#5.) KUSHIDA
Kushida announced his departure from NJPW the day after Wrestle Kingdom 13. He faced Taiji Ishimori in a bout for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship. Up until the match, he was the ace of the Junior Heavyweight division, but it’s safe to say that Ishimori took that crown from him when he dethroned him at Wrestle Kingdom.
The first thought among fans was that Kushida was headed to NXT. After all, WWE is the biggest platform in the United States and Kushida does possess the in-ring skills to get over. However, it’s evident that he wouldn’t make it past 205 Live and may be held back creatively and also may suffer from communication barriers in his promos.
AEW, on the other hand, would present a great spot for Kushida to excel in the ring and creatively. It would be a great way to announce his entry into North America.
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