NJPW's KENTA Blasts CM Punk For Stealing His Finisher
KENTA's longstanding Go 2 Sleep beef with CM Punk continues.
Add New Japan Pro Wrestling's KENTA to the growing list of wrestlers who have publically blasted CM Punk lately.
The former IWGP United States Champion hit Twitter to reprise his longstanding issues with the suspended AEW star last night. Their beef revolves around their shared finisher, the Go 2 Sleep, which was innovated by KENTA and later adopted by Punk.
KENTA tweeted the following, referring to his time as Hideo Itami in WWE, where he was initially prevented from using the Go 2 Sleep (and other moves like the Busaiku Knee Kick, which was adopted by Daniel Bryan):-
Let the world know.One of my worst experience in this business is that I was not allowed to use MY finishing move for 4 years. A move which I created on my own.
WHAT A LIFE.
Advertisement— KENTA aka Lil’K (@KENTAG2S) September 12, 2022
The 41-year-old was with WWE between 2014 and 2019. He was largely prevented from hitting the Go 2 Sleep for his initial run there, though he added it back to his repertoire later on.
KENTA has called Punk out for his Go 2 Sleep usage several times in the past. Last November, during his run as United States Champion, the Bullet Club member challenged Punk, doing so eight months after becoming the first wrestler to open AEW and NJPW's Forbidden Door that February.
When June's Forbidden Door pay-per-view was formally announced, Punk was quick to shoot down KENTA's latest challenge.
Punk is currently serving an AEW suspension following his role in the post-All Out 2022 brawl, with his long-term fate hanging in the balance pending a formal investigation. A torn triceps suffered while wrestling Jon Moxley at the pay-per-view will keep him sidelined for the next 6-9 months. As a result, he has vacated the AEW World Championship.