As we reported earlier in the week, one of the major reasons why WWE signed Japanese star KENTA to a deal is because of WWE’s ongoing efforts to expand its business in Japan.

The company has plans to launch the WWE Network in Japan by next year, and it will be using KENTA’s star power to help promote the brand.

WWE NXT will also begin airing on J Sports in Japan very soon, and that’s a big reason why KENTA is expected to be a regular on NXT TV by the fall of this year.

Sherdog.com has published a new editorial reflecting on UFC’s intentions to expand its Japanese business, and the following is an excerpt:

WWE CEO Vince McMahon has always had visions of sugar plums dancing in his head when it comes to his company taking over the Japanese landscape. He worked with two different Japanese promotions on three Tokyo Dome events in 1990 and 1991. Eventually, McMahon renewed his efforts to conquer Japan in 2003 by running shows at Yokohama Arena.

UFC President Dana White, meanwhile, continues to work with Japanese ad agency Dentsu on running annual fighting events at Saitama Super Arena. There will be a UFC Fight Night event on Sept. 20 featuring Roy Nelson against Mark Hunt along with Rin Nakai and her princess dress against Miesha Tate. Given the UFC’s inability to score a major broadcast television deal in the country, it is just as important for the organization to land Japanese subscribers for UFC Fight Pass as it is for World Wrestling Entertainment to score subscribers for the WWE Network.