
In December 2020, WWE announced Jiro as a recruit to the WWE Performance Center. On May 7, 2021, he debuted on 205 Live, teaming with August Grey to defeat Tony Nese and Ariya Daivari. Jiro would then continue to team with Grey on 205 Live until June, when Grey was released from WWE. On July 6, Jiro was announced to be apart of the 2021 NXT Breakout Tournament. On the July 13 episode of NXT, Jiro was eliminated in the first round by Duke Hudson. Soon after, Jiro would form a tag team called Jacket Time with Kushida, and the pair would feud with The Diamond Mine. In January 2022, Jacket Time would compete in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, but were eliminated in the first round by 2021 winners MSK (Nash Carter and Wes Lee), on the January 25 episode of NXT 2.0. On April 18, Kushida would depart WWE, thus disbanding Jacket Time.
Jiro was released from his WWE contract on September 21, 2023 after appearing solely on NXT Level Up for the remainder of his time in NXT.