As more and more Japanese wrestling superstars continue to make the jump to WWE, Hideo Itami has been stuck on the outside looking in. The former Pro Wrestling NOAH star has been out of action since last Spring with a shoulder injury. The injury and recovery was originally expected to keep Itami out of action for six to eight months, but it looks like that prognosis has changed. According to a new report published in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Itami has experienced complications during his recovery that have set his timetable back indefinitely. According to the report, Itami is nowhere close to being able to return to the ring. Throughout his recovery, Itami has been rehabbing literally all over the world. He's spent time in Alabama at the Dr. James Andrews Sports Medicine Center, back in his home country in Japan, as well as considerable time training at the WWE Performance Center in Florida. Itami, who wrestled as Kenta Kobayashi in Japan, was a major signing when WWE announced his NXT arrival back in 2014. He held virtually every title imaginable during his time with NOAH and has long been considered one of the best workers in the world. Whenever he finally recovers from his shoulder injury, there will be an abundance of dream matches on the horizon for him in both NXT and, eventually, on the main WWE roster.
