WWE Or AEW? The Latest On Kazuchika Okada's Future!
Now officially a free agent, there's a further update on the future of Kazuchika Okada.
Update
Following on from the prior Fightful Select report, the latest episode of Wrestling Observer Radio added some more to the topic of Kazuchika Okada's future.
With interest from both WWE and AEW, Dave Meltzer noted how Okada's decision will essentially come down to what his priorities are. As it stands, while AEW has made a higher offer to the talent, WWE is under the belief that if he wants to come to WWE, he'll come to WWE regardless of any higher offer from AEW.
In WWE, Okada would have a far bigger worldwide stage, with the potential to make huge money. In AEW, there's a better chance of higher match quality, plus a more relaxed schedule. However, those matches in AEW are often far more hard-hitting than the bulk of WWE bouts, although the WWE schedule is clearly a far busier one for talents when compared to AEW.
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Original
Having now officially become a free agent, there's further rumblings on what the future holds for Kazuchika Okada.
Following the news that Okada's merchandise was being pulled from PWTees yesterday, there was some speculation that this was an indicator the Rainmaker would be heading to WWE; AEW already clearly has a working relationship with PWTees, after all.
Per Fightful Select, the removal of the Okada merch wasn't connected to either WWE or AEW. Instead, it was simply due to his deal with New Japan Pro-Wrestling expiring.
Fightful also has new details on the ever-developing situation surrounding the future of Kazuchika, noting that NJPW has been very understanding in terms of allowing Okada to have talks with other promotions once it was announced he'd be departing the company.
Of course, the 36-year-old grappler has held talks with both WWE and AEW. In terms of WWE, Okada has spoken to certain roster members to discuss the offers made to him, WWE's approach, and to ultimately help him make a decision on where to sign.
For AEW, Tony Khan's promotion has been "fairly confident" across this past month that the seven-time IWGP World Champion would become #AllElite. So much so, there were tentative plans in place for Okada's debut - believed to be planned for over a month from now - and the company made what they view as a "substantial offer" to the talent.
As of this writing, Kazuchika Okada has not signed a contract with either WWE or AEW, although he does nowadays have super-agent Barry Bloom representing him.