1. vs. Chris Hero - ROH HDNet - 8/15/2009 (aired 10/12/2009)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXK-RdRyFy4 When KENTA makes his WWE debut, it will technically not be his first time wrestling on American television. ROH had a television program that ran for two years on HDNet, a station owned by Mark Cuban. Unfortunately, not many people in the country had access to HDNet. Over the first few months of the program, KENTA would make four appearances. First was a singles match against Roderick Strong in June, second was as part of a six man tag team match teaming with Kevin Steen and El Generico against Chris Hero and the American Wolves in July, and third was as part of another six man tag team match teaming with Bryan Danielson and Strong against those same Wolves and Hero. But no match was bigger than the fourth: a singles bout against Chris Hero. Hero had made a name for himself over the past year as an accomplished striker, particularly with his elbow, earning the nickname That Young Knock-Out Kid. He was the perfect foil for KENTA, who wasnt too shabby with his strikes himself. It would ultimately be KENTAs last match in Ring of Honor. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73iUCBmV5Cg As one could imagine, the match was hard hitting, culminating in Hero rocking KENTA with a Death Blow, which starts like a twisting neckbreaker, with both men back-to-back, and ends with Hero spinning and clocking KENTA in the back of the head with an elbow strike. The sick sound of Heros elbow hitting KENTAs head drew a roar from the crowd. Amazingly, it only produced a two count. The match is slightly marred by interference by Eddie Kingston on KENTAs behalf, but it still was a match that put Chris Hero on the map as a bona-fide main eventer, and a fantastic showcase of what KENTA can do on American television. Will KENTA make an impact in NXT and WWE? If his history with Ring of Honor is any indication, the answer is a resounding yes. Make sure to follow me on Twitter
@PocketSeagull.