Felix Upton on January 7, 2026
Even after Yuto-Ice made it crystal clear that the Knock Out Brothers are sticking with New Japan, WWE reportedly hasn’t thrown in the towel just yet.
According to a January 7, 2026 report from Cory Hays of Bodyslam.net, WWE still sees major value in signing the reigning IWGP Tag Team Champions and could revisit negotiations down the line.
“WWE offered a multi-year deal to the Knock Out Brothers as they wanted to give the tag division a big boost. The offer was politely declined as Yuto-Ice mentioned they aren’t leaving New Japan after New Year Dash,” Hays reported. “WWE will continue to monitor and revisit a potential opportunity to sign them at a later time.”
Notably, Hays added that WWE never planned to debut the Knock Out Brothers on the main roster right away, after it was mentioned that the likes of Fraxiom, MCMG and Street Profits were sidelined.
“They wouldn’t have gone to the main roster,” he noted, suggesting a likely start in NXT had the deal gone through.
This update comes just days after Yuto-Ice addressed the rumors head-on during NJPW’s New Year’s Dash on January 5, 2026. Following their match, Yuto-Ice cut a fiery promo, shutting down weeks of speculation about a WWE jump.
The rumors began in December 2025 after Self Made Pro reported that WWE had sent formal contract offers to both Yuto-Ice and his tag partner OSKAR as part of their growing international recruitment push.
“A source close to the situation claims that WWE has offered a contract to both Yuto-Ice and OSKAR, NJPW’s current IWGP Tag Team Champions.”
The Knock Out Brothers had a breakout year in 2025—winning the World Tag League and defeating Taichi and Tomohiro Ishii for the titles at Destruction in Kobe—making them one of the most talked-about tag teams in the world. And while they’ve firmly shut the door for now, the latest report confirms that WWE hasn’t stopped knocking.
Should the Knock Out Brothers take WWE’s offer in the future—or are they better off building their legacy in NJPW? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
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