10 Most Violent WWE Matches Of The Modern Era
8. Hideo Itami Vs. Aleister Black - NXT TakeOver Brooklyn III
An underrated gem, this match between Hideo Itami (aka KENTA) and Aleister Black from NXT TakeOver Brooklyn III was the best match that the former ace of Pro Wrestling NOAH had in WWE and one of the most underrated TakeOver matches ever produced. It also happened to be jarringly stiff, accidentally bloody and a perfect showcase of the harder styles that both men had mastered.
Itami’s WWE career might have been inconsistent due to injuries but in 2017, he was on fire in NXT, having Bobby Roode’s best ever WWE match at TakeOver Chicago before truly making Black at Brooklyn III. The match was a battle of kicks, with Itami’s infamous stiff strikes to the chest and Black’s history as a kickboxer coming into play immediately. In addition to the thudding blows to the chest and limbs, there’s accidental blood early on, making the match feel even more like a desperate war of attrition.
The sudden abrasive use of the Black Mass to put Itami away was perfectly timed and remains one of the gnarliest uses of the move to date. It’s the kind of match that makes your body hurt just witnessing it.