Kushida expected to return to NJPW following WWE departure

  • Ian Carey
  • By 

Kushida is expected to return to New Japan Pro Wrestling. 

It was reported yesterday that the 38-year-old has left WWE after his contract expired recently. Our own Dave Meltzer addressed what could be next for Kushida on Monday’s edition of Wrestling Observer Radio. 

“He is done. His contract expired, it was not a secret that he wasn’t going to stay. I know in WWE the belief is that he starts with New Japan in June. That’s what they believe and it’s probably the case.”

Kushida wrestled for New Japan from 2010 until early 2019. During his time with the company, he was a six-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion, two-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion (w/ Alex Shelley as the Time Splitters), won the Best of the Super Juniors in 2015 & 2017, and won the Super J-Cup in 2016. Along with Shelley, he also won the Super Junior Tag Tournament in 2012. During his time in WWE, he was a one-time NXT Cruiserweight Champion.