One of the hottest free agents in professional wrestling, Tetsuya Naito, has revealed that his plans to wrestle in the United States have been put on hold due to issues obtaining a U.S. work visa. In a new interview, the former NJPW megastar explained the situation and what it could mean for his immediate future in the wrestling industry.
Tetsuya Naito Unable to Obtain U.S. Work Visa
Speaking in a new interview with Tokyo Sports, Tetsuya Naito opened up about his current inability to compete in the United States. He stated that he had plans to work on the U.S. independent scene this August, but those plans were derailed because of what he describes as extremely strict U.S. government regulations regarding work visas at the moment.
“I was actually planning to go directly from the UK to the US, but it seems that US visas are extremely strict right now. I wasn’t able to get one this time, so I came back,” Naito said (via Google Translate).
His inability to secure the proper visa means that American fans hoping to see the leader of Los Ingobernables de Japon in person will have to wait indefinitely.
A Future in Europe?
Naito recently made his first post-NJPW appearances for Revolution Pro Wrestling in the United Kingdom. With the uncertainty surrounding his ability to work in the U.S., he believes his next series of matches will likely take place on the European continent. He has independent dates set for Italy and Germany later this month, and he sees Europe as his primary base of operations for the time being.
“With the situation in the US being uncertain, I feel like my next fight will probably be in Europe,” he explained.
This pivot to Europe will allow him to remain active and continue to perform for his fans while he navigates the complex visa process for the United States.
No Return to Japan on the Horizon
In the interview, Naito also made it clear that a return to New Japan Pro-Wrestling or any other Japanese promotion is not in his immediate plans. This statement reaffirms his commitment to wrestling abroad and exploring new opportunities outside of his home country, where he spent his entire career and became one of its biggest stars.
“At this point, Japan is definitely not an option for me. I’m thinking about which country and promotion I should go to next,” Naito stated.
Tetsuya Naito’s status as a free agent has led to immense speculation about where he might land, with both AEW and WWE being seen as potential destinations. However, these visa issues present a significant roadblock to him signing with any major U.S.-based promotion for the time being. The wrestling world will be watching closely to see how his situation develops.