NJPW (New Japan Pro Wrestling) traditionally sees several contracts expire in January, with most of these deals being one-year contracts that are typically renewed. However, the number of renewals may be lower than usual in 2026. According to Fightful Select, many NJPW talents did not sign new contracts until after their original agreements expired this year.
The report also indicates that several contracts signed in the spring and summer were extended through January 2026. These talents were initially on handshake deals prior to that. Some of these individuals mentioned that their contracts will indeed extend past January. Additionally, there were talents like Gabe Kidd who began appearing more frequently in AEW this year while still working under handshake agreements with NJPW.
The report further notes that several free agents reached out to NJPW but did not receive a response. One well-known U.S. talent expressed a willingness to work for a discounted salary in NJPW but also did not hear back. NJPW allowed several contracts within their Strong brand to expire following the effective closure of that expansion initiative.
