Shots of recent WWE Performance Center signees in the audience is now a long and storied NXT TakeOver tradition that has included Matt Riddle, EC3, Asuka, and more. This tradition was carried on at the twenty-fourth such even, NXT TakeOver: New York, tonight at the Barclays Center.
Considering WWE released a video of Kushida signing his contract in New York earlier today, which Triple H for some reason later referred to as NXT “making history,” it made sense the Time Splitter would be in the NXT audience tonight.
With @TripleH & @RealKingRegal looking on, international Superstar @KUSHIDA_0904 signs his #WWENXT contract! pic.twitter.com/aCaDOCQIrC
— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) April 5, 2019
After part of the video of his contract signing played, Kushida was shown in the TakeOver audience and referred to Mauro Ranallo as a “six-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion in the Land of the Rising Sun.” He pointed to an imaginary watch on his wrist and gestured that it would only be a short time until we see him again, which makes it look like he might keep his Back to the Future-inspired gimmick.
https://twitter.com/tde_wrestling/status/1114319856386682882
Shinsuke Nakamura also welcomed his fellow former NJPW star to NXT on Twitter earlier today.
Guys…@KUSHIDA_0904 joined @WWENXT !!! ようこそクッシー‼︎
— Shinsuke Nakamura (@ShinsukeN) April 5, 2019
The already established NXT UK and Mae Young Classic stars Piper Niven and Toni Storm were shown in the audience earlier in the NXT TakeOver: New York show as well.
