Kazuchika Okada "Likely" Heading To WWE

Amidst plentiful speculation, Kazuchika Okada is now believed to be heading to WWE.

By Andrew Pollard / January 23, 2024

NJPW/WWE

Update

In an update on this situation, Fightful Select reports that, as of now, Kazuchika Okada is "early" in the process of deciding where his pro wrestling future lies.

A WWE higher-up who the outlet spoke to said it would be news to them if Okada has decided to head to the promotion, while multiple sources within NXT have likewise heard nothing on this matter.

Basically, it appears that Okada's future is still undecided and that anything could happen.

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Original Story

In what has already proven to be a crazy day for WWE - the company signing an incredible $5 billion deal with Netflix - it now appears that Kazuchika Okada is heading to WWE once his legendary run with NJPW comes to an end in the next few weeks.

Of course, Okada has previously announced that his current NJPW deal expires at the end of January, and that'll be finishing up with New Japan once the New Beginning shows wrap up next month.

Given the Rainmaker's status as one of the best - if not the best - wrestlers on the planet, it's no surprise to hear that both AEW and WWE have strong interest in the seven-time IWGP Champion. While some within AEW were confident of landing Okada, and likewise WWE were hopeful of signing the 36-year-old, the latest in this saga seems to indicate that it will be WWE where Kazuchika will likely end up.

Per the reliable Monthly Puroresu, a source close to the talent noted "it appears Okada is WWE bound, potentially starting in NXT first."

With Kazuchika Okada likely heading to WWE, The Rainmaker was shown a lot of love by fans at Korakuen Hall.

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Tearing up, he promised to successfully defend the NEVER 6-Man titles one last time tomorrow, in his last appearance at Korakuen Hall for #njpw.?https://t.co/GKxL4fNO1M
— Monthly Puroresu (@MonthlyPuroresu) January 23, 2024

Obviously, this is far from confirmation of Kazuchika Okada formally joining WWE, but Monthly Puroresu is an extremely reliable source when it comes to Japanese wrestling.

If Okada signs with WWE, and if Okada does end up being initially assigned to NXT, it might not be the worst thing. After all, major NJPW stars like Shinsuke Nakamura and Finn Balor went through NXT, with those spells allowing the talent to get settled in the United States before an eventual move to the main roster. Of course, the NXT landscape during Nakamura and Balor's time there was slightly different to the NXT we see today.

Until anything is official, though, Okada could well still sign with another promotion, but for now, the latest in one of pro wrestling's hottest talking points, seems to indicate Kazuchika Okada will be signing with Triple H and WWE.

Authored by Andrew Pollard

Senior Writer

Once described as the Swiss Army Knife of WhatCulture, Andrew can usually be found writing, editing, or presenting on a wide range of topics. As a lifelong wrestling fan, horror obsessive, and comic book nerd, he's been covering those topics professionally as far back as 2010. In addition to his current WhatCulture role of Senior Content Producer, Andrew previously spent nearly a decade as Online Editor and Lead Writer for the world's longest-running genre publication, Starburst Magazine, and his work has also been featured on BBC, TechRadar, Tom's Guide, WhatToWatch, Sportkskeeda, and various other outlets, in addition to being a Rotten Tomatoes-approved film critic. Between his main day job, his role as the lead panel host of Wales Comic Con, and his gig as a pre-match host for Wrexham AFC games, Andrew has also carried out a hugely varied amount of interviews, from the likes of Robert Englund, Kane Hodder, Adrienne Barbeau, Rob Zombie, Katharine Isabelle, Leigh Whannell, Bruce Campbell, and Tony Todd, to Kevin Smith, Ron Perlman, Elijah Wood, Giancarlo Esposito, Simon Pegg, Charlie Cox, the Russo Brothers, and Brian Blessed, to Kevin Conroy, Paul Dini, Tara Strong, Will Friedle, Burt Ward, Andrea Romano, Frank Miller, and Rob Liefeld, to Bret Hart, Sting, Mick Foley, Ricky Starks, Jamie Hayer, Britt Baker, Eric Bischoff, and William Regal, to Mickey Thomas, Joey Jones, Phil Parkinson, Brian Flynn, Denis Smith, Gary Bennett, Karl Connolly, and Bryan Robson - and that's just the tip of an ever-expanding iceberg. Where his beloved Wrexham AFC is concerned, Andrew is co-host of the Fearless in Devotion podcast, which won the Club Podcast of the Year gong at the 2024 FSA Awards.

Posted On: 23rd Jan 2024