Top Star "Not Interested" In WWE, Wants AEW Appearances
WWE might be in talent acquisition mode, but this top target isn't interested...
WWE may be in the market for "a big Japanese guy" at the moment, but it's unlikely to be Konosuke Takeshita.
The DDT standout has told Cultaholic that for now, he isn't interested in jumping ship to the market leaders. This comes in the wake of the 27-year-old's highly successful four-month AEW excursion coming to an end following an acclaimed 5 August ROH World Title match with Claudio Castagnoli.
Takeshita said that he will be in his native Japan throughout August and September. From there, he wants to book more matches in AEW, perhaps from October:-
"To be honest, now I'm not interested in WWE. My next goal is more fights in AEW I hope. So I have to go to back to Japan in August and September. Maybe, not decided yet, I hope I go back to America in October. Then if I stay in the US I can come to the UK more times. From Japan to the UK is so far but US to UK is maybe seven hours. It's possible."
Takeshita, who is considered amongst DDT's top stars, returning to AEW in April, working praised bouts with the likes of Castagnoli, Eddie Kingston, 'Hangman' Adam Page in Tony Khan's promotion, as well as starring on the American independent circuit. He is currently booked for multiple DDT events throughout August and September, starting with a 25th Anniversary Special six-man tag at the promotion's Wrestle Peter Pan 2022 event on 20 August.
WWE, meanwhile, is currently in acquisition mode, with new creative lead Triple H bringing back the likes of Hit Row, Karrion Kross, and Dakota Kai in the wake of Vince McMahon's departure as CEO and Chairman.