Could WWE be targeting New Japan legend Kazuchika Okada as a future signing?
Having accomplished everything there is to achieve in NJPW multiple times and being widely regarded as one of the best wrestlers in the world today, there would certainly be a lot of buzz generated if The Rainmaker joined the largest wrestling promotion in the world. Additionally, Kazuchika Okada has recently said in an interview that he is looking at winding down his in-ring career.
WWE could be a way for Okada could prolong his wrestling career while making more money if he chooses, as the American style is much less physical than New Japan. As reported in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the pitch internally is to tempt Okada with a deal and trajectory similar to that of Shinsuke Nakamura, who signed with the company back in 2016:
We’ve heard some talk of late regarding Kazuchika Okada. Obviously they’ve had interest in him for years. But he’s always been loyal to New Japan. The pitch is that he’s now 36 and he’s close with Nakamura and Nakamura has worked years in WWE and it’s far easier on his body. The idea is that WWE is the one thing Okada has never done and he’s done everything he can do in New Japan.
It is also noted that the increased interest with Okada is the explanation behind Nakamura being positioned in more prominent roles such as challenging Seth Rollins for the World Heavyweight Championship at multiple events. The belief is that WWE are presenting themselves as a new regime and overseas stars will be treated a lot better than they did when Vince McMahon was in charge:
One person who buzzed us about the renewed interest in Okada said that one of the reasons Nakamura is getting a renewed push is to show Okada that this regime is not going to treat Japanese like the stereotypical children-like role (although Tozawa is still playing that role) because Vince does that with people who don’t speak fluent English, but this is a new regime. Okada is a name always brought up but there’s no indication there’s anything new to this other than there’s been more talk of late.
WWE Continues International Expansions
Along with targeting some of the top stars in Japan, with Stardom’s Giulia also heavily discussed as a potential future signing, the company continue to make its content more widely accessible than ever before. In their latest Premium Live Event announcement, WWE will travel to France in 2024 to present Backlash, making it the second consecutive year that the event has been held internationally following the success of the show in Puerto Rico in 2023.