One of the biggest names in professional wrestling, NJPW star Kazuchika Okada, aka the Rainmaker, is reportedly set to become a free agent next year. However, the development can ignite a bidding war between WWE and AEW.
The Rainmaker has been the face of NJPW for the past decade, and he’s not showing any signs of slowing down. A multi-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion, his matches have consistently been called ‘instant classics.’ Since WWE and AEW are both reported to be interested in signing Okada, he would prove to be a major coup for either of the promotions.
According to a new report from Sports Illustrated, Okada’s NJPW contract will expire at the end of January 2024. Following this, he is considering wrestling full-time for another promotion.
Notably, Okada has already wrestled for AEW a few times, most recently on the October 25 episode of Dynamite. He teamed up with Orange Cassidy to take on Bryan Danielson and Claudio Castagnoli. Okada is also set for a match at Wrestle Kingdom 18 on January 4, 2024. Here, he will face Danielson in a rematch. They two wrestlers earlier squared off at AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door 2023, where the Rainmaker suffered a loss.
Although the destination of Okada’s next signing is still uncertain, it raises questions related to his end of NJPW contract and his decision to come to America.
WWE star teases potential match with NJPW star Kazuchika Okada
WWE star Bronson Reed recently teased a potential match with former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada. Following the news of Okada’s free agency, Reed took to X (formerly Twitter) to post a photo. The picture was from his previous meeting with the Rainmaker in NJPW last year.
Check out Bronson Reed’s tweet below:
As it is now, the former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, Kazuchika Okada, could consider coming to WWE, especially with the recent push for Shinsuke Nakamura on RAW.
