Tetsuya Naito Leaving NJPW

Weeks after it emerged that Tetsuya Naito had yet to renew his contract with New Japan Pro-Wrestling, it has been announced that Naito will be leaving the promotion.

NJPW noted they have been in talks with Naito over his future with the company and the result of those talks is that both parties have mutually agreed not to renew Naito's contract. Naito will finish up with NJPW on night two of Wrestling Dontaku on May 4.

Fightful Select has reported that Naito had been exploring his options over the past month after the two sides reached an impasse in talks over a potential contract extension.

Naito's future is unclear. Fightful noted that WWE were interested in Naito back in 2018, while the 42-year-old isn't expected to join All Elite Wrestling. He may eventually go back to NJPW, according to people Fightful has spoken to.

Tetsuya Naito joined NJPW as a young lion in 2005 and he has been one of the promotion's top stars since forming Los Ingobernables de Japon in 2015. Naito will end his time in NJPW as a two-time IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, three-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion, six-time IWGP Intercontinental Champion, one-time NEVER Openweight Champion, three-time IWGP Tag Team Champion, and one-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion. Naito is also a three-time G1 Climax winner, having won the tournament in 2013, 2017, and 2023.

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