Kazuchika Okada Issues Statement Following Expiration of NJPW Contract

As noted before, Kazuchika Okada will be leaving New Japan Pro Wrestling after his contract expires at the end of this January.

Okada announced earlier today on Twitter that his contract with NJPW officially expired today and he is currently a free agent. Okada also thanked NJPW for his 17-year career with the company.

“Thank you for supporting New Japan Pro Wrestling for 17 years! thank you very much! I laughed, got angry, cried, it was great! I look forward to playing the remaining three games as a free agent!”

新日本プロレス17年間お世話になりました！
ありがとうございました！
笑ったり、怒ったり、泣いたり、最高でした！
フリーとして残り3試合もよろしくお願いします！ pic.twitter.com/EDBAqZSEOO

— オカダ・カズチカ (@rainmakerXokada) January 31, 2024

Okada is currently scheduled to compete in three more matches and events for NJPW at their The New Beginning in Osaka 2024 event on February 11th in Osaka and their The New Beginning in Sapporo 2024 events on February 23-24 in Sapporo, Japan.

Prior to Okada’s announcement, Pro Wrestling Tees announced on Facebook that they were recently informed to pull all of Okada’s merchandise off of their store due to his contract with NJPW expiring. The Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer reported that PWT’s removal of Okada merchandise is not meant to be a sign of Okada going to WWE nor AEW.