Last week on NXT 2.0, WWE fans likely saw the last of KUSHIDA as a part of the roster. Joining the company back in 2019, KUSHIDA would go on to win the WWE NXT Cruiserweight Championship – and compete against the likes of WALTER, Pete Dunne & Johnny Gargano. However after three years in the company – his time there is up.
KUSHIDA Finishes Up With WWE
Generally, back in 2019 NXT talent would be signed on for a three year contract. KUSHIDA had signed with WWE in April of that year. Now, with KUSHIDA being moved to the alumni section of WWE.com, and being written off TV with an attack from Von Wagner – KUSHIDA is on to the next stage of his career. His time in WWE was hardly the worst part of his career, offering a much needed change of pace after growing a touch stagnant in the NJPW Junior Heavyweight Division.
Sadly, KUSHIDA was in the right place at the wrong time. He joined NXT just as everything started to change around, with the jump to the USA Network, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the switch to NXT 2.0 all coming fast during his time with the company, and all of it failing to benefit someone like KUSHIDA.
A Potential Return To NJPW To Follow?
With KUSHIDA done with WWE, many expect him to return to NJPW – which was previously his home promotion. Best of The Super Juniors begins next month, and KUSHIDA could find himself back in the mix should things work out in a correct manner. He had frustrations about not being able to move to the heavyweight division prior to leaving NJPW – but BoSJ would be the perfect way to bring him back into, before making that move to the heavyweight division.
KUSHIDA is someone with great potential across the board, but became a bad fit for WWE. If he had signed in 2017, he would likely have had a chance to become NXT Champion, as his style perfectly fit the old Takeover centric style of the brand. His final time within WWE was spent in a tag team with Ikeman Jiro, known as Jacket Time.
What was your favorite match from KUSHIDA in WWE? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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