WWE could be making a bigger move into Japan next year, and Nick Khan is already working on making it happen. The company has been expanding its international presence, and Tokyo could be next on the list for 2027.
During TKO’s third-quarter 2026 financial earnings call, TKO President Mark Shapiro discussed the company’s plans to expand WWE and UFC into additional international markets. While addressing ongoing conversations with Abu Dhabi regarding UFC, Shapiro revealed that Khan has been working on something involving WWE in Japan.
“I’m also pretty bullish about some conversations that Nick Khan is having about bringing WWE to Tokyo next year.”
Shapiro didn’t reveal exactly what WWE has planned for Tokyo or whether the discussions involve a Premium Live Event, television broadcast, or another live event. However, his comments confirm that the company is actively exploring opportunities to bring WWE programming to the Japanese market in 2027.
The timing is interesting considering WWE programming began streaming on Netflix in Japan in October 2026. That gives the company another way to reach Japanese viewers as it considers expanding its live event presence in the country.
WWE is certainly no stranger to Japan, either. The company most recently held events there in October 2026, so a return next year wouldn’t be surprising. The bigger question is whether WWE is looking to do something beyond its usual international live events.
For now, nothing has been officially announced regarding a WWE event in Tokyo for 2027. Still, with Nick Khan personally involved in the conversations and Shapiro publicly expressing confidence in the discussions, Japan is clearly part of WWE’s international expansion plans.
Would you like to see WWE bring a major Premium Live Event to Tokyo in 2027, and which Japanese wrestling stars would you want involved? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
