Top NJPW star turned down an offer from WWE

WWE will be reaching out to several New Japan Pro Wrestling stars in a couple of months when their contracts expire.

One name that they have already reached out to that was previously unreported was Tetsuya Naito. The offer, according to Naito, came after the Dominion show in June and he turned it down.

“I didn’t even give it thought,” Naito said. “This New Japan ring is already the world’s number 1 stage. The fans know this. That’s why I think we should focus on our home crowd before looking international.”

https://t.co/lCYX6Fm3Ze Naito received a WWE offer after Dominion and turned it down. ‘I didn’t even give it thought. This New Japan ring is already the world’s number 1 stage. The fans know this. That’s why I think we should focus on our home crowd before looking international’

— chris charlton (@reasonjp) November 6, 2018

It’s no surprise that WWE was interested in him because he is one of the top three names in New Japan Pro Wrestling and his profile on a worldwide basis was elevated thanks to his feud with Chris Jericho.

Naito will take on Jericho in January at Wrestle Kingdom 13 where he will have the opportunity to win back the IWGP Intercontinental Championship.

Naito, staying in character, told Tokyo Sports that is only interested in getting his revenge on Jericho and he is not interested in “WWE Superstar” Chris Jericho.

‘You should understand that I have no interest in “WWE Superstar” Chris Jericho. What I want to do is get revenge for what happened in a New Japan ring, in a New Japan ring’

— chris charlton (@reasonjp) November 6, 2018

The next couple of months will be interesting as several high profile names have contracts expiring and WWE is interested. New Japan Pro Wrestling is also interested in signing some top WWE stars. Click here for more on that story.