By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
-It was announced at a New Japan Pro Wrestling press conference that Kushida will be leaving the company at the end of his contract on January 31. “I am contracted with this company until the end of January so I won’t be talking much about beyond then,” Kushida said. “But it has been my dream for a long time to travel the world with professional wrestling. And that’s what I will be doing…
“I increasingly took on the role lately of working with younger talent, and while not teaching, learning together. Along with that, going back and forth between ROH and New Japan I realized I am now 36 and have much less in front of me career wise than behind.”
-Kota Ibushi will be taking off the next tour while recovering from the concussion he suffered during his Wrestle Kingdom 13 match with Will Ospreay.
-Takashi Iizuka is retiring and will have a retirement ceremony on February 21.
Powell’s POV: All this information is courtesy of New Japan World broadcast team member Chris Charlton’s Twitter page. There have been rumors about Kushida leaving, so the news isn’t terribly surprising. Obviously, it will be interesting to see where he lands once his deal expires. The fact that he took part in the NJPW press conference would seem to suggest that he is leaving on good terms.
Check below for the new Pro Wrestling Boom Podcast with Jason Powell and Will Pruett reviewing the NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 13 event.
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