Could former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Tetsuya Naito be on his way out of New Japan Pro-Wrestling?
According to Tokyo Sports, the 42-year-old’s contract expired on January 1st. That means Naito can show up to Smackdown Friday with the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team titles. It’s doubtful that Naito would pull a stunt like that and the report states that Naito and New Japan officials are working to get a new contract started. However, Naito doesn’t sound particularly sure right now about staying another year with the Japanese promotion.
"I haven't decided what I'll do if I quit, but when I was younger I thought 'maybe I'll retire at around 40', and it's true that I can't do things now that I was able to do a few years ago because of my physical decline. I really feel that the time I have left is limited, and rather than continuing with some weird dissatisfaction, I feel like it might be better to just do things the way I want to," Naito told Tokyo Sports. "I'm feeling at ease because I'm saying what I want to say. I haven't decided whether to sign or not, but if I feel like, 'OK, I'll be in the New Japan ring for another year,' I'll sign, but if I have doubts I won't, so I want to cherish how I feel at the time. In short, Tranquilo... don't try to mediate."
Naito has been in New Japan Pro-Wrestling for nearly two decades. Though he’s worked in promotions such as AEW, Ring of Honor, and CMLL, New Japan has primarily been his main home. Naito has essentially done it all; he’s won both versions of the IWGP Heavyweight titles multiple times, he's been a Junior and Heavyweight Tag Team Champion, and a former NEVER Openweight and Intercontinental Champion. Plus, he’s won the New Japan Cup and G1 Climax.
There’s not much else for Naito to do in New Japan; however, he is still one of the company’s top stars so officials will do everything to try and keep him. WWE was interested in signing Naito in the past, though the New Japan star has never particularly expressed much interest in jumping ship.
There’s no word on whether WWE is still interested in the New Japan star, or even if Naito is entertaining the idea of going to another promotion. Naito is currently ½ the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions with Hiromu Takahashi. If they drop the belts anytime soon then it could be an indication that Naito’s time with New Japan is coming to a close. However, that’s just pure speculation on my end.