The following are highlights of a new WWE.com interview with Hideo Itami:
On his debut at NXT Takeover II: “I was very excited when I made my debut. It was the biggest moment of my career because WWE has always been my goal. The NXT Universe was very welcoming to me and very happy. I was very nervous before I made my debut, but excited, too.”
On the meaning behind his name: “It means ‘Hero of Pain.'”
On the transition from Japan to the United States: “Everything is an adjustment. (Laughs) Driving on the right side instead of the left side, like in Japan. In the house, I notice a lot of people don’t take their shoes off, but in Japan we always take off our shoes. Even the toilets and showers are different here in the U.S. I do like American food but I still miss my Japanese food.”
On his long term goal: “I want to be a World Champion and I would like to compete at a WrestleMania. It’s funny because the thought of making it here first popped into my head about 10 years ago. Around 2003, 2004, I thought about walking away from wrestling and then I attended a WWE show in Japan. From that point forward, I was re-inspired to make it.”
Check out the complete interview at WWE.com.