AEW & WWE 'Fighting Hard' To Sign Kazuchika Okada, AEW Current Favourites

Fans were shocked when it was revealed over the last couple of days that Kazuchika Okada would be entering free agency, leaving NJPW for the first time since 2010, ending a 14-year spell with the promotion and becoming arguably their biggest star in that time.

Questions have immediately been raised about his future, and according to Dave Meltzer in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, both WWE and AEW are going to be “fighting hard” to sign this hot free agent. Meltzer went on to also provide an update stating that AEW had made the “stronger first offer” to obtain Okada, and are the current favourites in the race, though there has been no contract put in front of Okada as of yet. Additionally, Okada does have familiarity with AEW after working a few dates for the promotion and of course the Forbidden Door shows, and has existing friendships with names like Kenny Omega, Young Bucks, and Bryan Danielson.

On the WWE side, there is belief that Okada wants to work at a WrestleMania, per Sports Illustrated, which would give WWE some leverage that AEW does not have. It was also mentioned in the WON that WWE had some pre-existing belief they could sign Okada, which is why Shinsuke Nakamura received a renewed push in recent months, showing that they could push a Japanese male to the top of the card.