10 Crucial Booking Steps Needed To Save Hideo Itami’s WWE NXT Career

2. Have Him Work Stiff Like He Did In NOAH

This is a huge risk, but it€™s the only way for Itami to separate himself from the increasingly-deep NXT roster. Every single one of the high-profile signees from other promotions had something about them from their pre-WWE careers that they brought to NXT: Balor has his €˜demon€™ gimmick, Joe has his name and reputation as a submission specialist, Apollo Crews has his impressive agility, etc. Itami, meanwhile, has been forced to change his style more than anyone else, and it€™s anchoring his career. His whole gimmick in NOAH was that he slapped, kicked and elbowed people very, very hard, and that€™s what got him over with the audience. WWE made him tone down that style to fit WWE€™s approach, but in doing so it robbed him of one of the biggest reasons the audience enjoyed watching him in the first place. As risky as it would be to allow Itami to work stiff in NXT, it€™s absolutely necessary in order to salvage his career. The show needs someone who can get the same kind of reactions out of kicking people that Daniel Bryan does, and Itami€™s that person. Sure, some other wrestlers might complain about being legit kicked in the calves or ribs on a regular basis, but it€™s a crucial element of Itami€™s past that needs to be reintroduced in the present. Besides, he doesn't have to go as OTT as he did in NOAH, but enough to make the audience sit up and take notice.