8 Next Generation WWE Superstars And The Roles They'll Play
5. Hideo Itami
Hideo Itami achieved considerable fame and acclaim in his home country of Japan, before joining the world of the WWE. As KENTA, the hard-hitting wrestler competed for the Pro Wrestling Noah promotion for nearly 14 years. During that time he was able to capture both the GHC Heavyweight and Light Heavyweight Championships -- in both the singles and tag team divisions. Over those 14 years, KENTA took on a wealth of opponents -- including some battles against Daniel Bryan for Ring of Honor. Despite his opponents efforts, he would often come out with a victory following some devastating kicks, his running knee, or the original Go 2 Sleep. Now, the WWE has signed KENTA and renamed him Hideo Itami. Itami made his debut on last weeks edition of NXT on the WWE Network. He quickly handled and defeated Justin Gabriel in a short but thrilling contest. It also seems as if Itami will continue his growing rivalry with the Ascension, stemming from their interaction at Takeover II: Fatal 4-Way. Perhaps, Itami is in need of a tag partner Anyway, Hideo Itami is WWEs latest piece of flair from Japan. He brings a style, intensity, and attitude that is completely foreign to everything else the company has right now. Itamis skills inside the ring are well proven, but it will be interesting to see how the NXT superstars react to his style. Despite the challenges -- and language barrier -- that lie ahead for Itami, he will undoubtedly prove to be a vital part of the Next Generation. Hideo Itami fulfills a key role in WWEs future and will provide fans with a unique experience for quite some time.
Douglas Scarpa is a freelance writer, independent filmmaker, art school graduate, and pro wrestling aficionado -- all of which mean he is in financial ruin. He has no backup plan to speak of, yet maintains his abnormally high spirits. If he had only listened to the scorn of his childhood teachers, he wouldn't be in this situation.
