TJ Perkins Takes Hideo Itami's Place As Kota Ibushi's Partner In The Dusty Rhodes Classic
The Raw cruiserweight champion pairs up with his CWC rival.
Hideo Itami's brief WWE career has already been halted once by a serious injury, and just a few weeks after his return he's now back on the shelf with yet another setback. The popular Japanese star damaged his neck in a frightening moment at a non-televised live event in a match featuring he and Shinsuke Nakamura against the relatively inexperienced duo of Tino Sabbatelli and Riddick Moss.
While Otami vowed to return to NXT in time for the promotion's debut in his home country this December, he confirmed that he will miss the next TakeOver special next month in Toronto. That means he's been forced to withdraw from the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic where he was paired up with Kota Ibushi in what many fans envisioned as a dream team.
NXT commissioner William Regal broke the news that Kota Ibushi would remain in the tournament and receive a new partner. The man filling in for Itami? None other than WWE cruiserweight champion TJ Perkins. Regal announced via WWE.com exclusive:
"Hello. As you've heard, Hideo Itami can not continue in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Tournament, which leaves Kota Ibushi without a tag team partner. Now Kota Ibushi wants to continue in the tournament. So I decided to team Kota Ibushi with a man who I know Kota Ibushi has great respect for: the winner of the first Cruiserweight Classic tournament and the WWE Cruiserweight Champion, TJ Perkins. I wish both men great luck."
Perkins and Ibushi are familiar with one another as the current champ defeated his new partner by submission in the semi-finals of the Cruiserweight Classic. In a tournament full of standout bouts, their clash was one of the most entertaining of the entire event, and the prospect of seeing the two as teammates rather than opponents is exciting.
With Ibushi not being under contract to WWE and Perkins being a champion on the main roster, it's difficult to envision the makeshift partnership winning the Dusty Classic, but they're going to be good for at least one thrilling performance.
Let us know your thoughts on Perkins being names as Itami's replacement in the comments.