REVEALED: How Close WWE Came To Signing Kazuchika Okada

Kazuchika Okada is officially All Elite, having signed with the promotion and made his full-time debut on the March 6 episode of AEW Dynamite. Okada was revealed to be the newest member of The Elite, joining The Young Bucks in the faction after Nicholas and Matthew Jackson kicked out Kenny Omega and indefinitely suspended Hangman Page from the group. 

Okada's debut had been expected for some time and he will make an eye-watering amount of money in AEW, earning approximately $4.5 million per year. It emerged in January that Okada would be leaving New Japan Pro-Wrestling, the promotion where he had been the top star for close to 10 years. 

There was interest in Kazuchika Okada from WWE. According to Fightful Select, Okada reached out to WWE talent while he was weighing his next move and he did consider the possibility of going to the company. Okada even showed renewed interest in possibly going to WWE in January, although WWE have claimed to Fightful the two sides never held talks. 

Separate reports have noted the lure of performing at WrestleMania was strong for Kazuchika Okada and it was said to be one of WWE's options in hoping to sign The Rainmaker. 

In addition to his monster salary, Kazuchika Okada will be moving to the United States and he will be a full-time performer in AEW.