NJPW announces Kazuchika Okada's departure after reports of WWE and AEW interest
Kazuchika Okada, New Japan Pro Wrestling's top star for over a decade, is leaving the company.
The news was announced by NJPW in a statement, with Okada's final dates for the company being set for February.
NJPW's statement read: "Kazuchika Okada will be leaving New Japan Pro-Wrestling after the conclusion of his contract on January 31 2024.
Related: Will NJPW's Kazuchika Okada sign with WWE?
"We apologise to fans for the abrupt nature of this announcement, but join them in wishing Okada the very best in his future.
"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. Changes will be made to forthcoming cards with an announcement to follow."
Okada himself added: "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."
Last month, Sports Illustrated reported that Okada was set to become a free agent in 2024 after his long-term deal with NJPW expired.
The report added that the 36-year-old was said to be "seriously entertaining the possibility of wrestling for a different promotion".
Since the official announcement of Okada's departure from NJPW, Fightful Select has reported that both WWE and AEW are interested in signing the longest-reigning IWGP Heavyweight Champion.
Related: AEW's Jack Perry makes shock return to wrestling
Okada has featured on both of AEW and NJPW's cross-promotional Forbidden Door shows and he made his Dynamite in-ring debut on October 25, teaming with Orange Cassidy against Danielson and Claudio Castagnoli.
In November, Wrestling Observer's Dave Meltzer wrote that there had been a renewed push by WWE to try and sign Okada, adding: "The pitch is that he's now 36 and he's close with [Shinsuke] Nakamura and Nakamura has worked years in WWE and it's far easier on his body."
Where would you like to see Okada now he's left NJPW? Let us know over on X @digitalspywwe.
Catch up on Raw, Smackdown, NXT and all the big WWE action via the WWE Network or TNT Sports. US viewers can access the WWE Network via Peacock.
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