List of New Japan Pro-Wrestling personnel
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion based in Nakano, Tokyo. NJPW personnel consists of professional wrestlers, commentators, ring announcers, referees, trainers, producers, bookers, and various other positions. Executives and board members are also listed.
Background
NJPW contracts typically range from developmental deals for dojo trainees to full-time contracts. Personnel appear on untelevised live events and on televised events which are aired on various broadcasters or on NJPW's own international streaming service, New Japan World.
Personnel is organized by their role in NJPW. The performer's ring name is listed on the left and their real name is on the right. This list also acknowledges which stable (referred to by NJPW as "units") a wrestler is a part of – this is listed as it is considered by NJPW to be a vital part of their product.
As of 2025, there are five central units in NJPW:
NJPW produces a U.S.-based internet television program titled NJPW Strong Live; Strong Live features its own distinct roster and units. Beginning in 2022, NJPW launched NJPW Tamashii, an Australasian-based subsidiary—Tamashii additionally features its own distinct roster and units. NJPW refers to their dojo trainees and developmental wrestlers as "Young Lions".
As NJPW has working relationships with All Elite Wrestling (AEW), Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL), Major League Wrestling (MLW), Revolution Pro Wrestling (RPW), Ring of Honor (ROH) and numerous other Japanese and international promotions, wrestlers from these promotions may appear on NJPW events and have their home promotions or stables from their home promotions listed as their affiliated unit.
Wrestlers
Main roster
Men's division
Heavyweights
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Junior heavyweights
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Women's division
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| Ring name | Real name | Unit[1][2] | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alex Windsor | Alice Walker | AEW | Signed to All Elite Wrestling Strong Women's Champion |
| AZM | Azumi Matsumoto | Neo Genesis | Signed to World Wonder Ring Stardom |
| Mercedes Moné[55] | Mercedes Varnado | AEW | Signed to All Elite Wrestling |
| Saya Kamitani | Saya Kamitani | H.A.T.E. | Signed to World Wonder Ring Stardom |
| Syuri | Syuri Kondo | God's Eye (L) | Signed to World Wonder Ring Stardom IWGP Women's Champion |
International rosters
Strong Live
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Tamashii
| Ring name | Real name | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caveman Ugg | Unknown | NJPW Tamashii | |
| Jack Bonza[71] | Stephen Teulan | NJPW Tamashii | |
| Mark Tui[72] | Mark Tui | NJPW Tamashii | Trainer and Co-owner of the Fale Dojo[73] |
| Richard Mulu[74] | Richard Mulu | NJPW Tamashii | |
| Stevie Filip | Unknown | NJPW Tamashii | |
| Tony Kozina[75] | Anthony Kozina | NJPW Tamashii | Trainer[73] |
| Tome Filip | Unknown | NJPW Tamashii |
Developmental roster
Young Lions
| Ring name | Real name | Unit[1][2] | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daiki Nagai[76] | Daiki Nagai | Unbound Co. | |
| Katsuya Murashima[77] | Katsuya Murashima | Hontai | On learning excursion in Europe[78] |
| Masatora Yasuda[79] | Masatora Yasuda | Hontai | |
| Shoma Kato[80] | Shoma Kato | Hontai | On learning excursion in Mexico with Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre[81] |
| Taisei Nakahara[82] | Taisei Nakahara | Hontai | |
| Tatsuya Matsumoto[83] | Tatsuya Matsumoto | Hontai |
PUP list
NJPW has established a PUP (physically unable to perform) list for wrestlers who are currently out with a legitimate injury, and thus not able to wrestle.
| Ring name | Real name | Unit[1][2] | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shota Umino[84] | Shota Umino | Hontai | Concussion[85] |
Referees
| Ring name | Real name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chad Rico | Chad Rico | Strong Live Referee |
| Jeremy Marcus | Jeremy Marcus | Strong Live Referee Operations Leader of New Japan Pro-Wrestling of America |
| Justin Borden | Justin Borden | Strong Live Referee |
| Kenta Sato | Kenta Sato | |
| Marty Asami | Marty Asami | |
| Red Shoes Unno | Hiroyuki Umino | Senior Referee |
| Taito Nakabayashi | Taito Nakabayashi | |
| Yuya Sakamoto | Yuya Sakamoto |
Broadcast team
| Ring name | Real name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Daisuke Takahashi | Daisuke Takahashi | Commentator |
| Haruo Murata | Haruo Murata | Commentator |
| Jushin Thunder Liger | Keiichi Yamada | Commentator Trainer[86] IWGP Executive Committee Member |
| Katsuhiko Kanazawa | Katsuhiko Kanazawa | Commentator |
| Kazuo Yamazaki | Kazuo Yamazaki | Commentator Trainer |
| Koki Yamazaki | Koki Yamazaki | Commentator |
| Makoto Abe | Makoto Abe | Ring Announcer |
| Miki Motoi | Miki Motoi | Commentator |
| Milano Collection A. T. | Akihito Sawafuji | Commentator |
| Shigeki Kiyono | Shigeki Kiyono | Commentator Host of NJPW's Press Conferences |
| Shinji Yoshino | Shinji Yoshino | Commentator |
| Shinpei Nogami | Shinpei Nogami | Commentator |
| Souichi Shibata | Souichi Shibata | Commentator |
| Taisei Watanabe | Taisei Watanabe | Ring Announcer[87] |
| Takuro Shibata | Takuro Shibata | Strong Live Ring Announcer |
| Yuichi Tabata | Yuichi Tabata | Commentator |
Foreign language
| Ring name | Real name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chris Charlton | Chris Charlton | English language color commentator Translator[88] Narrator of Finish Strong |
| Emily Mae | Emily Mae Heller | English language interviewer Host of Strong Live's Press Conferences |
| Gino Gambino | Adam Kostovski | English language commentator |
| Ian Riccaboni | Ian Riccaboni | Signed to All Elite Wrestling English language commentator for NJPW Strong events. |
| Veda Scott | Veda Scott | English language color commentator for NJPW Strong events. |
| Walker Stewart | Walker Stewart | English language play-by-play commentator[89] |
Other personnel
| Ring name | Real name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hiro Saito | Hiroyuki Saito | Trainer |
| Manabu Nakanishi | Manabu Nakanishi[90] | Ambassador |
| Masayuki Hayashi | Masayuki Hayashi | Doctor |
| Michael Craven | Michael Craven | General Manager[91] Writer for The Recount |
| Seiji Sakaguchi | Seiji Sakaguchi | Advisor Founding Chairman of United Japan Pro-Wrestling |
| Takashi Iizuka | Takayuki Iizuka | Trainer[92][93] |
| Takeshi Misawa | Takeshi Misawa | Medical Trainer |
| Tiger Hattori | Masao Hattori | Foreign Liaison Officer IWGP Executive Committee Member |
| Tiger Mask[94] | Yoshihiro Yamazaki | Trainer |
| Wataru Inoue | Wataru Inoue | Ambassador |
Musical staff
| Name | Notes |
|---|---|
| Julia Claris | Musician |
| Kazsin | Musician |
| May's | Band |
| No Name Tim | Music Producer Audio Engineer Audio Mixer |
| [Q]Brick | Band |
| Yonosuke Kitamura | Composer[95] |
Corporate staff
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| Name | Notes[96] |
|---|---|
| Hiroshi Tanahashi[97] | President and Representative Director |
| Hitoshi Matsumoto | Executive Vice President IWGP Executive Committee Member |
| Kaoru Mikumo | Vice Chairman of the Board Board Director of TV Asahi Corporation |
| Keisuke Higuchi | Director Deputy General Manager of Content Programming Division of TV Asahi Corporation |
| Mami Arai | Director General Manager of Business Development Division of TV Asahi Corporation |
| Naoki Sugabayashi | Chairman of the Board Executive Director of United Japan Pro-Wrestling IWGP Executive Committee Member |
| Yasuo Okamoto | Director Executive Vice President of CyberAgent |
| Yoshinori Saito | Auditor Treasurer of TV Asahi Corporation |