Kushida Reveals Why He Left NJPW For WWE
Why the former IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion swapped Japan for Florida.
Wrestling Johnny Gargano was apparently one of Kushida's reasons for leaving New Japan Pro Wrestling and signing with WWE in 2019.
The Japanese star revealed as much following this past Sunday's NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day event, tweeted the following:-
Kushida's wish was granted at Vengendance Day. Though he fell to Gargano in their North American Championship match, the bout was one of the most heavily-praised of the night, and Kushida's finest in-ring offering since making the switch to the world's biggest promotion. Characterised by razor-sharp technique and an organic escalation of suspense rather than characteristic Gargano melodrama, it was a major highlight on one of 2021's best wrestling shows so far.
Kushida also revealed that the running knee he hit in the match was a tribute to his hero, The Great Muta, who become GHC Heavyweight Champion in Pro Wrestling NOAH two days earlier:-
Kushida was immediately assigned to NXT after making his debut in the crowd at TakeOver: New York in April 2019. This followed a great run with NJPW, where he essentially became the Junior Heavyweight division's pseudo ace until Hiromu Takahashi's emerge. He left the Lion Mark soon after losing to Takahashi that January.