Why Tony Khan's AEW Nightmare Could Come True In January
1. The Repercussions Of The Rainmaker's Next Move
For a decade now, Kazuchika Okada has been one of the greatest wrestlers walking the planet. Having long been the poster boy of New Japan Pro-Wrestling, it forever seemed unfathomable to think of an NJPW where there's not an Okada. That is, until reports surfaced that the longest-reigning IWGP Heavyweight Champion in history was toying with the idea of exploring his options in 2024.
At one point, if Okada really was looking to depart New Japan, the only plausible destination would surely be All Elite Wrestling. Now? Not so much...
Of course, AEW and NJPW clearly have a strong working relationship in place, as shown by the Forbidden Door crossover PPVs and in how each promotion has used talents from the other. As part of that, Okada has competed in an AEW ring on three occasions, most notably when facing off against Bryan Danielson at this year's Forbidden Door show.
Added to that, one of Okada's greatest rivals is AEW EVP Kenny Omega, and he's also good friends with the Young Bucks after they helped Kazuchika during his ill-fated stint in TNA back in the day. Again, all of this would point to the only post-NJPW landing spot for Okada being AEW.
However, WWE is said to be genuinely being considered by the Rainmaker right now. For the longest time, WWE's awful presentation of so many of its Japanese stars would be an instant turn-off for a true superstar like Kazuchika Okada. Under the stewardship of Paul Levesque, though, the recent use of Shinsuke Nakamura - himself a close friend of Okada's - serves to highlight this is no longer a company guided by the idiotic ideals of Vincent Kennedy McMahon.
At 36 years of age, if there ever was a time to jump to WWE, 2024 presents a fascinating proposition for Okada. While one has to think that he'd would be used as a top guy in AEW, WWE is simply a bigger company, operating on a bigger scale, and with far, far bigger name recognition across the globe.
Not to disparage AEW, but WWE is the 'big time' in terms of taking your stardom to an entirely different level, which Jade Cargill has stated is the major reason she herself decided to choose WWE over re-signing with AEW.
Should Kazuchika Okada - the golden goose of New Japan Pro-Wrestling and someone viewed as one of the greatest to ever lace up a pair of boots - opt to sign with WWE when his NJPW deal expires in January 2024, that would be a hammer blow for Tony Khan and All Elite Wrestling.
If New Japan talent see a true legend of the business in Okada clearly viewing WWE as a better option than AEW, that sets a certain precedent and, once again, furthers the perception that WWE is a far more appealing workplace than AEW right now, or at least a far more appealing workplace than WWE once was.