8 Next Generation WWE Superstars And The Roles They'll Play

By Douglas Scarpa /

5. Hideo Itami

Hideo Itami achieved considerable fame and acclaim in his home country of Japan, before joining the world of the WWE. As KENTA, the hard-hitting wrestler competed for the Pro Wrestling Noah promotion for nearly 14 years. During that time he was able to capture both the GHC Heavyweight and Light Heavyweight Championships -- in both the singles and tag team divisions. Over those 14 years, KENTA took on a wealth of opponents -- including some battles against Daniel Bryan for Ring of Honor. Despite his opponents€™ efforts, he would often come out with a victory following some devastating kicks, his running knee, or the original Go 2 Sleep. Now, the WWE has signed KENTA and renamed him Hideo Itami. Itami made his debut on last week€™s edition of NXT on the WWE Network. He quickly handled and defeated Justin Gabriel in a short but thrilling contest. It also seems as if Itami will continue his growing rivalry with the Ascension, stemming from their interaction at Takeover II: Fatal 4-Way. Perhaps, Itami is in need of a tag partner € Anyway, Hideo Itami is WWE€™s latest piece of flair from Japan. He brings a style, intensity, and attitude that is completely foreign to everything else the company has right now. Itami€™s skills inside the ring are well proven, but it will be interesting to see how the NXT superstars react to his style. Despite the challenges -- and language barrier -- that lie ahead for Itami, he will undoubtedly prove to be a vital part of the Next Generation. Hideo Itami fulfills a key role in WWE€™s future and will provide fans with a unique experience for quite some time.