10 WWE Match-Ups That Were Better In Another Promotion

Itami could never strike a chord in WWE, who they set him up against.

Roderick Strong had carved out his place on the indie scene by being a prolific and dedicated worker. Strong would work for any promotion, always giving a sterling performance regardless of the venue.

KENTA and Strong were consistent opponents in NOAH and ROH, even getting the main event spot at ROH Throwdown in 2006. Their match represented inter-promotional competition, one company trying to prove that they had better talent than the other. Both Roddy and KENTA validated their reputation as rigid workers with a viscous kick exchange and a back-breaker on the apron of the ring.

When the two found themselves again in WWE, everything that made their encounter special was gone. Strong simply came in for a tune-up match as Itami prepared for his title match against Bobby Roode. They would go at it again on an episode of 205 Live, which aired after episodes of Smackdown Live.

Needless to say, the 205 Live crowds lack the interest shown by ROH fans, and their apparent apathy just made the whole encounter feel like a dud. A shame; WWE turned what was an international dream-match into meaningless filler.