KUSHIDA signs contract with TNA Wrestling

Update —

KUSHIDA tells The Battleground Podcast that his relationship with NJPW won’t change despite signing with TNA Wrestling.

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One of the most decorated junior heavyweights of all time is now under contract with TNA Wrestling.

It was announced today that KUSHIDA has signed a TNA Wrestling contract. He’s regularly competed for the promotion since 2022 as part of Impact Wrestling’s working relationship with NJPW.

In their announcement, TNA wrote that it’s “time for KUSHIDA to take his career to the next level and it happens in TNA Wrestling!”

It’s official, KUSHIDA has signed a contract with TNA Wrestling. As a longtime New Japan Pro-Wrestling standout, KUSHIDA has held the IWGP Jr Heavyweight Championship and IWGP Jr Heavyweight Tag Team Championships on multiple occasions. KUSHIDA has been on the precipice of success since his arrival last year, taking Steve Maclin to his limit in an IMPACT World Championship match at Rebellion 2023. It’s time for KUSHIDA to take his career to the next level and it happens in TNA Wrestling!

The 40-year-old KUSHIDA most recently competed for Impact this September, wrestling at Victory Road 2023 and the 1000th episode of Impact. KUSHIDA unsuccessfully challenged then-champion Lio Rush for the X-Division title at Victory Road.

KUSHIDA is a six-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion and three-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion in NJPW. He held the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team titles with Kevin Knight earlier this year. KUSHIDA & Knight also recently took part in NJPW’s Super Junior Tag League.

KUSHIDA was previously under contract with WWE from 2019-2022. When he returned to NJPW in June 2022, KUSHIDA noted that he would continue to live in the United States.

KUSHIDA joins Trent Seven and Leon Slater as recent additions to the TNA roster. PCO has also re-signed with the company.

Impact Wrestling’s name change back to TNA officially goes into effect starting at Hard to Kill on Saturday, January 13. The pay-per-view is being held in Las Vegas.