NJPW Star’s Contract Set to Expire in January and Looking Toward America

Another key New Japan Pro Wrestling name might be on the move—and this time it’s David Finlay, the Bullet Club War Dogs leader whose NJPW contract is reportedly set to expire at the end of January 2026.

According to Fightful Select, Finlay is weighing his options and strongly considering opportunities in the United States. After nearly 11 years and over 800 matches under the NJPW banner, the former champion could be preparing for a major change.

“Finlay is looking to explore his options, especially in America.”

Finlay has held a long list of titles in New Japan, including the IWGP Tag Team Championship, the NEVER Openweight Championship, and more recently the Global Heavyweight Championship, a rebrand of the IWGP Global title that further solidified his top-tier status.

But now, with the end of his contract on the horizon, speculation is swirling about where he could end up next—and how quickly. This news also clears up a common misconception about New Japan’s contract system. Not every NJPW star has a deal expiring in January. In fact, some worked without contracts for months in 2025, re-signing later on shorter-term agreements.

“A number of NJPW talent actually worked without deals for a number of months in 2025 and re-signed along the way on one-year deals.”

While NJPW has managed to hold on to many of its top names, Finlay’s potential exit feels different. He has been positioned as a major leader for the company’s future, especially in its global branding efforts—and losing him could shift the trajectory of several storylines.

If David Finlay does leave New Japan, this would mark another big-name departure in a growing trend of international talent looking toward American promotions for their next chapter.

Should David Finlay test the waters in AEW or WWE—or continue to build his legacy in Japan? Where do you want to see him land in 2026? Drop your thoughts in the comments and let us know which company you think would benefit most from signing him.