It seems like just yesterday we were writing up a new batch of recruits to the WWE Performance Center (it was in January) and already a new group has landed in their “Property Of” t-shirts. In contrast to the last relatively large class that included ACH, Trevor Lee, and Chelsea Green, this latest one, according to WWE’s official announcement, seems to be just three men: Shane Strickland, Kushida, and Humberto Garza.
I dont think they understand what they just let through their doors… 😈 https://t.co/SeZDVD2Tbx
— The Realest Swerve Strickland (@swerveconfident) April 17, 2019
Kushida’s inclusion in this class is the least surprising since his signing with WWE was known to NJPW fans soon after Wrestle Kingdom 13, he signed his NXT contract publicly on WrestleMania weekend, he was shown in the NXT TakeOver: New York audience, and has participated in other WWE Superstar activities. Though the previous decade or so of his career will almost definitely be summed up as “his work in Japan” on WWE programming, this announcement describes him as “one of New Japan Pro Wrestling’s top competitors.”
Humberto Garza, formerly Garza Jr., has been a “Will they or won’t they?” WWE signing since at least 2016 and the company is kicking off his time with them by putting over his legacy status. Per WWE’s website:
Garza comes to the WWE Performance Center as a representative of one of Mexico’s most famous wrestling dynasties. The grandson of luchador El Ninja, nephew of former WCW Superstar Hector Garza and cousin of NXT and 205 Live Superstar Humberto Carrillo… the high-flying Garza has competed for AAA and The Crash in Mexico, NOAH in Japan and numerous indies in the U.S.
The impending WWE arrival of Strickland, formerly a prolific indie wrestler and Lucha Underground‘s Killshot, was widely rumored even before he became a free agent earlier this year. WWE mentions his work in EVOLVE, CZW, and MLW specifically in their announcement.
With many years of accomplishments already behind all of these wrestlers, there seems like no good reason they shouldn’t also be successful in WWE.
