The announcement of Kushida‘s departure from New Japan Pro Wrestling was an emotional one. At the press conference after Wrestle Kingdom 13, the six-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion and two-time Best of the Super Juniors winner revealed that he will be leaving NJPW when his contract is up on January 31, 2019, and shed tears after Hiroshi Tanahashi (at 28:15 in the video below) asked him about his most “enjoyable” and “painful” experiences working for the company.
NJPW announced that the Ace and the Time Splitter will again share a significant moment related to Kushida’s departure when they face off in a his last match for the promotion. The sixty-minute-time-limit non-title singles match will be the main event of the January 29 Road to the New Beginning show.
Kushida and Tanahashi have frequently tagged together since Kushida joined NJPW in 2010, but have never been in opposite corners. They’ve always been in the same faction and in different weight classes. This will be the first time, according to cagematch, that they’ve wrestled one-on-one.
Kushida’s announcement also prompted responses from wrestlers he’s worked with in NJPW and ROH wishing him the best as he starts the next phase of his career, which he’s only been able to specify will include working overseas so far, but is rumored to be in WWE.
https://twitter.com/KUSHIDA_0904/status/1082214921884946432
https://twitter.com/KUSHIDA_0904/status/1082214574701477890
https://twitter.com/KUSHIDA_0904/status/1082306029528932353
One of the best wrestlers I’ve ever been in the ring with. One of the nicest people I’ve ever met. The cutest man I’ve ever seen. The creepiest Tokyo dome entrance of all time.
Best of luck my friend, may you terrify audiences wherever you may go, Ganbatte Brother! https://t.co/DxsSTyr4h1
— David Finlay (@THEdavidfinlay) January 8, 2019
— 田口隆祐 (@taguchiryusuke) January 7, 2019
【タグチジャパン通信】
KUSHIDA選手が使用していました
94番を永久欠番と致します— 田口隆祐 (@taguchiryusuke) January 8, 2019
@KUSHIDA_0904 Thank you for being an amazing wrestler and person. I will miss you my friend. Maybe we meet up in Mexico 😁🍻
— Tanga Loa (@TangaloaNJPW) January 7, 2019
Kushida, my senpai. Thank you for everything over the last few years! I will miss our travels in ROH! My dream match is still to wrestle you, I have faith it will happen someday. Good luck in the future, see you soon!
@KUSHIDA_0904 がんばってください。ありがとうございました。 pic.twitter.com/AkfnsvQu9h
— Cheese Burgey (@CheeseburgerROH) January 7, 2019
