This weekend the NXT brand traveled to Osaka, Japan for a live event, and it was action packed. Shinsuke Nakamura defeated Samoa Joe to win the NXT Championship, and former WWE Superstar Tajiri was also in action. Following his performance at the live event, Tajiri announced via Twitter that he will be returning to WWE in 2017.
昨日のNXT大阪公演でリーガルGMから「明日から公表してもいいですよ」とのOKを頂きましたので公表させていただきます。来春年明け早々よりWWEに戻ります。12/27金村引退興行を日本での最後の試合とし、鍼灸活動も日本では今月で終わります。皆さま、10年間ありがとうございました！！
— TAJIRI (@TajiriBuzzsaw) December 4, 2016
If you can’t read Japanese then you were likely confused by that tweet, but what it says is that Tajiri will be wrestling his last match in Japan on 12/27, and he will be returning to WWE early next year. You can read a translated version of Tajiri’s post below.
“I gave you OK because I got OK from Regal GM yesterday ‘s NXT Osaka performance “I can announce it from tomorrow”. I will return to WWE early next year. 12/27 Kanemura Retirement box office will be the last match in Japan, and acupuncture activity will end in Japan this month. Thank you very much, everyone for 10 years! It is!”
Related: Finn Balor Shows Off Epic Beard, William Regal Reunites With Tajiri, SmackDown Guest Announced
Tajiri made his WWE debut in 2001 following the demise of ECW, and he worked with the company consistently until 2005, and later returned for a few sporadic appearances.
Earlier this year Tajiri competed in the Cruiserweight Classic tournament, but unfortunately for Tajiri he was eliminated by Gran Metalik. Tajiri is a former WWE Tag Team Champion, former Cruiserweight Champion and a former WWE Light Heavyweight Champion.
