Kazuchika Okada may have successfully defended his AEW International Championship against Adam Priest on the January 31, 2026 episode of AEW Collision, but fans immediately noticed something strange—his title belt was completely covered during the broadcast. Now we know why.

According to a new report from Fightful Select, the AEW International Champion had to improvise because his gear—and the championship title itself—were lost in transit ahead of the show in Arlington, Texas. The outlet confirmed:

“Kazuchika Okada had the International Title covered up on AEW Collision. It was because his bag that had the title belt and his gear were lost.”

Despite the setback, Okada went ahead with the match as scheduled, defeating Priest after a tough contest that saw interference from Don Callis Family member Rocky Romero and a dramatic near-fall following an Alabama Jam leg drop. The bout ended with Okada landing a Rainmaker to retain the championship—belt or no belt.

Fans had taken to social media to ask why Okada’s championship was either absent or oddly obscured throughout the segment. AEW didn’t address the issue on commentary, and the production leaned into tighter camera angles to mask the problem. Still, keen-eyed viewers spotted that the belt was either missing entirely or concealed under a black cloth during his entrance.

For Okada, it’s just another test passed as he continues his U.S. run under the Don Callis Family banner. But the belt situation definitely raised questions in real time.

Do you think AEW handled Okada’s missing belt the right way—or should they have addressed it on-air? Let us know what you would’ve done in the comments below.

Steve Carrier is the founder of Ringside News and has been reporting on pro wrestling since 1997. His stories have been featured on TMZ, Forbes, Bleacher Report, and more.

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