Let's think about this. There's not a soul on the NXT roster that makes sense from a storyline or having a top-tier match perspective to wrestle Itami except for Samoa Joe. Joe and Itami is actually a fresh matchup, as the two top performers have never wrestled each other one-on-one. Likely realizing this, WWE is right to hold off on Joe doing anything significant as they have a money match for a solid year on their hands. Joe being able to say that he's wanted to defeat Itami "for a decade," and he "ducked him by staying in Japan," would be cool. Joe being a humble babyface for now -- but then evolving into a bully heel -- would be terrific fun. So, let's have patience with Joe for now, because something amazing is likely on the horizon.
Besides having been an independent professional wrestling manager for a decade, Marcus Dowling is a Washington, DC-based writer who has contributed to a plethora of online and print magazines and newspapers writing about music and popular culture over the past 15 years.
