Report: WWE Interested In Top Japanese Star

[Jack-Hammer]

According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, there are some WWE officials said to be interested in bringing in current IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada. Allegedly, the main reason why officials are interested in Okada is that he's tall, being billed at 6'3". New Japan has reportedly offered Okada a 5 year deal, though the report doesn't say whether or not Okada has accepted and the report further states that New Japan would probably offer him more money than WWE just to keep him.

Meh, I dunno how much of this I believe. I wouldn't be at all surprised if WWE has sent out feelers for the guy, but the primary reason they're after him is that he's 6'3"? Sounds a little too far fetched, even for Vince; I'd have much more ease in believing it if Okada happened to be a superhumanly jacked muscleman, but he's not. Okada himself, a while back, reportedly said that he has no interest in heading to WWE, is loyal to New Japan and wants to help make the company grow. Okada is 28 years old and there's been a definite "passing the torch" sort of feeling during his bouts against Hiroshi Tanahashi over the past few years.

 

[enviousdominous]

I think the WWE is wise enough to hold off on bringing in new talent for a little while. The current roster seems pretty full with recent NXT additions still trying to find their footing, even NXT is packed to the limit with performers and jobbers.

I really hope that the WWE has learned not to wreck their competitors' potential by snatching up their best talent, an effort to hurt NJPW's bottom line would be the only reason I could see for taking away even more of their talent. The WWE always does better when there's a rival company making them have to try harder.

 

[Sexcellence of Sexecution]

There is not a chance in hell that Okada is leaving New Japan for WWE. It would be a huge slap in the face to Hiroshi Tanahashi who just put Okada over as the guy, and a slap in the face to a company that has invested so much into him and put so much on his shoulders. Okada is the new face of New Japan, he isn't going anywhere.

 

[OYDK]

There is not a chance in hell that Okada is leaving New Japan for WWE. It would be a huge slap in the face to Hiroshi Tanahashi who just put Okada over as the guy, and a slap in the face to a company that has invested so much into him and put so much on his shoulders. Okada is the new face of New Japan, he isn't going anywhere.

Gotta agree with this. I don't see Okada ever leaving New Japan, and really, why would he? He's got a great gig in NJPW and is set to carry the company into the future. I was surprised Nakamura left to be honest, but I assume that has to do with his age and the fact that he's done everything there is to do in Japan. Even so, he was viewed as a "traitor" of sorts by the company and pretty much unceremoniously tossed out. I don't expect many NJPW originals to make the jump once WWE starts calling on them more excessively.

I really wish NJPW would expand deeper into the West because if any promotion in the world could compete with WWE, it would be New Japan. They have the financial backing, they have a legitimate history, they have a strong fan following, and arguably the deepest talent roster in the world (or at least they did up until a couple of years ago).

 

[Mighty NorCal]

I sound like a broken record, but this is again another situation of dirt sheets taking 2+2= 10


Every article ive seen on this amounts to "Okada hasn't re-signed yet, and WWE signed KENTA, Nakamura and Kanna in the last two years, so obviously this means WWE is negotiating with Okada"


Uh, sure it does. As fantastic as Okada would be in America, now isn't the time. We are getting *this close* to new competitors coming through the door and not being judged on their origin or ethnicity, but we aren't quite there. He would immeadiately be lumped in with/compared to Nakamura, which does neither guy any favors.


If Okada comes in, which I am confident SOME DAY he will, it should be on his own, with much fanfare.

 

[SHAGAMANIA 3:16]

I dough Okada would sign with WWE but if he did NJPWs future would be in serious jeopardy.

If WWE did this deal they could very well be killing NJPW of it's drawing power.
WWE have a lot of talent right now this is just pure greed and insulting to NJPW for them to propose this deal.

This seems to me like a takeover strategy for WWE, perhaps their looking to buy NJPW.
If WWE brought NJPW and had it operate separately in Japan, that would be a monster investment by WWE. Imagine the billions of dollars WWE could earn.

 

[Bernkastel]

I dough Okada would sign with WWE but if he did NJPWs future would be in serious jeopardy.

If WWE did this deal they could very well be killing NJPW of it's drawing power.
WWE have a lot of talent right now this is just pure greed and insulting to NJPW for them to propose this deal.

This seems to me like a takeover strategy for WWE, perhaps their looking to buy NJPW.
If WWE brought NJPW and had it operate separately in Japan, that would be a monster investment by WWE. Imagine the billions of dollars WWE could earn.

Vince cannot just up and buy NJPW. They have contracts with TV stations like TV Asahi that work differently than say WWE's relationship with USA. TV Asahi is the one that produces the NJPW shows. NJPW as a promotion does not produce their own shows like WWE or TNA do. So TV Asahi has the most money invested in the product to lose.

As for Okada making a jump to the WWE, not right now. Based on their past it takes NJPW time to build up proper organic stars to lead the company into each new era. Okada jumping ship would be like Roman Reigns jumping ship. It is just not plausible.