Kazuchika Okada Considered Likely For One Major Wrestling Promotion
There has been a lot of speculation about where Kazuchika Okada is headed a new report suggests what the “likely” destination is.
Earlier in the week, there was a report credited to Monthly Puroresu that claimed that Japanese wrestling legend Kazuchika Okada, who is set to become a free agent, was heading to World Wrestling Entertainment and may even start in NXT. That report was shot down by other outlets.
For the past 15 years, the 36-year-old Okada has become one of the biggest names in Japanese wrestling history since he’s a 7-time IWGP World Champion, headlined numerous major shows all around the world and has competed in several all-time great matches as well.
As for what’s next for Okada, multiple outlets are now naming AEW as the likely home for the Japanese star. On PWInsider Elite, it was noted that Okada and his agent Barry Bloom were together in Las Vegas at the TNA tapings that Okada participated in. Their report added that “AEW is being seen as far more likely as his landing point than WWE.” It is believed that Okada has had very little discussions with WWE.
It was also noted that Okada goes back many years with AEW EVPs The Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson) from when Okada was a young wrestler in TNA and The Young Bucks helped him a lot. Okada is considered a loyal person and is loyal to the Young Bucks. AEW Owner Tony Khan is also a huge Okada fan as well.
In the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer wrote about that “the belief from this side (AEW) is that he will be starting soon.” Meltzer added the following.
“The last word was that he had not made up his mind. I know people here range from hopeful to I’d perceive as confident he will be coming. If he was to sign, the likely arrival would be around the Greensboro show with his final New Japan date on 2/24. If it was WWE, I could see them holding off until WrestleMania. But we do know that Tony Khan has been especially enthusiastic about 2024, between new signings and returns over the next few months of MJF, Adam Cole, Kenny Omega (hopefully), Bandido, Rey Fenix, Pac and Britt Baker.”
Tony Khan seems excited about everything on his beloved Twitter/X as well.
Kazuchika Okada Wrestles In TNA Impact Main Event
In the TNA Impact Wrestling main event of January 25th, Kazuchika Okada was in action with the Motor City Machine Guns as they defeated The System team consisting of TNA World Champion Moose, Eddie Edwards and Brian Myers. Okada didn’t wrestle that much in the match while Shelley pinned Myers.
It was likely Okada’s last match in TNA since he isn’t scheduled for any of their future shows.