How To Watch WWE Raw, SmackDown, And NXT In Japan?
WWE Fans in Japan Get Easier Access to Wrestling Action
Good news for WWE fans in Japan! Watching WWE’s weekly shows and premium live events (PLEs) just got a lot simpler.
Today, WWE announced a new media partnership with the free ad-supported streaming service ABEMA. Starting next month, Japanese fans can catch Raw, SmackDown, and PLEs through this platform. Notably, this marks the first time that Raw and SmackDown will be available for free in Japan with Japanese commentary, and they’ll be up less than 24 hours after airing in the U.S.
In addition to Raw and SmackDown, WWE PLEs will be accessible on ABEMA, and you can also watch “WWE NXT” on demand. As part of this agreement, Japanese fans can enjoy every edition of WrestleMania on demand, beginning October 1.
It’s worth mentioning that WWE has been without a Japanese media partner for over a year since its deal with J Sports ended. Unlike J Sports, which required a subscription and had Japanese subtitles but lacked Japanese commentary, ABEMA offers a new, more accessible way for fans to enjoy WWE content.
ABEMA, which launched in 2016, has recently ventured into live sports streaming, including MLB games in 2021 and the FIFA World Cup in 2022. The platform also holds the rights to broadcast some Premier League and Bundesliga soccer matches.
Here are the details for watching WWE in Japan:
– WWE RAW airs at 8 p.m. on Tuesday nights.
– WWE SmackDown is on at 8 p.m. on Saturdays.
– WWE NXT can be watched on demand.
For those looking for online streaming options, consider these platforms:
– WWE Network: This premium streaming service offers a vast library of WWE content, including live events like NXT No Mercy. Simply log in to your WWE Network account to enjoy the show.
– J Sports: Another reliable option for streaming WWE content in Japan, often providing live streams of WWE events for online streaming fans.
Former WWE Cruiserweight Champion Akira Tozawa shared the news in Japanese, confirming that ABEMA is the go-to place for WWE programming in the future. Japanese broadcasts of “Raw” and “SmackDown” with Japanese commentary will be available one day after the U.S. broadcasts.
Previously, WWE’s distribution in Japan relied on a partnership with J Sports, which ended in early 2022 after more than two decades. Under that deal, Japanese fans had to pay for a subscription to access WWE programming. Now, everything will be accessible for free on ABEMA.
Japan has a thriving professional wrestling scene, hosting promotions like New Japan Pro-Wrestling, All Japan Pro Wrestling, DDT, Pro Wrestling NOAH, Dragon Gate, and more. While there were rumors of WWE considering an NXT branch in Japan, there hasn’t been significant progress on that front in recent years, although that could change in the future.
