Kazuchika Okada, whose contract with New Japan Pro Wrestling will expire at the end of this month, vacated his NEVER Openweight 6 Man Tag Team Championship, with no word as to what it will mean for Tomohiro Ishii and NJPW President Hiroshi Tanahashi going forward, as the duo were Champions along with Okada prior to the announcement.

Speaking on the announcement and his upcoming departure from NJPW, Okada stated the following, “I don’t want to cry, I’ve cried enough already, but thank you for all of your support for 17 years. Ishii put this belt on me, but today I vacate it, this is the only team belt I have ever held in my career and I am so thankful to Tanahashi and Ishii. This is the last match of my contract, but I have three matches to go in Osaka and Sapporo. This isn’t the end, this isn’t goodbye and you still have the main event, enjoy it. Thank you to NJPW wrestlers, staff and fans, I promise we will meet again, and I hope you’ll support the Rainmaker.”