KUSHIDA Reportedly Heading For NXT Rather Than WWE 205 Live

The Time Splitter is leaving NJPW at the end of the month...

Ross Tweddell smiling

Jan 11, 2019

kushida

At the start of the week, it was revealed that KUSHIDA will be

leaving New Japan Pro Wrestling at the end of the month

. His last match with NJPW will be

against new IWGP Heavyweight Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi

, and once that is out of the way, we now have the clearest indication yet as to where the former Junior Heavyweight Champion is heading.

Dave Meltzer has confirmed the widespread rumours that KUSHIDA is going to WWE - but Uncle Dave also expects him to head for NXT, rather than 205 Live.

For the avoidance of any doubt, here's what Meltzer penned in this week's

WON

:

"Kushida is going from New Japan to WWE, expected to be for NXT, which combined with other departures is a strong loss for the NJPW junior division, particularly since Hiromu Takahashi’s injury was so serious.

"It was known Kushida was in talks with WWE, but while he’ll do well in NXT, that’s a big step down from NJPW, and 205 Live is purgatory, and the plight of Hideo Itami and Akira Tozawa makes a guy of his size, regardless of talent, questionable in the world Vince McMahon controls."