Add Hideo Itami’s name to the list of Superstars who will be leaving WWE shortly. According to a report from Fightful, Itami asked for and was granted his release from the company. He finished up with WWE last night.
Itami, like many other Superstars asking for their releases lately, was unsatisfied creatively. He will likely have to sit-out a 90-day no-compete clause before being able to wrestle for another promotion. If this is the case, he would be free in May.
Itami, who recently changed his Twitter handle to his old in-ring name, KENTA, posted the following to his social media channels on Tuesday night.
THANK YOU.
— KENTA (@HideoItami) January 30, 2019
Several wrestlers from WWE and elsewhere offered their support to the Japanese star:
Thank you.
— Mustafa Ali / Adeel Alam (@MustafaAliWWE) January 30, 2019
Eien no shin'y? @HideoItami pic.twitter.com/60e3p9cP7X
— Peyton Royce (@PeytonRoyceWWE) January 30, 2019
Thank you, Kenta! @HideoItami.
I will always #Respect you! pic.twitter.com/84Lk4ypQAf— No Way Jose (@WWENoWayJose) January 30, 2019
Yes!! https://t.co/AzLQqBkHLY
— “A?e?r?i?a?l? Assassin” Will Ospreay (@WillOspreay) January 30, 2019
I respect @HideoItami
— Cedric Alexander (@CedricAlexander) January 30, 2019
I respect @HideoItami.
— Gentleman Jack Gallagher (@GentlemanJackG) January 30, 2019
KENTA to Hideo Itami
KENTA wrestled with ROH from 2005 to 2009. Itami spent 2000-2014 building up his name in Pro Wrestling NOAH before signing with WWE in 2014.
Renamed Hideo Itami, he was sent to NXT but only achieved modest success there. Injuries hampered his momentum in NXT before he finally debuted on the main roster for the 205 Live brand in 2017.