Kazuchika Okada’s NJPW Contract Expiring Soon; Will He Sign With AEW Or WWE?

Written by Sondra Ruth • Published 5th December 2023
Kazuchika Okada poses in ring

Kazuchika Okada‘s current deal with NJPW expires soon, and the star reportedly has multiple options on the table.

According to a new report from Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated, Kazuchika Okada’s contract with New Japan Pro Wrestling is set to expire at the end of January 2024, meaning free agency could be on the horizon for the former IWGP Heavyweight Champion. Okada has been with the promotion for over a decade, and there’s little left for the star to accomplish there.

The report notes that while Okada could opt to re-sign with NJPW, he is seriously considering wrestling elsewhere.

Are AEW And WWE Interested In Kazuchika Okada?

Continuing, the report reveals that there’s more to Okada’s match on AEW Dynamite in October than simply a partnership between AEW and NJPW. Barrasso writes:

“When Okada wrestled on Dynamite in October, the purpose of his trip was not solely to advance his feud with Bryan Danielson ahead of their Wrestle Kingdom match on January 4. That Dynamite in Philadelphia also allowed Okada a chance to acquire a better sense of AEW, which is one of the two destinations he will land if he opts to exit New Japan.”

Okada previously faced Bryan Danielson at Forbidden Door, with Danielson suffering a broken arm in the bout. The Dynamite bout saw Okada team with Orange Cassidy to take on Danielson and Claudio Castagnoli.

The Sports Illustrated report also mentions WWE as a possible destination for Okada. A previous report from Dave Meltzer in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter indicated that WWE is indeed interested in signing Kazuchika Okada.

Okada has noted in the past that his in-ring career is winding down, and it remains to be seen where he’ll finish out his career.

Dave Meltzer added context to this story in a new report on social media, noting that most NJPW talent contracts will expire at the end of January. He wrote:

“Virtually every NJPW wrestler will be a free agent at the end of January. They mostly sign deals 2/1 to 1/31 every year, but we covered WWE’s interest in him weeks ago.”