Yeah I think Jun or Rei had an article interview where they talked about it, but I wasn't sure if they meant active sumotori or retired ones. Because like, Akebono stuck around for 10 years, so even just some of these guys working for a few years could be a boost.

Hey, pound your chest when you can. I love the lads too, I feel like I've annoyed all my wrestling mates by crying out for AJPW to hire more sumo boys for years now. Kazusada Higuchi working a Carnival is my "dream appearance" atmo.

TBH, doing a third+ over last year when most of the shows have been minor growth balanced out by additional shows is a bold expectation. I wouldn't have put down money on a 2.2k house in Sendai being the biggest attendance of the year for AJPW halfway through the year.

Very big growth tbf.

2019: 260, 320, 302 (3 shows)
2020: 220 (1 show)
2021-2022: no shows
2023: 419 (1 show)
2024: 1.470 and 1,335 (2 shows)
2025: 2,239 (1 show)

Only a NJPW G-1 Climax show in 2024 has drawn better.

Nobody wants to deal with Tony Khan's "the champion must not wrestle frequently on television" and "the champion cannot be booked in Japan" mandates.

CC2023: 8,111 tickets / 10 shows = 811 tickets
CC2024: 11,561 tickets (+3,450) / 11 shows (+1) = 1,051 average (+244)
CC2025: 12,547 tickets (+986) / 14 shows (+3) = 896 average (-155)

Netanyahu: "More legitimate targets by which to thin the herd? Even more justifiable reasons to stay in office - I mean, Gaza? I don't see the problem.