'Tentative Plans' In Place For Kazuchika Okada AEW Debut

Whilst no public announcement has been made regarding Kazuchika Okada’s future, reports suggest that some in All Elite Wrestling are growing increasingly confident of signing the ‘Rainmaker’ to a full-time deal after the expiration of his New Japan Pro-Wrestling contract.

Fightful Select state that AEW have already made ‘tentative plans’ for Okada’s debut should they get a deal over the line, with the company believed to have made a ‘substantial offer’ to the NJPW legend. 

PWInsider Elite also suggest that AEW is likely Okada’s destination, thanks in some part to his friendship with The Young Bucks. The Bucks took Okada under their wing when he joined them in TNA whilst on excursion in the early 2010s, helping Okada settle in America and helping him with any issues he may have had. Okada is believed to have stayed loyal to The Bucks as a result.

Both WWE and AEW have made offers to Okada, according to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio. AEW's offer is the higher dollar amount with WWE under the idea that Okada will sign with WWE if he wants to come to the company.

On the January 31 episode of AEW Dynamite, it was announced that AEW President Tony Khan will be making another of his infamous important announcements on the February 7 broadcast, whilst Jon Moxley noticeably did the hand signal for ‘money’ after his match against Jeff Hardy, both causing segments of the AEW fanbase to believe that Okada or Mercedes Moné are indeed on their way in.