Fightful: Okada Headed to AEW

[mattyy]

Feb 11, 2024 20:57:25 GMT -5 mrbananagrabber said:

Feb 11, 2024 20:37:28 GMT -5 Allie Kitsune said:

Kind of think that for the first few weeks or so, they'll probably have him with the Best Friends a lot, since they're the AEW branch of CHAOS.

Okada shouldn’t even be mentioned in the same sentence as those goofballs. Come on, now.

Well he is still in the same stable as them, and likes OC and Chuck so... I mean he does belong in the same sentence.

I easily see this as the play if he comes in as a Face, which should be expected... but heel Corporate Okada would be amazing.

[HIM]

Feb 11, 2024 22:14:11 GMT -5 Hypnosis said:

AEW is probably the right move, but I almost did want Okada to go fishing with Bron Breakker:

Don't worry, we can still see it.

Forbidden Door!!!

[polarbearpete]

Feb 11, 2024 22:17:43 GMT -5 HIM said:

Feb 11, 2024 22:14:11 GMT -5 Hypnosis said:

AEW is probably the right move, but I almost did want Okada to go fishing with Bron Breakker:

Don't worry, we can still see it.

Forbidden Door!!!

Like Bayley with the coverup of Rey’s face

[Hanky McCranky Jr.]

I love how Bayley is covering up Rey's face like we've never seen what he's looked like without a mask lol.

Also is that a random Zion Williamson in the back?

[Urethra Franklin]

Feb 11, 2024 23:33:40 GMT -5 Hanky McCranky Jr. said:

I love how Bayley is covering up Rey's face like we've never seen what he's looked like without a mask lol.

Also is that a random Zion Williamson in the back?

Looks like him, but Zion would hafta be waaaaay back to appear that short.

[cjb01: Limited Edition Item!]

I'm curious if Okada will ever participate in Forbidden Door's now... I assume yes it's an AEW event and New Japan doesn't seem mad, just would ne curious who that'd be against now if he did

[cjb01: Limited Edition Item!]

Feb 11, 2024 22:17:43 GMT -5 HIM said:

Feb 11, 2024 22:14:11 GMT -5 Hypnosis said:

AEW is probably the right move, but I almost did want Okada to go fishing with Bron Breakker:

Don't worry, we can still see it.

Forbidden Door!!!

Mojo never made it as a wrestler himself it seems, not sure if he'll ever try another run somewhere else, but you can tell he still made it good in the business because no one says a mad thing about him. He's a cool NFL bridge

[Mozenrath]

Feb 12, 2024 0:18:32 GMT -5 cjb01: Limited Edition Item! said:

I'm curious if Okada will ever participate in Forbidden Door's now... I assume yes it's an AEW event and New Japan doesn't seem mad, just would ne curious who that'd be against now if he did

Maybe one of the three musketeers if hasn't wrestled one of them yet. I assume he'd probably participate, it isn't like he is leaving under bad terms.

[Platypus Mod, with a new hat]

Feb 12, 2024 0:19:57 GMT -5 cjb01: Limited Edition Item! said:

Feb 11, 2024 22:17:43 GMT -5 HIM said:

Don't worry, we can still see it.

Forbidden Door!!!

Mojo never made it as a wrestler himself it seems, not sure if he'll ever try another run somewhere else, but you can tell he still made it good in the business because no one says a mad thing about him. He's a cool NFL bridge

Matt Cardona seems to dislike him... but I can't tell if that's gimmick or not.

[4real]

Feb 11, 2024 22:32:02 GMT -5 polarbearpete said:

Feb 11, 2024 22:17:43 GMT -5 HIM said:

Don't worry, we can still see it.

Forbidden Door!!!

Like Bayley with the coverup of Rey’s face

He should always have his face covered up in shame at being a bad father. His daughter is there at least I guess that’s something.

[Legion]

If he's getting more money for a lighter schedule and the ability to still live primarily in Japan, then get that money. Feels like the safe option for him.

Not really that exciting to me, as I feel like I know what his first year in AEW will look like, while WWE would have had they mystery of what would they do with him.

But hey, not my life, if he's happy and it works better for him, fair enough.

[Final Countdown Jones]

Feb 11, 2024 19:27:43 GMT -5 Hanky McCranky Jr. said:

I still find it weird when you see the people wringing their hands about Tony Khan poaching Will Ospreay when NJPW actually gave their blessing for him to negotiate with AEW as they're a friendly company.

And Okada is a free agent and was clearly going to either WWE or AEW, with friends and professional relationships in both companies.

I think New Japan management is under zero illusion right now of the state the company is in, and how weak the yen is overall. Business may be recovering for them, but their parent company Bushiroad is running into rough times and their main cash cow is falling off really bad. It's going to be hard to hold onto people like Okada who know the price tags they can command, and after over a decade of loyalty to the promotion for what reportedly has not been comparable money to what top stars are getting elsewhere, they've got to know he needs to step out and do something else. Tanahashi being the new president probably smooths that over even more; having a wrestler in that spot gives a more reasonable perspective on the decisions wrestlers have to make on that front.

[Kalmia]

Feb 12, 2024 8:49:38 GMT -5 Final Countdown Jones said:

Feb 11, 2024 19:27:43 GMT -5 Hanky McCranky Jr. said:

I still find it weird when you see the people wringing their hands about Tony Khan poaching Will Ospreay when NJPW actually gave their blessing for him to negotiate with AEW as they're a friendly company.

And Okada is a free agent and was clearly going to either WWE or AEW, with friends and professional relationships in both companies.

I think New Japan management is under zero illusion right now of the state the company is in, and how weak the yen is overall. Business may be recovering for them, but their parent company Bushiroad is running into rough times and their main cash cow is falling off really bad. It's going to be hard to hold onto people like Okada who know the price tags they can command, and after over a decade of loyalty to the promotion for what reportedly has not been comparable money to what top stars are getting elsewhere, they've got to know he needs to step out and do something else. Tanahashi being the new president probably smooths that over even more; having a wrestler in that spot gives a more reasonable perspective on the decisions wrestlers have to make on that front.

As long as the relationship with AEW stays good, losing some of the top guys won't be the blow it might have been a few years ago. Whenever NJPW have a big show or do the G1, they can still get some big names in for it thanks to AEW, but without paying the annual wage bills.

[Final Countdown Jones]

Feb 12, 2024 9:06:56 GMT -5 Kalmia said:

Feb 12, 2024 8:49:38 GMT -5 Final Countdown Jones said:

I think New Japan management is under zero illusion right now of the state the company is in, and how weak the yen is overall. Business may be recovering for them, but their parent company Bushiroad is running into rough times and their main cash cow is falling off really bad. It's going to be hard to hold onto people like Okada who know the price tags they can command, and after over a decade of loyalty to the promotion for what reportedly has not been comparable money to what top stars are getting elsewhere, they've got to know he needs to step out and do something else. Tanahashi being the new president probably smooths that over even more; having a wrestler in that spot gives a more reasonable perspective on the decisions wrestlers have to make on that front.

As long as the relationship with AEW stays good, losing some of the top guys won't be the blow it might have been a few years ago. Whenever NJPW have a big show or do the G1, they can still get some big names in for it thanks to AEW, but without paying the annual wage bills.

And if AEW gives good paydays to their fly-ins, then that's pressure from the roster to maintain that relationship. CMLL ran into a similar issue when they tried to throw some threats around over Dragon Lee and the roster got real mad because the Fantasticamania tour paydays going to do New Japan stuff were better than they usually got working CMLL shows. There's a fine line to walk and all, but they aren't exactly pillaging the company and giving them nothing back.

[dbsot]

Feb 12, 2024 0:18:32 GMT -5 cjb01: Limited Edition Item! said:

I'm curious if Okada will ever participate in Forbidden Door's now... I assume yes it's an AEW event and New Japan doesn't seem mad, just would ne curious who that'd be against now if he did

It is going to be wild to watch Forbidden Door where Okada is on the AEW side and Jack Perry is on the NJPW side.

[Soultastic]

I hope Okada joins the Best Friends. He's the soul of a goofy goober in the body of a once in a lifetime main eventer.

["Evil Brood" Jackson Vanik]

Feb 12, 2024 10:47:36 GMT -5 dbsot said:

Feb 12, 2024 0:18:32 GMT -5 cjb01: Limited Edition Item! said:

I'm curious if Okada will ever participate in Forbidden Door's now... I assume yes it's an AEW event and New Japan doesn't seem mad, just would ne curious who that'd be against now if he did

It is going to be wild to watch Forbidden Door where Okada is on the AEW side and Jack Perry is on the NJPW side.

Like the Invasion where someone like Test (WCW/ECW) would face off with someone like Chris Jericho (WWF).

[Eunös ✈]

A little bit disappointed not to be seeing Okada going to WWE but like I said in another thread he does feel like more of a natural fit for AEW's roster.

I sometimes wonder if had it existed at the time would guys like AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura or even Finn Balor have gone to AEW instead.

Either way, Look forward to seeing him on Dynamite.

[Totorob101]

Feb 12, 2024 12:00:54 GMT -5 Eunös ✈ said:

A little bit disappointed not to be seeing Okada going to WWE but like I said in another thread he does feel like more of a natural fit for AEW's roster.

I sometimes wonder if had it existed at the time would guy like AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura or even Finn Balor have gone to AEW instead.

Either way, Look forward to seeing him on Dynamite.

Honestly if AEW was around a good 5 years before they were, i reckon the likes of AJ, Asuka, Shinsuke, Finn, Shayna, Iyo and such would all be there for sure as none of them are traditionally WWE hires or people Vince would have cared to bring in, WWE is quite lucky they hoovered up talent like that as they did as if they had not done so, the roster would probably be filled with muscle men, hosses, models and such with very little indy or international talent. WWE just isnt a place most top pro wrestlers want to go to. I dont think Okada had to think twice really as AEW offers so much for him to turn down.

[polarbearpete]

Feb 12, 2024 12:15:02 GMT -5 Totorob101 said:

Feb 12, 2024 12:00:54 GMT -5 Eunös ✈ said:

A little bit disappointed not to be seeing Okada going to WWE but like I said in another thread he does feel like more of a natural fit for AEW's roster.

I sometimes wonder if had it existed at the time would guy like AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura or even Finn Balor have gone to AEW instead.

Either way, Look forward to seeing him on Dynamite.

Honestly if AEW was around a good 5 years before they were, i reckon the likes of AJ, Asuka, Shinsuke, Finn, Shayna, Iyo and such would all be there for sure as none of them are traditionally WWE hires or people Vince would have cared to bring in, WWE is quite lucky they hoovered up talent like that as they did as if they had not done so, the roster would probably be filled with muscle men, hosses, models and such with very little indy or international talent. WWE just isnt a place most top pro wrestlers want to go to. I dont think Okada had to think twice really as AEW offers so much for him to turn down.

I love that they do house shows, but it feels like that 3 days a week schedule is a huge detriment to WWE recruiting top talent. Without it, I’m sure these top guys would be more interested in signing with WWE than they currently seem to be.

But if AEW is offering more money and less dates to the top guys and they have faith they’ll be booked near the top, the incentive to go to WWE is not there. It’s different for the women and for the midcard types but for top guys, AEW is an attractive place right now.