NJPW
NJPW is navigating a massive transitional phase in 2026. The year began with legend Hiroshi Tanahashi having his retirement match at Wrestle Kingdom 20 in front of a crowd of 46,913 (the highest attendance ever for a Wrestle Kingdom event), now continuing his legacy as President and Representative Director of NJPW, a role in which his leadership and extensive experience will be beneficial in guiding the company's future. Simultaneously, Yota Tsuji has become the face of NJPW, holding the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, as well as the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship. The company also continues to be a major platform for the crossover athlete this year, as Olympic gold medalist Aaron Wolf won the NEVER Openweight Championship at Wrestle Kingdom 20. Online, NJPW World continues to be the primary streaming home of live NJPW events and subtitled interviews, also featuring a large archive of past matches and exclusive documentaries featuring not only Japanese talent, but also well-known foreign talent during their times in Japan.
Stardom
Following the success of Stardom's Dream Queendom 2025 event, which had a sold-out attendance of 6,563 (the second-largest attendance for a Stardom event to date), the company's digital presence remains strong, with its streaming home, Stardom World, having the highest volume of Japanese women's wrestling content. 2026 marks Stardom's 15th anniversary, and IWGP Women's Champion/NJPW STRONG Women's Champion Syuri, former NJPW STRONG Women's Champion AZM, and World Of Stardom Champion Saya Kamitani are among the top standouts on the roster during this era of the company. After having a two-day Stardom American Dream In Sin City event last year, Stardom will be returning to Las Vegas this year for American Dream 2026.
CyberFight
CyberFight has the majority of bases covered in the Japanese professional wrestling market by controlling a diverse portfolio of styles under one umbrella, supported by the WRESTLE UNIVERSE streaming service, which is available internationally. By combining NOAH, DDT, and Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling (TJPW), CyberFight offers a blend of powerful heavyweights, comedy/hardcore wrestlers, and joshi puroresu, catering to multiple fanbases simultaneously. US expansion will be the main focus of CyberFight in 2026, as TJPW will run "TJPW Texas Stampede", its largest US tour in history, in March, which will consist of 4 shows in Texas. TJPW will partner with SXSW (South by Southwest, an annual series of festivals) in Austin for two of the shows.
AJPW
Currently led by Tsuyoki Fukuda, AJPW comes into 2026 maintaining a consistent and highly-regarded in-ring product, and they have also recently seen an increase in quality and popularity. Along with building on its legacy with stars that it worked to establish, like Kento Miyahara and Suwama, AJPW saw the return of former Triple Crown Champion Go Shiozaki in late 2025 following a 10-year departure from the company. These King's Road-style (which emphasizes aggressive action) wrestlers help keep the roots of AJPW alive and appeal to both nostalgic fans and a new generation of enthusiasts of the hard-hitting style of wrestling. The company reaches fans globally via its own streaming service, AJPW TV.
DG
DG is entering 2026 with a major focus on factions, with PARADOX, PSYPATRA, Natural Vibes, and Love And Peace being some of the biggest standouts. While the Open The Dream Gate Championship is recognized as high-profile and represents being a top singles wrestler, team-based action is more prominent in DG, with the six-man Open The Triangle Gate Championship being on the line much more often. DG's streaming service, The Dragongate Network, is the most consistent way for fans outside of Japan to watch DG action, and DG will also be returning to Las Vegas in April to host an event.
Michinoku Pro
Under the leadership of Jinsei Shinzaki and The Great Sasuke, Michinoku Pro continues to be a community-based promotion, staying true to its mission of bringing pro-wrestling to founder Sasuke's hometown of Iwate, with many of the events featuring matches that are not seen anywhere else in the country, including Tohoku Junior Heavyweight Championship (the top championship in the company) matches. The company presents a combination of the traditional Japanese style with the lucha libre style, as many of the matches in Michinoku Pro feature high-flying and fast-paced action. The current Tohoku Junior Heavyweight Champion is El Pantera Jr., the second non-Japanese wrestler and the second Mexican-born wrestler to hold the prestigious championship, making Michinoku Pro an even more prominent representation of lucha libre in the Tohoku region. Michinoku Pro can be seen internationally via WRESTLE UNIVERSE.
World Woman Pro-Wrestling Diana
Founded by former WWWA Champion Kyoko Inoue, World Woman Pro-Wrestling Diana features a mix of legends and new-generation talent, making it a promotion that has something for everyone who enjoys women's wrestling. 2026 marks Diana's 15th anniversary, and the new generation of the promotion is receiving big opportunties like never before. The W.W.W.D Singles Championship was vacated after being relinquished by Haruka Umesaki, and it was decided that former W.W.W.D Crystal Champion Nanami Hatano and Debbie Keitel (who has also been seen in WWE NXT UK) would face each for the championship. Live broadcasts of Diana events can be seen on its streaming service, Diana Live, and the promotion is going to have a physical presence outside of Japan at the end of the year as a first milestone- Diana is planning an Asia Women's Pro-Wrestling Tour to be held in Singapore in December 2026, featuring wrestlers from Diana and many other Asian promotions.
Marvelous
Marvelous is a small promotion based in Chiba with legends Chigusa Nagayo and KAORU as its foundational pillars. Marvelous does everything in a big way, with a screen over the wrestler entrance, smoke entrances, and overall great production quality. The promotion frequently has shows in major cities in Japan, and even though their roster is small, that does not prevent Marvelous from presenting a great show every night. 2026 marks the promotion's 10th anniversary, and this May, it will be hosting an event at the indoor sports arena Yokohama Buntai, and will include talent that has been seen in AEW and TNA. In addition, Marvelous will be coming to the Shooting Star Fest in Las Vegas this April. Marvelous can be seen internationally via WRESTLE UNIVERSE.
Yanagase Pro Wrestling (YPW)
Yanagase Pro Wrestling features the fast-paced, exciting, and unpredictable style you think of when you hear the words "Japanese wrestling", and combine it with a distinctive blend of wrestling styles, combining the traditional Japanese styles with the American wrestling style, and adding comedy wrestling when there is a place for it. Based in Gifu, YPW has been a consistent contributor to the area’s wrestling identity and community since its inception, serving as a source of local pride and a vibrant gathering place for fans from all walks of life. By providing a platform for wrestlers from Gifu and surrounding areas, the promotion fosters local talent and generates an economic impact that benefits businesses and tourism by attracting fans from across the Chubu and Kansai regions. YPW makes a significant impact when engaging with the community by raising awareness about the important issue of bullying through its annual "Eliminating Bullying and Creating Energy" event. Although active since 2017, YPW held a tournament that ran from October 2025 to December 2025, to decide its inaugural Yanagase KING (the champion of the promotion)- the title was won by Kenta Kosugi, a combination of Strong Style and King's Road. YPW action at SPORTS BAR M's Cafe can be seen on Twitcast, a livestreaming service that has over 33 million registered users worldwide.
From the major entertainment hub of the Tokyo Dome to an intimate sports bar in Gifu, the pro-wrestling scene in Japan continues to be very active in 2026, with changes of the guard, multiple styles of pro-wrestling, and being more accessible than ever before.
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