In a move that shook the wrestling world harder than a Destino off the top rope, Tetsuya Naito — the face of swagger, stoicism, and sunglasses indoors — is officially saying adiós to New Japan Pro-Wrestling after two decades of tranquilo greatness.
Yes, you read that right. El Ingobernable himself is leaving the company he practically carried on his back like a tired young lion.
The Calm Exit
NJPW dropped the bomb via a press release, stating that both sides “mutually agreed” not to renew Naito’s contract. In wrestling speak, that’s code for: “We tried, but there was either money missing or too many tranquilo breaks during negotiations.”
Also making an exit? Fellow Los Ingobernables de Japon member Bushi, who is now presumably floating off in a cloud of black mist and mystery.
But back to Naito. He’s got bookings through May 4, and after that, he’s free to show up wherever he pleases — AEW, WWE, CMLL, your cousin’s backyard promotion — the man is officially a wrestling free agent.
The Not-So-Signed Deal
According to Fightful Select, Naito has actually been working without a contract for a while, living the freelancer lifestyle with all the zen energy of a man who knows the crowd will chant his name whether he’s paid or not. Negotiations apparently went on for months, but in the end, no dice.
And he’s not alone — reports say a bunch of NJPW talent is working without contracts right now, proving once again that pro wrestling is held together by elbow grease and passive-aggressive emails.
Rumors also say Jeff Cobb is following Naito and Bushi out the door, possibly suplexing his way toward WWE. (We assume they’re clearing shelf space at the Performance Center for a heavy-duty island warrior edition of the buffet.)
Why It Hurts
Let’s be real. Naito leaving hurts. This isn’t just a contract thing — this is the guy. Aside from a few brief stints in CMLL, ROH, and the occasional indie crossover, NJPW was his home. This was the man who turned being an outsider into a main event lifestyle. Who took getting booed out of the Tokyo Dome and flipped it into a fan-favorite empire. Who made slothful apathy look cooler than your favorite champion’s best promo.
And now… he’s out.
As for Bushi — a solid presence in NJPW for over 10 years — he may not have had Naito’s spotlight, but he was the gas mask-wearing silent partner to the chaos. Losing both men in one swoop? That’s a blow to the whole faction.
So What Now?
Where Naito lands is anyone’s guess. AEW? WWE? Back to Mexico? Japan’s indie circuit? Or will he simply wander, leaving cryptic promo videos and expensive jackets in his wake?
Whatever happens next, the only thing we know for sure is this:
He was tranquilo. Now, he’s gone.