Kazuchika Okada is ready for NJPW-AEW Forbidden Door.
The joint event is set for June 26 in Chicago, IL and will feature stars from both AEW and NJPW going head-to-head in a supershow. While no matches have been announced for the events, reigning IWGP World Heavyweight Champion plans to be part of the event.
"I don’t know what shape that event will take, but the fact that we’re having this combined event at all means I should absolutely be a part of it. There wouldn’t be much point in having a supershow like that if I’m not there. I think that we’ll create some more NJPW fans in the process, just like some NJPW fans in Japan will be discovering AEW as well. I think it’s definitely fitting for this 50th year. in January we wrestled with NOAH, recently it was NJPW and AJPW in the Korakuen Anniversary so this continues that spirit, absolutely," said Okada during his NJPW press conference following NJPW Wrestling Dontaku.
NJPW worked with Pro Wrestling NOAH as part of Wrestle Kingdom 16 and Okada stated at the time that he wasn't as familiar with the NOAH product.
When asked if he keeps up with AEW, Okada replied, "Well, AEW is on a different level to NOAH, so yes, I’m aware (laughs). They definitely have world class talent, but no matter how many great wrestlers they may have, I’m sure there are a lot of people who have never heard of them. And it goes both ways- there are AEW fans who only watch AEW and will be seeing Kazuchika Okada for the first time. But whatever happens, I’m fully confident that those people will be leaving knowing how good I am. No matter who it might be, I think that a lot of people will get fired up, draw on that energy. There’ll be fans counting the days, not sleeping the night before, and that’s great. But anything more specific, I can’t really say at this point."
Okada successfully defended his IWGP World Heavyweight Championship against Tetsuya Naito at NJPW Wrestling Dontaku.
His next title defense will come against Jay White at NJPW Dominion. You can view the current lineup for NJPW Dominion by clicking here.