WWE has signed several top wrestling sensations over the past few years, but 2019 could prove to be an interesting year if The Elite or any other rumors competitors do end up joining the company. One individual who will not be coming to WWE for the foreseeable future is New Japan Pro Wrestling’s Tetsuya Naito. According to Naito in Tokyo Sports, WWE offered him a contract after facing Chris Jericho at Dominion earlier this year. He turned down their offer though in favor remaining with NJPW for the foreseeable future. Naito will be facing Jericho once again at Wrestle Kingdom this January. Perhaps Naito could make the switch to a different promotion one day, but for right now, he will be staying right where he is.
“I didn’t even give it thought,” Naito said. “This New Japan ring is
already the world’s number one stage. The fans know this. That’s why I
think we should focus on our home crowd before looking international.”
One of the most controversial moments from WWE’s Crown Jewel event came when Hulk Hogan walked down to the ring to open the show. Hogan was brought in as the host of Crown Jewel after spending more than three years away from WWE. “The Hulkster” was fired from WWE back in 2015 when it was discovered that he made a series of racist comments on his leaked sex tape. While there are still a few fans have embraced the former world champion’s return to the company, others have taken issue with recently-reinstated WWE bringing the Hall of Famer back. Some have even pointed out WWE’s own history with racial insensitivity, and one of these individuals includes former Women’s Champion Gail Kim.
Gail Kim competed for WWE for a number of years, but she now works for Impact Wrestling as a backstage producer. The Impact Wrestling Hall of Famer and former Knockouts Champion made headlines around the same time as when Hogan appeared at Crown Jewel as she accused WWE and the McMahon family of being racist. Several days later, Kim released a statement relating to the accusations that she had previously made. Kim admits that she regrets using the term “they” when referring to WWE, but the issues that she has made reference to come from the leaders working in the company. Gail Kim still insists that she heard numerous racial slurs and comments from company officials during her time in WWE.
Please read my personal statement pic.twitter.com/6tKfzqQLG9
— Gail Kim-Irvine (@gailkimITSME) November 6, 2018