Height: 5’9″
Weight: 187 lbs.
Hometown: Tokyo, Japan
Style: Technical
Signature Move: Hoverboard Lock
There was a time when KUSHIDA represented the very best of MLW’s middleweight division. A time-splitting technician with razor-sharp instincts and world-class credentials, he earned his reputation as one of the most electric competitors in the league, captivating fans with unmatched speed, precision, and innovation.
A multi-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion and IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion in New Japan Pro Wrestling, KUSHIDA arrived in MLW with a legendary international résumé and quickly became a fan favorite.
Inspired by Back to the Future, KUSHIDA once brought the spirit of the flux capacitor to the fight, blending explosive athleticism with surgical technique. He stood as a symbol of excellence and ingenuity—one of the most respected and thrilling middleweights in the sport.
That version of KUSHIDA was celebrated as a fan favorite. He served as a global standard-bearer for the league and headlined a sold-out Arena México as part of the MLW x CMLL Super Series, thrilling more than 16,000 fans inside the cathedral of lucha libre on one of the most historic nights in league history.
But at Battle RIOT VIII, everything changed.
KUSHIDA captured the MLW World Middleweight Championship, then stunned the sport by waving the black flag and aligning himself with CONTRA Unit. In a single night, the fan favorite vanished, replaced by a colder, more dangerous force committed to CONTRA’s vision of domination.
The future KUSHIDA once fought for is gone. Now, he’s rewriting the timeline on his own terms—and MLW may never recover from the fallout.
