Kazuchika Okada now expected to be joining AEW despite reports of WWE being interested in signing him

As previously noted, Kazuchika Okada is now a free agent and there have been reports of both WWE and AEW being interested in signing him to a contract.

In an update on Okada’s future, Fightful Select is reporting that AEW will be heading to AEW and a deal was effectively agreed to in the last couple of weeks. While it hasn’t been confirmed that Okada has signed a contract, a deal is said to be close to being finalized.

Fightful also noted the following…

“We haven’t heard firm plans on when Kazuchika Okada is slated for his debut as an AEW-contracted star. However, we’ve heard it’s expected to be after he finishes up his commitments with New Japan Pro Wrestling. There had already been creative ideas for Okada tossed around as of January. We’ve also heard discussion out of Las Vegas this past weekend discussing that the first half of March would be big for the company.”