The news broke last week that Japanese superstar KENTA had signed a developmental deal with the WWE. He signed the contract in Osaka, Japan, in the middle of a WWE ring accompanied by Hulk Hogan, which was a tremendous endorsement. For those who are unfamiliar with KENTA, this is a pretty big deal for the WWE. Much like CM Punk, Daniel Bryan and Cesaro, fans of Ring of Honor already know what the WWE has on their roster. For the past nine years, KENTA has made multiple tours of the United States and wrestled for ROH against many of their top stars. Despite being a foreigner, KENTA already has a proven history of wowing American audiences during his time in Ring of Honor. Here are 10 such instances, listed in chronological order. Many of those matches can be seen on this highly recommended DVD, sold by ROH.
10. vs. Low Ki - GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship (Final Battle 2005)
Ring of Honor fans were pretty savvy with regard to Japanese wrestling. Since the companys inception, the bookers have brought in Japanese talent to drive up interest in the product. Only months prior, ROH brought in Japanese wrestling legend Kenta Kobashi to face Samoa Joe in New York City, in a match that received a rare 5-star rating from the Wrestling Observer. Immediately after the match, it was announced that juniors sensation KENTA was coming in December. It was also announced that his opponent would be Low Ki, and the match would be for KENTAs GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship (essentially the Cruiserweight Championship in Pro Wrestling NOAH, only about 100 times more prestigious). Ki was the perfect first opponent for KENTA, as both had similar high-flying, hard-hitting styles. The match main-evented the biggest show of the year for ROH, and did not disappoint. Both Ki and KENTA flew around the ring with ease, and beat the heck out of each other with kicks and strikes that had pinpoint precision. The match also had KENTA defeat Ki cleanly with the Go 2 Sleep, and Low Ki had rarely well-protected in the company to never lose cleanly. In a year that is widely considered to be Ring of Honors greatest, full of such fantastic matches as the aforementioned Joe vs. Kobashi, the final match of the year may very well have been the best.