Kazuchika Okada will leave NJPW on January 31st and likely create a huge bidding war between a number of interested suitors.
The Japanese sensation has been the biggest performer in Japanese wrestling for several years and he is undoubtedly one of the best talents about.
The 36-year-old already has history with AEW and TNA, so will he head to one of those promotions or will the temptation to succeed in WWE be too hard for Okada to resist?
Here, DAZN looks at where Okada could end up next.
WWE
An outside bet at this stage due to Okada’s prosperous relationship with AEW and a number of their performers, but surely WWE would be willing to push Okada in North America.
A few of Japan’s leading wrestlers have tried to make an impact under Vince McMahon’s guidance to minimal success but can Okada fare better with Triple H in charge.
The Japanese superstar loves a challenge and aiming to become a true main event star in WWE could be his biggest yet and surely one that would bring the best out of him.
AEW
The frontrunner for Okada’s signature and the company that would surely get the best from Okada from an in-ring perspective is AEW.
After already partaking in numerous high profile matches against AEW talents such as Kenny Omega, Will Ospreay, and Bryan Danielson, Okada has plenty of old rivalries to revisit.
AEW also has other impressive wrestlers who have not shared the ring with Okada and that opens up a ton of interesting opportunities.
TNA
Is TNA a realistic destination for Okada? Armed with a renewed ambition at the start of 2024, the signing of Okada would be a huge statement of intent from TNA.
Okada wrestled in TNA as a rookie in 2010 and the following year and he’s made guest appearances for them in recent times.
TNA is eager to be a major wrestling company and with Okada as their main man, they will have a better chance of succeeding.