10 Wrestlers Who Jumped Ship (And Ruined Their Careers)

10. Hideo Itami (NOAH To WWE)

The former GHC Heavyweight Champion returned to Pro Wrestling NOAH for the first time since May 2014 last weekend, facing former partner and rival Naomichi Marufuji in a sentimental Sumo Hall main event. Watching the bout, it was like a switch had flipped inside the 205 Live slugger. Though not quite to the same levels as old, his stiffness, star power, presence, and aura were back. KENTA was back.

Swapping NOAH for WWE turned Itami from star to also-ran. Yes, injuries have sabotaged his run, but they're far from the only reason for his struggles under Vince McMahon's employ.

A wrestler who always relied on stiffness, aggression, and pure badassery couldn't rely on these traits in WWE's safety-first environment. Thus, his ability to get over was hampered from day one. He was miscast as an awkward babyface, and to top it all off, his moveset was pilfered, with Daniel Bryan claiming his signature kicks, and CM Punk the Go 2 Sleep.

Things have improved in the years since his debut, but the Marufuji match only highlight's Hideo's slide to irrelevancy. He's a joyless, half-arsed self-parody on 205 Live, struggling to keep his head above water in an environment he has never been suited to.