Kazuchika Okada, the biggest star in the wrestling stronghold of Japan, is said to be “seriously” considering a move to WWE or AEW. Both US leagues are apparently making intensive inroads into the “Rainmaker.”
With CM Punk’s seemingly unthinkable return to WWE less than two weeks ago, the next sensational move by a wrestling phenomenon is about to follow.
A new report from Sports Illustrated adds fuel to the rumors that Kazuchika Okada, the biggest star in the showdown hotbed of Japan, could be leaving his longtime employer NJPW to join WWE or AEW.
According to the report, Okada – considered by many to be the best wrestler in the world – is “seriously considering” letting his contract expire at the end of January with the traditional league from Nippon and then signing with one of the major US leagues.
WWE and AEW are rumored to be interested in Kazuchika Okada
Longtime industry insider Dave Meltzer had already fueled speculation regarding the “Rainmaker” in his Wrestling Observer Newsletter last month: According to him, the topic had picked up speed within WWE, the interest in the 36-year-old, which had existed for years, had recently intensified again.
According to
Meltzer, WWE would have new hopes of acquiring Okada because he has achieved everything in NJPW and could seek a new challenge with the market leader. WWE is also said to be betting that Okada’s advancing age could lead him to become more open to WWE. NJPW’s wrestling style is more physically intense than WWE’s – which was a factor in Shinsuke Nakamura’s move to WWE a few years ago.
The same Nakamura is good friends with Okada and has recently played a bigger role in WWE than in previous years. According to Meltzer, word from WWE circles is that the Nakamura push is part of the charm offensive towards Okada and should allay a possible concern of the dream candidate: In the past, many Japanese wrestlers have not had the same success in WWE as they have at home. The current WWE regime around “Triple H” Paul Levesque is said to want to signal that he is more supportive of Japanese wrestlers than the recently creatively disempowered company founder Vince McMahon had done.
Is Okada doing it like Will Ospreay?
Sports Illustrated is now also focusing on the alternative option of AEW, where Okada has already made several appearances as part of the AEW-NJPW collaboration.
Most recently, Okada competed in a tag team match on the TV show Dynamite in October, and according to SI, this match was intended as part of a get-to-know-you process in which AEW and Okada explored a potential future collaboration. AEW recently won over the similarly highly respected Will Ospreay in a similar way.
Okada is currently engaged in an inter-league feud with Bryan Danielson in AEW and NJPW, who is likely to play a significant role in the recruitment attempt: Former WWE’s Daniel Bryan is also taking on an increasing role behind the scenes at AEW.
As Fightful recently revealed, he spearheaded the internal investigation committee into the CM Punk beating scandal, which ultimately decided to fire Punk in agreement with outside legal counsel, paving the way for him to join WWE.
Also possible to stay with NJPW
How the Okada situation will turn out, on the other hand, cannot yet be reliably predicted: A move to WWE or AEW – where Okada could also renew his legendary rivalry with AEW co-founder Kenny Omega – seems equally possible. However, a move to NJPW, the league in which Okada established his fame and to which he has always remained loyal, is also possible.
There will probably be no clarity until the beginning of next year at the earliest, when Okada will be competing in at least one more big match for NJPW: At the annual highlight Wrestle Kingdom on January 4, Okada will face Bryan Danielson one more time at the Tokyo Dome.
