Tetsuya Naito Signs NJPW Contract Extension

Tetsuya Naito signed a contract extension with New Japan Pro-Wrestling on January 17, the former IWGP Heavyweight Champion revealed to Tokyo Sports.

El Ingobernable accepted a 24% pay cut with his latest extension, though, having received a "downward offer" for the first time in his career.

"I was prepared to go down, but I didn't expect it to be this bad. I was as shocked as I should have been. When I saw the offer, I couldn't help but open my right eye with my thumb and index finger," Naito said (translated using DeepL).

The 39-year-old also noted he is planning to have a strong 2022 in NJPW, starting with a win over Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP World Heavyweight Title on February 20 in Hokkaido.

"I want to win more than I lost this time. After all, it didn't rain money on New Japan even though Okada won the G1. I'm going to start by winning the IWGP World Title and continue to leave behind results that everyone will recognise," he added.

Naito has been a member of NJPW since 2005 and is currently the leader of Los Ingobernables de Japon. He is also a three-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion and six-time IWGP Intercontinental Champion.