Kushida has left WWE.
The news came last night whilst Monday Night RAW was live on TV. Sean Ross Sapp tweeted out the news that Kushida has left WWE. Details surrounding the departure were not too clear at the time, as Sean Ross Sapp mentioned on Fightful Select that early indications suggested to him that it was contract expiring, but also noted that at least one person in WWE was of the belief that it was a “budget cuts release”
Now, Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio has reported that it was indeed a contract expiry leading to Kushida’s departure and that people in WWE believe that Kushida will be back in New Japan Pro Wrestling in June:
“He is done. His contract expired. It was not a secret that he wasn’t gonna stay. I know in WWE the belief is that he starts with New Japan in June. So, that’s what they believe and it’s probably the case.”
– Dave Meltzer
The moment that Kushida was released, the Twitter timeline was immediately filled with Kushida fans having high hopes that he will be returning to NJPW, and now it seems they can really get even more excited about it with this report. It’s almost guaranteed that he would be a great fit back in NJPW if/when he goes back there.
