Former WWE Wrestler In Talks With NJPW
This ex-WWE wrestler is hoping to ink a contract soon...
Tiger Ruas has claimed he is currently in talks with New Japan Pro Wrestling.
The Brazilian, who wrestled as Arturo Ruas in WWE, said as much during an appearance on the All Real Wrestling Podcast. Ruas said that he admires the athletes in companies like NJPW, IMPACT Wrestling, and MLW and hopes to sign a deal soon.
Here's what the 40-year-old had to say (h/t POST Wrestling):-
"Yes, I am actually talking to New Japan, and talking to another company soon like IMPACT too and it’s just talk for now. I wanna be, as I said, in the mix and I believe those companies, they have the top athletes. IMPACT, New Japan, MLW and I know that those companies, they have in their tops, the best athletes and I want to be one of them so, I am a free agent, I am negotiating with the companies. I’m talking to them and I’m just waiting to [find an] opening, the best place to be but, let’s see. Let’s see the next chapter. I’m very positive to be [in a promotion] soon enough and one of them, signed."
Ruas had been with WWE for six years prior to his release from the company on 25 June 2021, competing sporadically on NXT barring a short 2020 period during which he was assigned to Raw. He has since worked two AEW Dark tapings (11 September and 24 October 2021) and spoke on this experience during the podcast, saying he'd like to go back to the Tony Khan-helmed promotion on a full-time basis:-
"I believe that I deserve to be part of the top-level athletes in pro wrestling because I am one of the best too so AEW’s the place. I came there, I did my match with Cezar [Bononi], it was amazing. I had another opportunity to showcase myself. I did a match when I won with just a kick and the match with PAC. PAC, I always was a big fan of him. Amazing athlete, amazing fighter and I had a match with him, was like… like Josh Barnett, dream match for me was having [a] match with him and I learned a lot from him and [it] was amazing so, I just wanna be there to be contributing with the pro wrestling business and with the company, that’s it. It’s simple and I’m wishing now to be signed with AEW. It’s like that’s my main goal now."
Tiger's last match was a defeat to PAC on those 24 October AEW Dark tapings.