8 Wrestlers To Carry NXT Over The Next Year
5. Kushida
Kushida is NXTs new international star.
The Japanese superstar debuted this week against Kassius Ohno in a winning effort.
He is best known for his nine-year tenure in New Japan Pro Wrestling. There, he was a six-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion and a two-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion.
The new NXT star also has links with us here at What Culture. The 35-year-old won the 2017 Pro Wrestling World Cup, a tournament we co-promoted with NJPW and Revolution Pro Wrestling.
An MMA background, mixed with almost a decade in professional wrestling, has led to a popular style from Kushida. After a brief two-year professional career in MMA, the Japanese sensation retired with an undefeated record.
His signing to the yellow brand has felt like a big deal. He was unveiled over WrestleMania weekend, at a press conference, then in the crowd at NXT TakeOver: New York. Expect the former-NJPW star to slot straight into upper-mid card of NXT and produce outstanding matches over the next 12-months.