Further clarification has been provided on the NJPW contract situation, where it is noted that the promotion appears to have broken from its traditional format.
New Japan generally signs its talent in January on a one-year deal, with stars previously announcing their departure shortly after the Wrestle Kingdom event at the start of the year. However, according to an update from Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select, the company looks to be doing something different for 2026.
The update notes that many talent signed deals after their contracts initially expired, with some indicating that their deals expire past January 2026. It is also added that some deals that were signed in the spring and summer of 2026 do expire in early January, and that the talent were paid on a handshake deal prior to that, meaning that the rule is not a hard and fast one.
Additionally, the report states that a number of free agents did enquire about working with New Japan, but did not hear anything back, with one notable American wrestler even offering to work for a discounted rate, but still heard nothing.
Not Every NJPW Contract Expiring After Wrestle Kingdom 20
New Japan is continuing the build to its biggest show of the year, Wrestle Kingdom 20, which will take place on Janaury 4 2026. This will also be the show that Hiroshi Tanahashi brings his in-ring career to an end as he takes on Kazuchika Okada.
The announced line-up for Wrestle Kingdom 20 is as follows:
- Winner-takes-all match: IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Konosuke Takeshita vs. IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion Yota Tsuji
- Hiroshi Tanahashi’s retirement match: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kazuchika Okada
- NEVER Openweight Champion EVIL defends against Aaron Wolf
- Winner-takes-all match: IWGP Women’s Champion Syuri vs. NJPW Strong Women’s Champion Saya Kamitani
- IWGP Junior Heavyweight title number one contender’s match: El Desperado vs. SHO vs. Kosei Fujita vs. Taiji Ishiimori
- NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Champions YOH, Master Wato & Toru Yano defend in a multi-team ranbo
- Kaisei Takechi in action
