According to a report from Fightful.com and Dave Meltzer of The Wrestling Observer Newsletter, current New Japan Pro Wrestling IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Yujiro KUSHIDA's contract with NJPW is set to expire at the end of January. According to Meltzer, there is some interest from WWE in signing him to the NXT developmental territory:

"This is one where the confidence level is at the point where it’s being talked about more prominently, at least one idea has been talked about which would involve him at NXT."

KUSHIDA is currently in his sixth reign as the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion. He has won the NJPW Best of the Super Juniors tournament on two occasions, as well as the 2016 Super J-Cup. In May of 2017, KUSHIDA defeated "The Villain" Marty Scurll for the Ring of Honor Wrestling World Television Championship, holding the title until September of 2017 when he was defeated by Kenny King at Death Before Dishonor XV. KUSHIDA also holds a professional mixed martial arts fighting record of six wins, zero losses and two draws (6-0-2). All of his MMA fights took place in the ZST (pronounced "zest") organization in Japan from 2003 to 2005.