Kazuchika Okada will be leaving NJPW in the next few weeks after more than 17 years with the promotion.
As announced by New Japan on January 19th, Okada’s contract will expire on January 31st and The Rainmaker will not be re-signing. However, Okada has agreed to take part in the New Beginning shows on February 11 in Osaka, and February 23 and 24 in Sapporo.
Due to the abrupt nature of the announcement, New Japan has announced changes to forthcoming events. The originally scheduled defence of the NEVER Openweight 6 Man Tag team Championship, which would see Okada, Tomohiro Ishii and Hiroshi Tanahashi face Shane Haste, Mikey Nicholls and Kosei Fujita will now take place on January 24th instead of the February 11th show in Osaka.
As a result of the change of plans, The former IWGP Heavyweight Champion will instead compete against Hiroshi Tanahashi at the New Beginning in Osaka show on February 11th.
Okada’s statement regarding the imminent departure is as follows:
I have nothing but gratitude for having been a part of New Japan Pro-Wrestling since 2007, and for NJPW bringing me from a 19 year old kid off the plane in Mexico to the Rainmaker I am today. Thank you to the best of companies in NJPW, to the best of opponents that I’ve been able to face here, and to the best of fans that have cheered and booed over the years. I promise to make it rain in every match I have left, so keep watching.
It was first reported back in December 2023 that Kazuchika Okada’s contract was set to expire imminently. While there were rumours of free agency, many expected the former IWGP Heavyweight Champion to remain.
More details about the departure have been provided courtesy of Fightful Select. It is stated that a meeting took place between Okada and New Japan officials and it was clear that Okada would not be re-signing with the company. The split has been described as amicable and “there doesn’t appear to be any ill will.”
In an update from Bryan Alvarez, it was stated that compared to the top stars of the United States, Okada was making a lot less money:
“He’d been thinking about leaving once, and then there was a meeting with New Japan, and he wasn’t thinking about leaving anymore. And it wasn’t because he was offered a lot of money. I don’t know exactly what he was making but people today were like ‘this is the most underpaid, greatest wrestler of all time ever.’ So whatever he was making, if you compare it to what the top stars are making in America today, he’s grossly underpaid in New Japan. He’s done a lot of shows in AEW and don’t think he doesn’t know what they’re making there. They’re making a lot of money.”
H/t to Wrestling News.co
In regards to one of his final matches for the promotion that took place against Will Ospreay at NJPW Battle of the Valley, Dave Meltzer rated the match very highly.
In recent news, it has been reported that a bidding war is set to take place for Kazuchika Okada.
Which Promotion Will Kazuchika Okada Sign With?
With The Rainmaker regarded as one of the best wrestlers in the world and one of the most sought-after free agents, it is expected that Okada will sign with AEW or even WWE. Fightful has noted that AEW are hopeful that they will be able to sign Okada but at this point in time it is too early to tell.
There have been reports previously that stated that WWE were interested in the New Japan star. WWE sources note that while talks have not taken place between either side, it is something that they will explore.
With the contract set to end in a couple of weeks, some may be expecting a surprise entry in the Royal Rumble. Unfortunately, as Okada is still under contract with NJPW on January 27th, this would be very unlikely. However, if Okada were to gain special permission from New Japan, it is not entirely impossible.