# Josh Barnett Says He Offered to Run NJPW's U.S. Program Label: CONFIRMED Promotion: NJPW By WrestlingNews.com Staff Published Nov. 7, 2026, 1:10 AM ET URL: https://wrestlingnews.com/story/josh-barnett-says-he-offered-to-run-njpw-us-program/ > Josh Barnett said in a Nov. 6 post on X that he offered to take over NJPW's U.S. training and show program before it closed. We found no NJPW response to his claim. ## The quick version - Josh Barnett posted on X on Friday, Nov. 6, that he had offered to take over "the whole program in the US," including training, classes and local shows. - He wrote that the "cost versus debt was so bad" that closing it seemed to be NJPW's best move. - This is Barnett's own account. We found no NJPW response. Josh Barnett, the former UFC fighter and pro wrestler, says he offered to take over New Japan's U.S. operation before it was shut down. He wrote about it on X on Friday, Nov. 6, the same day NJPW announced that New Japan Pro-Wrestling of America would close and that its Carson, California, school would shut as well. Fightful and F4W Online both reported his post. ## What Barnett wrote Barnett posted: "Since this is going down today here's a little info: I had offered to take over the whole program in the US - Training, classes, running local shows, and more. I could tell that there was a very expensive asset here that wasn't being fully used, but knew with the right direction, it could be a crown jewel for them." He added: "Unfortunately, the cost versus debt was so bad it would seem, that closing it was the best move in their eyes. What could have been... Onward though, as always." ## What we do not know Barnett did not say when he made the offer, who he made it to, or what the terms were. We have not seen any response from NJPW, and we have not contacted either side. His comment about debt is his own reading. NJPW's notice about the closure gives no financial details. ## Background NJPW said on Nov. 6 that NJPW of America Inc. will "cease operations and enter liquidation," and that North American events will continue with the backing of the TV Asahi group. NJPW Academy, the former LA Dojo, then said it was closing its doors. F4W Online notes Barnett has wrestled for NJPW before and has done color commentary. Fightful says the last NJPW show held in the U.S. was the opening night of the 2026 G1 Climax in July in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. Our earlier stories cover the closures: [NJPW to Close Its U.S. Subsidiary and Enter Liquidation](https://wrestlingnews.com/story/njpw-of-america-to-close-and-enter-liquidation/) and [NJPW Academy in Carson Closing After 8 Years](https://wrestlingnews.com/story/njpw-academy-in-carson-closing-after-eight-years/). ## What to watch Whether NJPW names a new U.S. training base or a North American show date, and whether it answers Barnett's account. **How we know.** Source: Josh Barnett's own post on X, as printed by Fightful and F4W Online, and NJPW's notice on its own site. We read the printed post, not the post itself. Nothing in this story is a rumor. ## Sources - Josh Barnett (@JoshLBarnett), post on X, Nov. 6, 2026. No link, we read it as printed by Fightful and F4W Online and did not open the post. - Fightful (Andrew Thompson), "Josh Barnett Shares That He Offered To Take Over NJPW Of America", Nov. 6, 2026. https://www.fightful.com/wrestling-news/josh-barnett-shares-that-he-offered-to-take-over-njpw-of-america - F4W Online (Bryan Rose), "Josh Barnett offered to run NJPW United States dojo prior to closure", Nov. 6, 2026. https://www.f4wonline.com/news/new-japan/josh-barnett-offered-to-run-njpw-united-states-dojo-prior-to-closure/ - New Japan Pro-Wrestling, "Regarding NJPW subsidiary New Japan of America", Nov. 6, 2026. https://www.njpw1972.com/681027 - WrestlingNews.com staff reporting: read the two outlets' copies of the post and NJPW's notice and compared them. We have not contacted Barnett or NJPW. How we credit sources: [Editorial standards](https://wrestlingnews.com/editorial-standards/).