10 Wrestlers Ready To Become NXT's Top Stars
3. Hideo Itami
Incidentally, Ohno isn't the only superstar that came into NXT with a reputation for putting on great matches. Hideo Itami joined NXT in 2014 after competing as KENTA for many years in Japan, and was off to quick start.
After introducing the NXT audience to another popular superstar from Japan's pro-wrestling scene, Finn Bálor, Itami won the right to compete in the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal at WrestleMania 31. Things were going well for Hideo and he was scheduled to participate in a Triple Threat Match (along with Bálor and Tyler Breeze) to determine the number 1 contender to the NXT Championship in May 2015. Unfortunately, Itami suffered a legit shoulder injury, one that took a particularly long time to recover from.
Shortly after Hideo's return in June 2016, he sustained another injury - this time to his neck - that kept him out of action for even more time. Despite the bad luck, Itami rehabbed and returned to confront NXT Champ, Bobby Roode, in what is a good indication that NXT officials have not given up on the 36 year-old veteran.
Like Kassius Ohno, Itami will likely be leaned on to help anchor the babyface side of NXT's roster for the rest of 2017 and beyond.