Tetsuya Naito is sticking with NJPW, but at a lower cost.
Tokyo Sports reports Tetsuya Naito renewed his contract on January 17 with Naito saying he took a 24% pay cut.
"Due to the influence of COVID-19, the audience is decreasing, and I was expected to offer a salary cut, but I didn't expect this much... Even I got nervous about this. When I saw the amount offered, I literally opened my right eye with my thumb and index finger," he said. “Next year, I want to take advantage of a higher salary than this cut. After all, it means that even if Okada won the G1, there was no rain of money in New Japan. If this happens, I have no choice but to make it come down on my own.”
Naito has been with NJPW since 2005 and is a three-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion and a six-time IWGP Intercontinental Champion.
He is set to challenge Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship on February 20 as part of the Golden Series tour.
You can find results from the NJPW Golden Series tour at Fightful's results section.
