Kota Ibushi Still Open To Joining WWE

Kota Ibushi is still open to joining WWE, according to a recent tweet by Dark Puroresu Flowsion (@PuroresuFlow), who explains:

"From talking with Kota Ibushi. The WWE is still of interest to him. Especially if he is allowed to work along side guys like Sami Zayn & Shinsuke Nakamura."

The tweet also implies that as well as working with particular Superstars, Ibushi is also interested in training others - a role WWE could presumably offer him.

Ibushi has appeared for numerous promotions over the course of his career, but has spent much of the past decade in New Japan Pro-Wrestling, where he became the inaugural IWGP World Heavyweight Champion in 2021. However, during a break from the promotion in 2016, he was one of the more high-profile entrants in WWE's Cruiserweight Classic tournament. There he made it to the semi-finals before being defeated by eventual winner T.J. Perkins. However, en route, he had critically-acclaimed matches with Cedric Alexander and Brian Kendrick.

Ibushi's New Japan contract expired in February after reports of a rift with the promotion - however, this relationship has since reportedly been repaired, with an offer to return apparently on the table. It remains to be seen what Ibushi's next step will be.