While New Japan Pro Wrestling has not identified the names of any recent positive COVID-19 cases, Kazuchika Okada has confirmed he was one of them.
The former IWGP heavyweight champion spoke to Radio Oshabering confirming that he had tested positive for the virus with the news picked up by Tokyo Sports.
Earlier this month, Okada was scheduled to wrestle on the second night of Wrestling Dontaku in a multi-man tag, which was pulled from the card in Fukuoka. Days later, New Japan revealed a total of nine positive cases among members of the roster.
In the interview, Okada stated he felt sick and lost his sense of taste, but he is doing better now.
Okada last wrestled on May 3rd teaming with SHO & YOH against Minoru Suzuki, El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru. He is not listed on any of the line-ups for this week’s shows at Korakuen Hall.
Prior to the Wrestle Grand Slam postponement, Okada had been scheduled to challenge Will Ospreay for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at the Tokyo Dome. Last week, New Japan announced that Ospreay had vacated the title due to injury.
