10 Wrestlers BANNED From Getting Over

4. Hideo Itami Is Not Allowed To Be KENTA

Daniel Bryan
WWE.com

The name doesn't matter.

KENTA and its stylisation was a very cool name, but complaining about it being changed misses the point. That isn't why 'Hideo Itami' didn't get over. Hideo Itami wasn't allowed to be KENTA in name nor essence.

KENTA was one of the most revolutionary wrestlers ever. The acclaimed 21st century generation looks unrecognisable without his immense influence. In the ultimate, cruel irony, since KENTA appeared in WWE after his physical peak, working a style that had been subsumed by countless pro wrestlers, he somehow felt like the two a penny plagiarist to that fanbase by the time he was quasi-promoted to the "main roster" in 205 Live Kickoff matches.

Fearing chants of "CM Punk!" at a time when Punk's name was chanted as code for "He was right, this is sh*t" by WWE fans whenever WWE did something sh*tty, Itami was banned from performing the Go To Sleep manoeuvre he innovated. And, while he eventually did after a slow-burn tease campaign, it meant very little.

He was also prevented from being the nasty, sick f*cker of old. Sure, Itami was gruff and mean and all that, but he wasn't allowed to be the über-stiff sh*t-kicker in WWE. It's not how they do things.

So why sign him?!

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!