
NJPW star Kazuchika Okada spoke with Tokyo Sports on a number of topics including his decision to leave the company once his contract is up.
Okada said, โFirst of all, my contract was up for five years this year (the last year of my contract). It was a good time for me to think about something. When I thought about whether I would sign another contract with New Japan Pro-Wrestlingโฆor whether I would look at other worlds, I thought that maybe this was my last chance. Of course the company talked to me about various things, and I had been thinking about it for a while. It was really only recently that I made the decision.โ
โAfter announcing that I was quitting and going on the tourโฆI felt too comfortable. I wondered what that would be like. I started my wrestling career in Mexico, came to New Japan Pro-Wrestling, and became a rainmaker 12 years later. Maybe if I stay here, I can wrestle without any inconvenience. But I donโt want to become the same Kazuchika Okada without such hunger. I donโt want to be in a situation where I have to rest on my laurels. If I were โhumanโ Okada, I would have friends here, and I would be in the best environment. But as โwrestlerโ Okada, it was different.โ