WWE was very interested in NJPW Star Hikuleo earlier this year, before communication died out.
Hikuleo recently spoke with SP3 on the Tru Heel’s BTR podcast, and commented on his talks with WWE earlier this year, and what happened between both sides. He also discussed his decision to stay with New Japan Pro Wrestling, loyalty to the company, and the trust that they had in him.
“Yeah they were serious. Um, yeah it was serious, but it was kinda hit or miss as well. Communication just kinda died out. It was like that whole ‘Vince thing’ that came about when he came back into power and they had a hiring freeze, so it just dropped. But honestly, I felt I hadn’t done enough in New Japan. I feel like guys that come to New Japan, that come to the dojo who put so much time in, there’s just more you got to do. I feel like nothing is completed yet, nothing was completed yet even back then, even now. So yeah, there were talks, but in the back of my head, I was just like it wasn’t the time yet. I wasn’t ready, nowhere near ready. Plus to that loyalty, Japan’s big on loyalty, the trust that you build there. For them to put in trust in me to bring me in, this giant green beanstalk that had barely or had no wrestling experience and just to throw me in there. Like we talked about earlier, Bullet Club, I had to come and replace Kenny Omega. Like if you remember that, he got injured and they threw me in what 8 months into my training in the dojo. To have that much trust in me, it’ll take a lot to get me out of the system. So yeah that’s what I have to say about that.”
Hikuleo and El Phantasmo will face Bishamon (Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI) at Wrestle Kingdom 18 in a Title vs. Title match for the IWGP Tag Team Championship and the NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Championships on January 4th, 2024 in the Tokyo Dome.
You can watch the entire interview with Hikuleo and ELP on the Tru Heel’s BTR podcast below.
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