Former WWE Title-Holder Heading To IMPACT Wrestling
Another big name confirmed for IMPACT's Derby City Rumble event.
Recent New Japan Pro Wrestling returnee KUSHIDA is heading to IMPACT Wrestling.
The former WWE NXT Cruiserweight Champion has been announced for the Anthem-helmed promotion's Derby City Rumble events in Louisville, Kentucky on Friday 15 and Saturday 16 July.
As confirmed by IMPACT, but Japanese star will work both days of the television tapings:-
BREAKING: KUSHIDA DEBUTS at #DerbyCityRumble July 15th & 16th!!
Tickets are on sale NOW!HERE: https://t.co/IQZ1hLHgOr#IMPACTWRESTLING pic.twitter.com/kKM9cixVOG
Advertisement— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) July 8, 2022
KUSHIDA is currently back in NJPW following a 21 June return, where he revealed he had re-signed with the promotion in which he rose to global prominence in the first place. The six-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion took aim at current title-holder Taiji Ishimori following the Bullet Club member's victory over Hiromu Takahashi in his comeback angle.
January 2019 saw KUSHIDA leave NJPW after effectively becoming stuck in the company's junior heavyweight division with limited prospects of ever advancing to heavyweight. He signed with WWE three months later, appearing in the live crowd at NXT TakeOver: New York, before becoming a full-time black-and-gold roster member.
Though he was Cuirserweight Champion for 161 days in 2021, KUSHIDA, like many other experienced wrestlers, suffered greatly through NXT's transformation into NXT 2.0, finding himself saddled with the one-note Jacket Time comedy gimmick. His initial three-year WWE contract expired on 18 April 2022.
Derby City Rumble will be the first time KUSHIDA has worked under the IMPACT Wrestling banner.