As noted, Japanese wrestling star Kota Ibushi, who recently worked the second annual Dusty Rhodes Tag-Team Classic and first-ever WWE Cruiserweight Classic (CWC) tournaments in addition to other matches in NXT, was offered — and turned down — multiple offers from WWE.
“Zero chance,” Ibushi said when asked by Tokyo Sports back in October about the possibility of becoming a full-time member of the WWE roster. “But these one-shot deals are an absolute plus for all concerned.”
Ibushi then pointed out that he would like to be the guy to set the precedent for “one-shot deals” being given to wrestlers who for one reason or another don’t want to sign full-time exclusive deals with WWE, noting it would “open the doors” to a lot of Japanese talent coming over.
“If I can be the precedent for this kind of deal, it opens the doors for a lot of Japanese talent in WWE,” said Ibushi.
Dave Meltzer reported in this week’s issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that WWE initially offered Ibushi a five-year deal, which he turned down, before trying two more times to sign him up.
The pair of deals that followed the first rejection were for three years and two years, in that order, and were reportedly for “significant money.”
