8 Struggling WWE Stars Who Would Excel In NJPW

It almost goes without saying that a world-class Japanese pro-wrestling would be a huge hit with NJPW, but Hideo Itami has never worked for the company. He was a big part of Pro Wrestling Noah’s success at the height of the company’s powers, but as that particular company nosedives towards an all-time low, there’s only one legitimate option for him should he eventually return to Japan.

Itami has endured an awkward transition in NXT. His signing marked the beginning of WWE’s long period of stacking NXT’s deck with hugely talented wrestlers who’d already made their name elsewhere, but Itami has often had a rough time of it. He’s always been popular with the crowd, but his lack of charisma and English fluency are huge stumbling blocks, as is the toned-down wrestling style.

As KENTA, Itami made his name as a nasty, vicious in-ring bully who’d beat the tar out of his opponents without remorse. He looked like he was out to legitimately hurt the competition with his brutal offense, and WWE’s PG style has neutered much of that. Things have improved somewhat since his injury return, and his GTS on Austin Aries and TakeOver: Brooklyn II provoked a huge reaction, but it’s unlikely he’ll ever be able to truly be himself in WWE, regardless of how far he goes.

Itami would immediately be a major star in NJPW. His reputation remains intact following his immense Noah run, and he’d be welcomed back to his homeland with open arms. The likes of Tetsuya Naito and Kenny Omega have stood up to fill the void left by Styles and Nakamura, but there are still a few spots to fill at the top of NJPW’s cards. Itami is an ideal candidate to occupy one of them.