We’re only one week into the televised Cruiserweight Classic, and PWTorch.com is reporting that tournament stand-outs Kota Ibushi and Gran Metalik have signed contracts with WWE NXT.
Ibushi, 34, has been with New Japan since 2009 and over the last few years has become one of the top pro wrestlers in the world. He is a three-time IWGP Jr. Heavywight Champion, a former Best of the Super Juniors winner, and won the New Japan Cup in 2015. He was voted the “Best Flying Wrestler” four times in five years by the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, and at the 2015 Wrestle Kingdom pay-per-view, wrestled the match of the year against Shinsuke Nakamura.
Gran Metalik, 27, better known as Mascara Dorada, has been a staple of the CMLL promotion for several years, as well as working tours with New Japan.
Ibushi and Metalik are just the first two in what will likely be a long string of new signings for NXT in the coming days and weeks. Several other top names, including Cedric Alexander and Zack Sabre Jr. are also expected to be offered contracts, if they haven’t been already.
