Former NJPW Title-Holder Officially Becomes Free Agent
Another big-name free agent hits the market. Will NJPW's loss be someone else's gain?
Juice Robinson has become a free agent following the expiration of his contract with New Japan Pro Wrestling.
Per Fightful Select, Robinson's deal with the market-leading puroresu group expired on 31 January. There is currently no word on what the former IWGP United States Champion plans to do next.
Robinson had been with NJPW since August 2015, when he entered the company's Young Lion program after departing WWE following a disappointing developmental run as CJ Parker, an eco-warrior character. Emerging as a potential breakout star, Juice grew in popularity, becoming one of the promotion's most popular foreign wrestlers. His surge got to the point that he became a two-time United States Heavyweight Champion, facing such names as Jon Moxley and Cody Rhodes, though the 32-year-old's push declined towards the end of his time in Japan.
Juice hadn't wrestled in Japan since March 2021. He has opted to base himself outside the country over the past year or so, balancing an IMPACT Wrestling run with one on NJPW's US imprint, STRONG, interspersed with the odd independent date.
Now, he is a true free agent - and able to negotiate with whoever he wants.