Details on Kazuchika Okada signing with AEW. (Patreon)

One of the most decorated wrestlers in history has joined All Elite Wrestling.

Kazuchika Okada officially joined AEW on the March 7 episode of AEW Dynamite, after leaving NJPW recently. Fightful Select has learned additional details on the signing, which we’re told wasn’t actually signed until fairly recently.

Okada is expected to be full-time with AEW, and is planning to relocate to the United States. We aren’t told if this was his idea or recommended by AEW, but he is expected to work a complete schedule. A Tokyo Sports article claimed that the deal was for three years, and roughly $4.5 million per year. We can confirm those numbers. 

In addition, the decision to introduce Okada as a heel with the Elite, and for Kenny Omega to be kicked out in absence was made months ago. (EDIT: Apologies, as a Patreon error cut off this paragraph originally)

WWE claims there were no talks between the two sides, though we can confirm with WWE sources that Okada had reached out to WWE talent while weighing his next move, and had considered the possibility in going to WWE. At one point, we’d even heard he’d showed renewed interest in possibly going back in January.

Fightful Select had reported that Okada was joining AEW and was expected in the fold by that episode.

We’re told that as things stand, there is no timetable on Kenny Omega’s potential return. The angle was to debut Okada, add to The Elite, and set the stage in the event of Omega’s return down the line.