Current Champions Turn Down WWE Move

A pair of current champions reportedly turned down interest from WWE in signing them, and will be instead staying in their current promotion.

Last month rumors emerged that WWE had interest in signing current IWGP World Tag Team Champions The Knockout Brothers, with that speculation following the duo of OSKAR and Yuto-Ice heading into NJPW New Year’s Dash on January 5.

However, after defending their titles against TMDK at the show, Ice and OSKAR addressed the rumors of their potential departures and declared that they weren’t going anywhere.

Speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer confirmed that WWE did indeed have interest in signing The Knockout Brothers, but were turned down:

“There was interest from WWE in them and they turned it down, they’re staying”.

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Ice and OSKAR have been competing as a team since 2022, previously being members of the Bullet Club War Dogs faction until breaking away to become The Knockout Brothers in September last year.

In other NJPW news, a former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion has been confirmed to be taking an indefinite leave of absence from the company – click here for full details.

IWGP Tag Team Champions The Knockout Brothers (Yuto-Ice & OSKAR) reportedly turned down contract offers from WWE:

"There was interest from WWE in them and they turned it down, they’re staying".

(Dave Meltzer on WOR) pic.twitter.com/FZfuAv2aBK

— WrestleTalk (@WrestleTalk_TV) January 6, 2026