Parent Company Of DDT Pro-Wrestling Purchases Pro Wrestling NOAH

Bad news for WWE...

Japanese promotion Pro Wrestling NOAH has gone through somewhat of a turbulent period in recent years. Following the end of their working relationship with New Japan Pro Wrestling, the promotion has continued to struggle financially, resulting in two takeovers in the last four years.

Now, NOAH is going through another ownership change as they announced yesterday that LIDET Entertainment had sold their 75% stake in the promotion to CyberAgent, the parent company of DDT Pro-Wrestling and Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling.

During a special press conference, DDT's president Sanshiro Takagi was announced as the new President of NOAH while former President Narihiro Takeda will become an Executive Officer. Naomichi Marufuju will continue in his role as Vice President.

Dave Meltzer explained in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that LIDET decided to sell NOAH despite signs of growth because the promotion's "overall profitability had not improved." They told Takeda in November to find someone to sell the company to, and after contacting Takagi, a deal was put together in six weeks.

The purchase by CyberAgent puts another nail in the coffin in WWE's attempts to create NXT Japan. Back in October, the company tried to purchase the faltering NOAH to use it as a launchpad for their latest international brand, but their bid was rejected.

The CyberAgent takeover, however, is a positive for international fans of NOAH as events will now be streamed twice monthly on DDT Universe. NOAH was the last of the major Japanese promotions without a streaming service, forcing fans to watch shows illegally online.

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Aidan Gibbons

Written by Aidan Gibbons

Editor-in-Chief of Cultaholic.com Twitter: @theaidangibbons