Kazuchika Okada could be leaving NJPW for either WWE or AEW in early 2024 when his contract with New Japan Pro Wrestling expires, which would be a notable loss to the Japan promotion and a major gain for the company he signs with.
Past reports
Okada is reportedly on the radar of some in WWE as the pitch is Okada is older and close with 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.
Okada’s contract expires at the end of January. A recent report noted that while contract talks would typically be underway, Okada is seriously entertaining the possibility of wrestling for a different promotion.
The latest
While speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer noted while he thinks the story is a little overplayed, WWE does want him and has shown interest for years.
“I think it’s kind of like overplayed in some ways. I mean, at the same time, when I wrote about it, it’s like it’s true. WWE wants Okada. They wanted Okada for how many years? But they do believe that maybe there’s a better chance of getting him now than before. And maybe there is.”
Meltzer pointed out that NJPW structures the contracts of its wrestlers with their deals expiring at the end of January.
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