Takaaki Kidani Claims Yota Tsuji’s ‘Card Game’ Comments Sped Up NJPW Sale

Yota Tsuji may have caused Bushiroad to push ahead with selling NJPW.

On May 27, Bushiroad announced that it would sell its shares in New Japan Pro-Wrestling to CyberAgent and previous minority shareholder TV Asahi, with the deal officially finalised on June 30. Earlier this year, at The New Beginning in Osaka, Yota Tsuji criticised Bushiroad and claimed that NJPW talent were not “cards in one of your trading card games.” Whilst Tsuji would later apologise for the comments, it appears they inadvertently became a turning point in the decision to sell the promotion.

Speaking to Weekly Playboy in the magazine’s latest edition, Bushiroad CEO and President Takaaki Kidani revealed that Tsuji’s comments kept him awake at night, claiming they were the turning point that led to the decision to move forward with the sale of New Japan Pro-Wrestling.

“To be honest, I couldn’t sleep until morning that day. I kept thinking, “I’ve poured my heart and soul into pro wrestling all this time—why do I have to be spoken to like that…?” It made me think deeply—not just about Tsuji’s remarks themselves, but also about the reactions of some fans who agreed with him. Of course, I was already at the stage of looking for the right time to let go. — In an interview that’s since been deleted, Tsuji said, “Kitani isn’t the kind of small-minded man who would sell out over something like that,” but… that’s how people make up their minds. We’re emotional creatures, after all. Bushiroad started out as a 30-tsubo company with four people in a single room, playing card games. It’s the very embodiment of how I live my life. Just as I have the pride to stake my life on the work I do, I also have absolute pride in our founding legacy. If they’re willing to show that level of rejection and resolve, I shouldn’t continue to carry this burden any longer. It’s true that this became the final turning point—a decision to respect both sides’ pride and entrust the project to larger, next-stage platforms like TV Asahi and CyberAgent.”

-Takaaki Kidani

Following the ownership change, CyberAgent and TV Asahi now own an equal 46.3% stake in NJPW each. Bushiroad, meanwhile, remain the majority shareholders of STARDOM, with the two promotions expected to continue their working relationship despite no longer operating under the same banner.

Yota Tsuji currently finds himself once again holding the IWGP Heavyweight Championship in his second reign and is no stranger to controversial remarks. Ahead of AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door on June 28, Tsuji announced that he would not be participating in the co-produced event, prompting criticism from AEW fans and talent across both promotions.

Elsewhere during the interview, Kidani revealed that Bushiroad had considered selling New Japan Pro-Wrestling in 2019 following the formation of AEW. You can read more about that here.

As always, we’ll aim to provide any further updates on the future of New Japan Pro-Wrestling in the wake of the recent ownership change as soon as we hear more.

Translated using DeepL.