NXT officially announces Kushida signing
One of Japan’s best is officially coming stateside.
Just hours before TakeOver New York kicked off Friday, NXT officially announced the signing of former NJPW star Kushida, something that has been known for months.
The contract signing was aired during the TakeOver broadcast and Kushida himself was shown in the crowd following the Velveteen Dream-Matt Riddle match.
The 35-year-old made his name in New Japan rings where over a nine year run, he won six IWGP junior heavyweight titles and two IWGP junior heavyweight tag titles with Alex Shelley. He’s also a two-time winner of the Best of the Super Juniors tourney.
He made his ROH debut in 2013 and was a frequent presence during NJPW’s joint War Of The Worlds shows in the U.S. and Canada. He won the company’s TV title in 2017.
With @TripleH & @RealKingRegal looking on, international Superstar @KUSHIDA_0904 signs his #WWENXT contract! pic.twitter.com/aCaDOCQIrC
— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) April 5, 2019
Since 2011, Josh has been a contributing editor to Wrestling Observer/F4WOnline.com and also hosts the Punch-Out podcast. He has also written for Fight Magazine, Bloody Elbow, Bleacher Report, and other websites. He's a 2000 graduate of the University of Maine, worked in pro sports, and once was an indie ring announcer.