WWE: Alex Shelley to make NXT debut as Kushida’s tag team partner
Long time fans of NJPW and IMPACT Wrestling watching WWE now are ecstatic to learn that Alex Shelley will compete for NXT as Kushida’s tag team partner.
Ever since WWE announced its fifth (somewhat) annual Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, one of the key selling points was that one of their newer Superstars, Kushida (who recently returned from injury just over a month ago) will be competing in the tournament.
While we knew going into the tourney that his opponents in the first round will be former (and first ever) NXT UK Tag Team Champions Grizzled Young Veterans (comprised of Zack Gibson and James Drake), Kushida’s tag team partner remained a mystery. That is, until now.
Tonight’s episode of NXT TV saw WWE announce Kushida’s partner and his partner will be none other than Alex Shelley!
https://twitter.com/wwe/status/1215099678498357249?s=21
Alex Shelley is a much beloved alumni from promotions such as Ring of Honor, New Japan Pro Wrestling, and IMPACT Wrestling. After competing in the ring for 16 years straight, Shelley announced his retirement in 2018. However, miraculously, the former X-Division Champion returned to wrestling almost exactly a year later under the ROH banner.
Since then, Shelley’s spread his wings to many a promotion. Now, after the company alluded his presence for so long, he offers his wings to WWE.
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It was last October that he served as a guest coach at the Performance Center, but now that coaching gig has branched off into an actual onscreen wrestling role. What makes this all the more interesting is that he’s teaming up with a former tag partner in Kushida, who Shelley won both the Super Jr. Tag Team Tournament and the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship with in NJPW.
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Now, we have to see if the duo can win another tournament under the WWE banner, but first, they must make their way passed GYV in what is sure to be a slobberknocker on next week’s episode of NXT airing, as always, at 8 p.m. sharp on the USA Network.