fans in a single night, but its 2025 edition had 24,107 attendees. These are significantly lower figures than before the pandemic, which still continue to impact the company's renewed momentum.

Bushiroad's CEO, Takaaki Kidani, acknowledged that this is a "growing pain" and warned that NJPW has lost appeal, especially among foreign audiences, while other sports like basketball and volleyball are gaining ground.

Another factor that cannot be ignored is the departure of major talents in recent years. Key figures like Kazuchika Okada, Kota Ibushi, or Will Ospreay have left the company, while stars like Kenny Omega and the Young Bucks have solidified their future in AEW. This loss of international references has weakened NJPW's global appeal, as they were the names that connected with the foreign audience and helped fill stadiums. The current generation is still striving to achieve that same magnetism, but so far the new talent has not been able to sustain the same level of interest.

The pandemic was a drastic turning point, with figures plummeting due to restrictions and limited capacity, and although there was a moderate recovery in 2023, the overall trend is still downward. NJPW urgently needs to regain that connection with its audience, revamp its approach, and focus on stars with real drawing power. If not, it may have to rethink its model for major events in order to grow again.

G1 Climax Attendance (2015–2025)

*2020 and 2021 affected by COVID-19 restrictions.

In recent years, Wrestle Kingdom, traditionally the grand showcase of NJPW every January 4th at the Tokyo Dome, has shown a downward trend in attendance. The 2019 edition (WK13) brought together 38,162 spectators in a single night, a figure that served as a reference prior to the expansion to multi-day events.

In 2020, with Wrestle Kingdom 14, the company opted for two consecutive nights, achieving a peak of 70,071 combined attendees. However, the COVID-19 pandemic radically changed the landscape: Wrestle Kingdom 15, held in 2021, barely reached 20,490 fans over two nights, a direct reflection of health and capacity restrictions.

Although NJPW tried to regain ground in 2022 with an unusual three-night format (WK16), the total attendance barely reached 25,503 fans, far from the expectations for an event of that magnitude. Wrestle Kingdom 17 (2023) saw a slight increase with 31,618 fans, but in 2024 and 2025 the numbers dropped again with 27,422 and 24,107 attendees respectively, back to the single-day format.

Wrestle Kingdom Attendance Table (Recent Years)