Ex-WWE Star Set To Debut On AEW Dynamite

Former WWE and current New Japan star KUSHIDA will challenge Darby Allin for AEW's TNT Title on next week's episode of flagship show Dynamite.

That's just one of two title bouts currently scheduled for the show (Orange Cassidy vs. Jay Lethal for the All-Atlantic belt has also been announced), but the KUSHIDA news is definitely bigger. The one time NXT Cruiserweight titleholder will be taking his bow in All Elite here, after all.

KUSHIDA left WWE in April 2022 after letting his contract tick down. He's since returned home to New Japan, but has made a few appearances for IMPACT Wrestling too. Now, he's bringing his skills to AEW for what is believed to be a one-off showing vs. Darby.

On that, there's no word yet whether or not Tony Khan is interested in inking something more permanent with the Japanese star. He's probably happy to bring KUSHIDA in for a cameo role vs. Allin, then move Darbs onto other things quickly.

There has been some simmering tension between Allin and his mentor Sting in recent weeks. Perhaps that's leading to something down the road.