KUSHIDA has been confirmed to be making his debut with IMPACT Wrestling at their impending television tapings.
The introduction of Scott D’Amore as the EVP of IMPACT Wrestling allowed the reemergence of a working agreement between the Anthem-helmed promotion and NJPW. This had previously broken down following the then-TNA mistreating Kazuchika Okada before he became ‘The Rainmaker’.
The new relationship is slated to continue on 15 and 16 July when KUSHIDA makes his debut for IMPACT. He’ll wrestle across both days of their tapings, though opponents haven’t yet been confirmed.
BREAKING: KUSHIDA DEBUTS at #DerbyCityRumble July 15th & 16th!!
Tickets are on sale NOW!
HERE: https://t.co/IQZ1hLHgOr#IMPACTWRESTLINGpic.twitter.com/kKM9cixVOG
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) July 8, 2022
Fightful Select confirmed the WWE departure of KUSHIDA first on 19 April. ‘The Time Splitter’ had initially signed with the McMahon-fronted sports entertainment giant over WrestleMania weekend in 2019, cited as one of the hottest free agents. He achieved one reign with the NXT Cruiserweight Championship.
The 39-year-old recently returned to New Japan Pro-Wrestling, confronting Taiji Ishimori after he’d defended the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship against Hiromu Takahashi. He made his in-ring return during the company’s 3 July card, coming out on top in a six-man tag team match.
Following his return to NJPW, it was reported that the former multi-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion would be remaining in Los Angeles. The Wrestling Observer Radio’s Dave Meltzer noted that he was expected to appear across the North American independent circuit as well as his NJPW commitments.