Kushida’s WWE contract recently expired. The Japanese star decided he is going to move on from the company and try his luck elsewhere. Three years in WWE wasn’t enough for Kushida to gain any traction or momentum.
Kushida most recently teamed with Ikeman Jiro to form Jacket Time in NXT. The team was also unable to have much success outside of comedy segments. It was reported yesterday that Kushida would not re-sign with WWE.
On the latest Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer talked about what happened. Kushida didn’t even get a final match on his way out. Now, he is expected to return to New Japan Pro Wrestling in June.
“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.
So, yeah, he signed a three year deal. Kind of wasted three years of his career I think. [The deal was up] this week…
They advertised the match [against Von Wagner] and then decided that they would just beat him up instead and injure him and that they would have Ikemen Jiro do the match instead. So, yeah, the powerbomb over the suitcases, that was writing him off the show.”
Kushida did capture the Cruiserweight Championship while he was in WWE. Things never got off the ground for him, though. Time will tell how he will be used as he makes his way back home to New Japan.
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Transcription by Ringside News