Kota Ibushi Not Ready To Sign With WWE
Star has unfinished business in Japan.
When Japanese superstar and three-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Kota Ibushi appeared ringside at NXT TakeOver: Dallas, many fans assumed it was a foregone conclusion that he would be participating in the WWE Cruiserweight Classic and ultimately joining the company.
While the first part of the prediction has be proven true, Ibushi is currently not interested in joining WWE full-time.
According to The Wrestling Observer, Ibushi, who has only wrestled a handful of matches in 2016, claims that he "still has things he wants to do in Japan." For that reason, he turned down a full-time offer from WWE. The company has continued to make overtures, but so far, he has only agreed to the tournament.
Last November, Ibushi was put on the shelf with a cervical disc herniation. It was expected that the popular star - whose high-profile matches were doing big business in New Japan Pro Wrestling - would get a push toward the IWGP Heavyweight Title upon his return. In February, however, Ibushi announced that he would be leaving NJPW to open the "Ibushi Pro Wrestling Research Institute." No details have followed, but "The Golden Star's" bookings have since been few and far between.
Ibushi arguably has the biggest upside of any of the competitors in the tournament, but it is not expected that WWE will give the win to someone who has not signed a full-time contract.