6 Most Insane Things Happening In Wrestling Right Now (Nov 24)

1. Hideo Itami IS Cursed

Hideo Itami 205 Live
WWE.com

The strange rumours were made real this week. It was announced that Hideo Itami is joining the 205 Live Roster.

This is a sharp fall from grace. In his prime, KENTA was a performer as deadly as he was brilliant as he was innovative; though he could not restore Pro Wrestling NOAH to its Kenta Kobashi-led glory years, his influence over the western wrestling world was seismic. As the originator of the Go To Sleep and the coolest kicker in all of wrestling, KENTA was ace, if not the Ace.

As Hideo Itami, the man is an injury-prone afterthought for whom his new home of 205 Live acts as a punishment, or the latest trend in his curse, or both. Sure to be verbally castrated by Enzo Amore despite not speaking English well enough to mount a respectable comeback, the idea of Itami recovering his aura is as likely as the idea of Itami drawing more eyes to the brand: i.e., not very. Far more likely is a return to his native Japan in the not-too-distant future.

It's a real shame; the man who many in the west owe so much will at this point never reap the rewards.

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!