Kazuchika Okada Set To Become Free Agent In 2024
Kazuchika Okada is about to become a free agent, Sports Illustrated has learned.
The face of New Japan Pro-Wrestling, Okada’s current contract expires at the end of January. While a new deal with New Japan would typically be underway, Okada, 36, is seriously entertaining the possibility of wrestling for a different promotion.
Courtesy AEW
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.
Beyond AEW, the only other possibility for Okada is WWE. The creative in WWE is headed by Paul “Triple H” Levesque, who would relish the opportunity to guide Okada to stardom in North America.
One of Levesque’s most trusted allies in WWE is Shawn Michaels, who oversees NXT. Nearly three years ago during an interview with Sports Illustrated, Michaels touched on Okada’s brilliance:
“Someone once asked me how Okada would adjust if he were ever in the WWE, and I know the answer to that—he’d adjust fantastically, because he’s a fantastic talent,” said Michaels, who is now WWE’s Senior Vice President of Talent Development Creative. “It’s like me. People would say, ‘Well, you only wrestled in the WWE,’ but I could have wrestled anywhere. When a guy is talented, he’s talented.”
Courtesy NJPW
The most recent superstar to move from New Japan to WWE was Shinsuke Nakamura, who signed with WWE in 2016. Though he never won the world title, Nakamura received a strong initial push in WWE. Seven years later, he is currently in the best stretch of his WWE run, having just finished a fantastic world heavyweight title feud with Seth Rollins—and now beginning a program with Cody Rhodes. Yet there were also prolonged stretches where the company had very little for him creatively. That blame could be pinned on Vince McMahon, who is no longer overseeing creative for WWE, but Nakamura was working the Slim Jim Battle Royal as recently as this past SummerSlam.
Okada is the flagship of New Japan–this would be similar to Randy Orton or Roman Reigns leaving WWE–and his next destination is important to New Japan. There were many who expected Nakamura’s run in WWE to be much shorter and that he would already have returned to New Japan, but there are no indications he will return anytime soon. If Okada enters free agency, he is expected to receive a massive payday wherever he signs.
Courtesy AEW
When comparing AEW and WWE as potential destinations, there are some stark differences.
WWE affords Okada the opportunity to work WrestleMania. There would also be a stacked roster awaiting his arrival, where he could work matches with Reigns, Orton, Rhodes, Nakamura, Rollins, Kevin Owens, Drew McIntyre, Gunther, Sami Zayn, and Finn Balor, just to name a few. If Okada signed with WWE, it would be another significant acquisition in the company’s Endeavor/TKO era, especially after just signing CM Punk and Jade Cargill.
But for all the potential that exists in WWE, AEW may be the better fit.
AEW offers a schedule where a talent, at most, typically works two shows a week. That would allow Okada to continue living in Japan, which is a priority for him, Sports Illustrated learned. A similar situation already exists in AEW with PAC, who still lives in England, and it is also the plan for Will Ospreay, who just signed with AEW and plans to continue living in England. There would also be no shortage of must-see matches in AEW, though none greater than a bout against eternal rival Kenny Omega.
Courtesy NJPW
A colossal advantage for AEW is that WWE does not have a working relationship with New Japan.
AEW owner Tony Khan has cultivated a partnership with New Japan, which could pay dividends here. If New Japan ever wanted Okada to return for a match at a high-profile event like Dominion or Wrestle Kingdom, that would be an easy proposition if he were working in AEW. That would not be the case, however, if Okada signed with WWE.
The destination remains unknown, but all signs point to Okada exploring free agency in 2024.
