Kazuchika Okada leaving NJPW at end of contract

Update —

AEW’s Tony Khan posted the following tease shortly after it was announced that Kazuchika Okada is leaving NJPW:

Khan had tweeted earlier today that 2024 is going to be an amazing year for AEW.

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One of the greatest pro wrestlers of all time is entering free agency.

It was announced on Thursday night that Kazuchika Okada, the top star in NJPW, will leave the promotion when his contract expires at the end of January. Okada’s next destination has not been revealed. Sports Illustrated reported in December that the 36-year-old Okada was seriously entertaining the idea of signing with WWE or AEW.

“Kazuchika Okada will be leaving New Japan Pro-Wrestling after the conclusion of his contract on January 31 2024,” NJPW wrote. “We apologize to fans for the abrupt nature of this announcement, but join them in wishing Okada the very best in his future.”

NJPW shared the following statement from Okada:

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. 

Despite the announcement, Okada will still be competing at three NJPW shows in February. Okada will appear at the New Beginning in Osaka on Sunday, February 11 and the New Beginning in Sapporo on Friday, February 23 and Saturday, February 24.

“As the New Beginning series begins this weekend, Okada will appear on February dates on February 11 in Osaka, and February 23 and 24 in Sapporo,” NJPW noted. “Changes will be made to forthcoming cards with an announcement to follow.”

Okada currently holds the NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team titles with Hiroshi Tanahashi & Tomohiro Ishii. They were scheduled to defend against Mikey Nicholls, Shane Haste & Kosei Fujita at the New Beginning in Osaka.

Okada is a five-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion and a two-time IWGP World Heavyweight Champion.

Okada recently defeated Bryan Danielson and Will Ospreay in matches at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 18 and Battle in the Valley.

In 2021, Okada was inducted into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame.