Kazuchika Okada is no longer one-third of the NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Champions.
Tomohiro Ishii, Hiroshi Tanahashi, and Okada defeated Kosei Fujita, Mikey Nicholls, and Shane Haste to retain their titles on Wednesday in Korakuen Hall. Okada pinned Fujita after a Rainmaker in what was his final match from the historic venue before departing NJPW.
Okada then cut a promo after the match announcing he is vacating his belt (translation via NJPWGlobal on X):
I don’t want to cry. I’ve cried enough already. But thank you for all your support for 17 years.
Ishii put this belt on me, but today I vacate it. But this is the only team belt I’ve ever held in my career and I’m so thankful to Tanahashi and Ishii. This is the last match of my contract but I have three matches to go in Osaka and Sapporo. This isn’t the end, this isn’t goodbye and you still have the main event. Enjoy it.”
Thank you to NJPW wrestlers, staff and fans. I promise we will meet again, and I hope you’ll support the Rainmaker.
Thank you @rainmakerXokada☝️
Sign up Now & Stay tuned to https://t.co/CeQLGjTmZ5#njnbg #NJPW #njpwworld pic.twitter.com/iSqzGXPJsY
— NJPW WORLD (@njpwworld) January 24, 2024
It is not immediately clear what this will mean for Ishii and Tanahashi as champions.
Okada is scheduled to wrestle Tanahashi at New Beginning in Osaka on Sunday, February 11. He is also booked for the New Beginning in Sapporo shows on Friday, February 23, and Saturday, February 24 despite his NJPW contract expiring at the end of this month.
Okada’s return to TNA Wrestling will also air this week. His match teaming with the Motor City Machine Guns against The System from TNA Snake Eyes is set for this week’s show on AXS TV.
Our own Dave Meltzer provided an update on the latest regarding Okada’s free agency yesterday. The report includes what sources close to Okada are saying regarding recent reports.
NJPW Road to The New Beginning on January 24, 2024 results:
- Chase Owens, KENTA, & Taiji Ishimori (BULLET CLUB) defeated Jado, Hikuleo, & Ryusuke Taguchi
- EVIL, SHO, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Yujiro Takahashi (BULLET CLUB House of Torture) defeated El Desperado, Tama Tonga, YOH & Tomoaki Honma
- Alex Coughlin, Clark Connors, David Finlay, Drilla Moloney & Gabe Kidd (BULLET CLUB War Dogs) defeated Francesco Akira, Great-O-Khan, HENARE, TJP, & Callum Newman (United Empire)
- BUSHI, Shingo Takagi & Yota Tsuji (Los Ingobernables de Japon) defeated Taichi, TAKA Michinoku & Yuya Uemura (Just 5 Guys)
- DOUKI & SANADA (Just 5 Guys) defeated Hiromu Takahashi & Tetsuya Naito (Los Ingobernables de Japon)
- NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Championship: Kazuchika Okada, Tomohiro Ishii, & Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) defeated Kosei Fujita, Mikey Nicholls & Shane Haste
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Shota Umino defeated Ren Narita
