A former member of AEW management took some major shots at the company recently for how they have used NJPW legend, Kazuchika Okada.
Earlier this year, All Elite Wrestling made several huge signings in pro wrestling free agency. After years of speculation, multi-time IWGP Champion Kazuchika Okada hit the open market and was available to the highest bidder. And in the end, AEW won the bidding war for his services.
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It was seen as a major coup for the company. Because the Japanese wrestling legend is so highly respected around the industry. Furthermore, the 37-year-old is in the last years of his athletic prime and has the talent to make a major impact on the company. Well, that is if he was used similarly as he was in NJPW.
However, that hasn’t been the case in AEW. The legendary wrestler has not been in the AEW Title mix, and the company has focused more on the comedic elements of his skillset. Instead of presenting him as the iconic and special wrestler that he is.
That approach is a problem for WWE Hall-of-Famer and former member of AEW management Mark Henry.
Mark Henry takes shots at AEW for mismanaging Kazuchika Okada’s tenure with the company
“[Kazuchika Okada] was one of the best wrestlers in the world. Top 5, and now you have him relegated to saying ‘B****’ to pop the crowd,” Henry said on a recent edition of Busted Open Radio. “Let him go and work, man. That dude is amazing.”
“I want to hear the coin drop and people say ‘Oh man, it’s about to go down,.’ Not people hearing the coin drop and saying, ‘Oh boy, here we go’ (h/t WrestlingInc.com).”
The reigning Continental Champion has not always been a weekly part of new editions of AEW Dynamite — the company’s flagship show. And for many casual wrestling fans, he is not a familiar name. So, with AEW playing away from his amazing history, the expensive free agent has not been nearly as impactful for the company.
Kazuchika Okada is reportedly making just over $13 million in his AEW contract. Henry was formerly a coach, talent scout, and on-air analyst for AEW. He left the company last year after his contract expired.
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