A number of wrestlers have parted ways with WWE over the last few years, and now it seems that another name is gone. Fightful Select reports that Kushida is done with the company. It’s being reported that his deal expired, but it’s not clear if WWE offered him a new one. At least one person believed that it was a “budget cut release.”
Kushida signed with WWE in 2019 and went on to become NXT Cruiserweight Champion. He was set to receive more screen time last summer as part of the Cruiserweight Title picture, but those plans were dropped when the company made the shift to NXT 2.0.
Fightful also noted that throughout his NXT run they weren’t told of any plans to bring him to the main roster, and he didn’t work any dark matches prior to Raw or SmackDown. Kushida lost his last four matches with NXT, and last competed on the March 22nd episode of NXT LVL Up.
Dave Meltzer noted on Wrestling Observer Radio that following his WWE departure Kushida will be returning to New Japan Pro Wrestling at some point in June. Stay tuned for more updates as they become available.
