Earlier today, Tokyo Sports broke news concerning the puroresu (wrestling) scene in Japan. According to the outlet, Pro Wrestling Noah (NOAH) was sold by LIDET Entertainment to CyberAgent. The CyberAgent group also owns the puroresu organization Dramatic Dream Team (DDT).
CyberAgent becomes the third ownership group of NOAH since 2016 when the group was purchased by Estbee, Co, Ltd. In February 2019, 75% of the company was sold to LIDET Entertainment, before CyberAgent’s full purchase of the company this week.
Fumi Saito of the Wrestling Observer Network reported in December of 2019 that World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) was in talks to purchase World Wonder Ring Stardom (Stardom) and NOAH. However, Bushiroad (parent company of New Japan Pro Wrestling) purchased Stardom from Rossy Ogawa late last year, and CyberAgent was able to acquire NOAH this month, leaving WWE without a clear path to opening a promotion in the Japanese wrestling market.
In the following Google translated copy, Tokyo Sports said the following regarding CyberAgent’s acquisition:
On Wednesday [Tuesday?], it turned out that Pro Wrestling Noah has joined the umbrella of IT company CyberAgent (President Susumu Fujita). Noah’s company, Noah Global Entertainment Co., Ltd., was wholly-owned as a wholly-owned subsidiary.
Noah, which was established in August 2000, was transferred to IT system development company “Estbee” in November 2016. In February of last year, the company changed its owner company to LIDET Entertainment Co., Ltd., which operates advertising and entertainment businesses. This time, the owner company will change. Negotiations between Noah Global Entertainment’s President Arihiro Takeda and cyber agents began in late November last year. Negotiations took only one and a half months to complete.
CyberAgent, an internet media services company is responsible for the AbemaTV streaming service, an asset that could help NOAH develop a modern wrestling streaming network similar to others in the wrestling industry. While CyberAgent maintains a higher total revenue than Bushiroad, the latter maintains a higher gross profit and operating income. CyberAgent lost money during the Q4 of 2019.
With the official announcement coming later this week, CyberAgent may disclose part of their strategy for the NOAH going forward — which could result in crossover work with DDT. How CyberAgent’s acquisition of the company will change the day to day operations of the promotion including the creative process, marketing, and any additional systematic changes will likely come to light in the upcoming weeks.
