KUSHIDA to face Rich Swann in Impact Wrestling debut

KUSHIDA now has an opponent for his Impact Wrestling debut.

In his first appearance for Impact Wrestling, KUSHIDA will face off with Rich Swann at this Friday’s Derby City Rumble television tapings. The match will air on a future episode of Impact.

The Derby City Rumble tapings are being held at Old Forester’s Paristown Hall in Louisville, Kentucky this Friday and Saturday. KUSHIDA has been announced for both nights of the tapings.

A singles match between Motor City Machine Guns tag team partners Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin has also been confirmed for Friday’s tapings.

KUSHIDA, who departed WWE this April following the expiration of his contract, made his return to NJPW last month by confronting IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Taiji Ishimori.

After returning to NJPW, KUSHIDA made an Instagram post noting that he’s still going to be living in the United States and will be based out of Los Angeles. KUSHIDA wrote that he will “look to bring excitement to New Japan, New Japan’s Junior division, and NJPW LA Dojo.”