Tetsuya Naito: I Have To Make Kazuchika Okada Think He Should Have Stayed In NJPW Despite Large AEW Contract

Tetsuya Naito has to make Kazuchika Okada regret his contract. 

Kazuchika Okada officially joined AEW on the March 6 episode of AEW Dynamite, aligning with The Young Bucks (Matthew Jackson & Nicholas Jackson). Okada joining AEW meant the end of his full-time tenure with NJPW, though the two companies have a working relationship. 

 “I was surprised to see his comments about leaving the organization and the tears in his eyes, because I thought he would go farther away. I honestly thought that I would be closer than I thought…. Then I wondered what the tears were for (Will) Osprey at the San Jose tournament in January,” IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Tetsuya Naito told Tokyo Sport. 

Will Ospreay officially joined AEW ahead of AEW Revolution after finishing up his full-time run with NJPW as well. Ospreay and Okada faced at NJPW Battle in Valley. 

Okada’s deal with AEW is reportedly for three years and worth 2 billion yen (roughly $13 million). 

“After all, it’s all about the money, isn’t it? I’m not saying there is anything wrong with that. I’m happy if more people think that pro-wrestling is great and want to become pro-wrestlers too, but some of the kids who admired and cheered for Okada in New Japan may have thrown away their T-shirts in tears. （Just as I (a Carp fan) once threw away the uniform of manager Arai (Takahiro), who was transferred to the Hanshin FA team. Okada indicated that he values the ongoing fans as much as or more than the children of the future. Regardless, Okada’s new stage in his career is very inspiring. I’ve always said I wanted to make Okada ‘regret it. In other words, I have to make him think that he should have stayed with New Japan Pro-Wrestling even if he had to give up his 2 billion yen contract…. This made the job worthwhile. When he finds more than 2 billion yen worth of value in Naito, I think he will appear before me again,” said Naito.

Naito will face Jon Moxley at NJPW Battle in the Valley. 

Fans can find Naito’s previous comments on Okada leaving by clicking here.