During the latest Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer revealed the possible reason why KUSHIDA decided to leave New Japan Pro Wrestling.

According to Meltzer, one of the main reasons he left the company is because he wanted to turn heel, but he wasn’t allowed to. Below is what Meltzer said on the situation, with a H/T to Cultaholic.com for the transcriptions.

“One of the things with Kushida which led to his leaving for WWE is that early last year he wanted to go heel and join the Bullet Club, but Gedo wanted him to stay in his place.

“The deal was that New Japan needed the solid junior heavyweight guy, with Will Ospreay in Chaos, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Desperado and Taka Michinoku in Suzuki-gun, Taiji Ishimori in Bullet Club and Bushi and Hiromu Takahashi in LIJ. The home team side had Ryusuke Taguchi, but he’s more comedy now and only turning it on as a serious guy for a few matches a year like Super Juniors, and Tiger Mask and Jushin Liger are legends, but they are no longer in the singles title picture.

“That probably isn’t the only reason but it was part of it. He handled it professionally, working until 1/29, doing his clean jobs at the Dome and Dash, and because he handled it so professionally he’s getting his first career singles match with Hiroshi Tanahashi on his last night at Korakuen Hall.”

KUSHIDA is expected to be joining the WWE NXT roster in the near future, so it will be interesting to see whether or not he is booked as a heel in that environment.

Source :

Wrestling Observer Radio