As his contract with New Japan Pro Wrestling expires, Kazuchika Okada issued a statement on his tenure with the promotion.
Okada’s contract expires on January 31 as the 36-year-old becomes a free agent.
He wrote the following message on X:
Thank you for supporting New Japan Pro Wrestling for 17 years! thank you very much! I laughed, got angry, cried, it was great! I look forward to playing the remaining three games as a free agent!
Okada is scheduled for three more matches in New Japan Pro Wrestling including a 1-on-1 with career rival Hiroshi Tanahashi on February 11 in Osaka. He will wrap up with two matches in Sapporo on February 23 & February 24, which have not been announced yet.
Pro Wrestling Tees has stated that they will be removing Okada’s merchandise from its store but it’s been noted that this has to do with not being able to sell New Japan merchandise of Okada’s and not a signal of where Okada is going.
