More departures may be coming at STARDOM after company founder Rossy Ogawa’s contract was terminated.
As announced on February 4, Bushiroad and STARDOM terminated the contract of Rossy Ogawa. Ogawa previously founded the promotion and had been working as an executive producer. According to the announcement, Ogawa had been poaching talent from the company.
STARDOM President Taro Okada discussed Ogawa’s termination in an interview with Tokyo Sports (H/t Jeremy Lambert of Fightful for the translation).
“Around December, we began to hear information that Mr. Ogawa was pulling people out of the company,” Okada said. “We had always verbally told him, ‘If you are doing that (pulling out), please stop,’ and ‘We would like to continue working together in the future,’ but we were able to confirm that he has continued to do so since then, so we have taken this action.”
STARDOM President: Ogawa Breached His Contract
Ogawa reportedly expressed his intent to leave STARDOM. He was planning to leave in March, but Bushiroad opted to terminate his contract after he kept trying to poach talent. Okada noted that Ogawa breached his contract, whether he decides to start a new organization or not.
“Regardless of whether he starts his own new organization or not, we recognize that his solicitation to quit Stardom and work for another company while his contract with us was still in effect is a serious breach of contract as an act of extraction,” Okada said. “We are aware that this is a serious breach of contract.”
Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer that more departures from STARDOM may be coming, given talent’s loyalty to Ogawa. When asked, Okada stated that several wrestlers have expressed their intent to leave.
“I have had several wrestlers express their intention to leave the company or ask me about it, saying that they are wondering whether they will leave or not,” Okada said.
WrestleZone will provide more information as it becomes available.
