Tetsuya Naito & NJPW mutally agree to not renew contract

One of NJPW’s biggest stars is leaving the promotion.

NJPW announced Wednesday morning that they were unable to come to terms with Naito on a contract extension. He will continue to make appearances for the company through May 4, when the Wrestling Dontaku tour ends in Fukuoka.

“In recent weeks, conversations have been ongoing between New Japan Pro-Wrestling and Tetsuya Naito regarding Naito’s future wrestling activities. As a result of those conversations, both parties have mutually agreed not to renew Naito’s contract with NJPW,” the company’s website said in a statement. “Both parties have arrived at this decision after careful consideration and lengthy conversation. Naito’s contract ends on the best possible terms with NJPW, which joins fans in wishing Naito’s further success in any and all future endeavours.”

NJPW additionally announced that another Los Ingobernables de Japon star, BUSHI, would be finishing up with the company on May 4. He had been part of the promotion since 2012.

Naito started wrestling for NJPW in 2005 as a young lion. By 2014, he had reached main event status. At first, fans rejected Naito in the role, infamously voting him out of the Wrestle Kingdom 8 main event. But one year later, he started to gain steam after returning from a CMLL tour and forming the Los Ingobernables de Japon stable. He would go on to hold the IWGP World Championship twice, the IWGP Heavyweight title three times, and the IWGP Intercontinental title six times. He was inducted into the Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame in 2022.

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