Kazuchika Okada is leaving NJPW for either WWE or AEW in early 2024 when his contract with New Japan Pro Wrestling expires later this month, which is a notable loss to the Japan promotion and a major gain for the company he signs with.
Past reports
Okada has been on the radar of some in WWE as the pitch is Okada is older and close to Shinsuke Nakamura, who made the jump from NJPW to WWE. The idea behind Okada considering WWE is the company is the one thing that he has never done after doing everything in NJPW.
As previously noted, Okada was believed to be grossly underpaid while competing and being a top star for New Japan Pro Wrestling compared to what he could be making in America.
Shinsuke Nakamura getting a renewed push in recent months with matches against World Champion Seth Rollins and Cody Rhodes was done to show Okada that they would push a Japanese star at a high level. WWE was of the belief they had a strong shot at getting Okada.
The latest
In the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer reported that Both WWE and AEW made pitches for him and one person close to him stated, “Nothing has started yet but seems both are gonna fight for him hard.”
Meltzer wrote, “It was believed that AEW has made the stronger first offer but no contract has been signed at press time.”
