Global Force Wrestling To Offer Japan-Based PPV Event

Nashville-based Global Force Wrestling (GFW) will distribute a January pro wrestling event from Japan, the company said.

The event, Wrestle Kingdom 9, will air live Jan. 4 at 2 a.m. (ET) from the Tokyo Dome and will run on DirecTV, Dish, AT&T U-verse, Comcast, Verizon Fios and all cable systems in the United States, and Canada, according to the company. The event will be headlined by an IGWP heavyweight title match between Hiroshi Tanahashi and Kazuchika Okada.

 Veteran pro wrestling announcer Jim Ross will handle the play-by-play for the North America feed, according to GFW founder Jeff Jarrett, who added the event will be available in English and in Japanese via the second audio program (SAP).  

 “I’m excited for this event, and I’m excited for good ol’ JR to be a part of it," Jarrett said. "GFW fans wanted him, and from day one we have said we’re going to give our fans what they want.”

R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.