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Big update on Kazuchika Okada

Added 2024-02-29 19:29:07 +0000 UTC

AEW is landing a huge free agent in Kazuchika Okada.

Okada’s New Japan Pro Wrestling deal expired at the end of January, making him a free agent. AEW had long maintained interest in him joining the company. By early February, Fightful Select had reported that Okada was expected to go to All Elite Wrestling and would be debuting once he’d finished up his freelance obligations with NJPW.

We’d also noted that the first half of March was expected to be a huge one for AEW. Mercedes Mone is planned for a debut on March 13, Will Ospreay is debuting as a full-time wrestler for AEW in-ring at March 3’s Revolution, the company is poised for many visual changes, and Sting’s retirement is going down. In addition to that, we’re told that the company has been hoping and at least tentatively planning for Kazuchika Okada to be in the fold by the March 6 episode of Dynamite.

Tony Khan noted on today’s media call that there’s something he’s very excited about coming in Atlanta (for next week’s Dynamite). We’ve heard plenty of discussion that Okada debut there, but have heard from numerous sources that the hope as of mid-February was for Okada to appear in the company by then.