NJPW Still Hoping to Keep Several Talents Ahead of Contract Expirations

New Japan Pro Wrestling’s annual contract season is in full swing, but a new update suggests the situation around Clark Connors—and the rest of Bullet Club War Dogs—may be more fluid than fans initially believed.

It was reported earlier this week that while several NJPW contracts are indeed coming up, it’s not a clean, across-the-board expiration scenario. In fact, the company has dealt with similar situations before, including talent continuing to work without finalized deals for months at a time.

According to Fightful, NJPW expects to begin addressing a number of these contracts in the coming weeks, with negotiations typically ramping up during Wrestle Kingdom week.

“There are a number of other contracts that are coming up soon, as usual — however, it’s not the case across the board for NJPW. Several talent worked on handshake agreements for months after Wrestle Kingdom last year.”

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That context matters, especially for Clark Connors. His NJPW deal is still expected to expire toward the end of January 2026, but his situation is now grouped with a broader internal push to retain key talent rather than a simple expiration-and-exit scenario.

Fightful Select reports that NJPW is actively hoping to keep David Finlay, Clark Connors, and Drilla Moloney, even as all three explore options with U.S.-based promotions.

“We’re told that NJPW is hopeful they can retain David Finlay, Clark Connors and Drilla Moloney, after we reported they’re all exploring U.S. options.”

Finlay, in particular, has been open about his desire to spend more time wrestling in the United States—but that doesn’t necessarily mean a full departure from New Japan.

“Finlay specifically was interested in spending more time in the States. Company sources indicated that NJPW isn’t opposed to doing dual deals with each of them.”

That last detail could be crucial. NJPW sources indicate the company is open to dual contracts, allowing talent to work internationally while still remaining tied to New Japan. It’s a flexible approach that could keep the Bullet Club War Dogs intact while giving stars like Connors more exposure elsewhere.

As for Finlay, it was noted that he still has multiple NJPW dates scheduled after Wrestle Kingdom, signaling that any potential change wouldn’t be immediate.

While Connors hasn’t wrestled since November 2, this update makes it clear that NJPW isn’t rushing him—or anyone else—out the door. Instead, the company appears willing to negotiate, adapt, and keep its core players in the mix as long as possible.

With Wrestle Kingdom approaching and talks expected to intensify, the future of Clark Connors may come down to whether flexibility—or a fresh start—wins out.

Do you think Clark Connors should stay with NJPW under a dual deal, or is now the right time for him to make a full move to the U.S.? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.