Kevin Kelly, the current AEW Collision and former NJPW commentator, recently appeared on episode #289 of the Super J-Cast podcast.
During it, Kelly discussed the future of Kazuchika Okada as Kelly shared his belief that Okada deserves to be the highest-paid wrestler in the industry. Okada has interest from AEW and WWE as his deal with NJPW is up next month.
“Also, I think there is a part of that (Shohei) Ohtani factor, the number one star in Japan, in all of sports is Ohtani and he just got a record-setting contract, doubling the previous high or at least close to doubling and I think that (Kazuchika) Okada is in that same conversation with Ohtani. Should Okada be the highest-paid star in pro wrestling? I think yes. I don’t know who the highest-paid star in wrestling is now and I have no idea what that dollar figure is. But whoever is making the most, Okada should at least make one more dollar than him.
The economics right now with Japan are a little bit of an issue because guys were getting paid in yen, the foreign wrestlers. So the wrestlers from the United States were getting paid in yen and then those yen converting to dollars and because the yen’s value to the dollar is less, they were getting a decrease in pay, less than their guarantee. So they had to adjust it and that’s just one of the realities that’s out there now. “
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Kevin Kelly, the current AEW Collision and former NJPW commentator, recently shared his thoughts on the future of Kazuchika Okada, one of the top stars in professional wrestling. In an episode of the Super J-Cast podcast, Kelly expressed his belief that Okada deserves to be the highest-paid wrestler in the industry.
Okada’s contract with NJPW is set to expire next month, and he has garnered interest from both AEW and WWE. With his incredible talent and popularity, Okada has become a sought-after figure in the wrestling world. Kelly compared Okada’s potential to that of Shohei Ohtani, the number one star in Japan across all sports. Ohtani recently signed a record-setting contract, almost doubling the previous highest-paid athlete’s salary. Kelly believes that Okada should be in the same conversation as Ohtani and should be the highest-paid star in pro wrestling.
Although Kelly is unsure who currently holds the title of the highest-paid wrestler and what the exact dollar figure is, he firmly believes that Okada should at least earn one dollar more than them. Kelly also highlighted some economic challenges faced by foreign wrestlers in Japan. Due to the conversion rate between yen and dollars, foreign wrestlers were receiving a decrease in pay compared to their guaranteed amount. This issue had to be addressed and adjusted to ensure fair compensation for these wrestlers.
The discussion around Okada’s future salary raises questions about the value and worth of professional wrestlers. As the industry continues to evolve and expand globally, it becomes crucial to recognize the contributions and marketability of top talents like Okada. The financial aspect plays a significant role in determining a wrestler’s worth and can impact their decision on where to sign their next contract.
Fans and industry insiders will eagerly await news on Okada’s contract negotiations and which promotion he ultimately chooses. The outcome will not only shape Okada’s career but also shed light on the changing landscape of professional wrestling and the increasing competition between AEW and WWE.
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