KENTA has left New Japan Pro-Wrestling.
In a surprising left turn, the former IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion has signed to Pro-Wrestling NOAH. In turn, KENTA was removed from New Japan’s roster page. The 43-year-old came straight to New Japan following his WWE exit in 2019 and saw a resurgence in his career.
KENTA would join The Bullet Club and won multiple titles such as the NEVER Openweight Championship and IWGP Tag Team Championship. However, it’s been notable how little KENTA has competed in New Japan throughout 2024.
KENTA has competed for the Japanese promotion in 2025, with his last match being at New Year Dash!! Taking on El Desperado & KUSHIDA alongside Taiji Ishimori. The Bullet Club duo came out on the losing end of that match-up. KENTA also competed in the New Japan Rambo at Wrestle Kingdom 19.
But there didn’t seem to be much of a direction for the Pro Wrestling NOAH star following New Japan’s big weekend. January is usually when contracts in New Japan expire. We’ve heard about David Finlay, Gabe Kidd, and Kevin Knight’s contract coming to an end, but it sounds like KENTA’s might’ve been another name on that list.
KENTA actually got his start in Pro Wrestling NOAH. He came into the promotion in 2000 and became one of the most buzzed about names in Japan during his time. KENTA left NOAH in 2014, though he did wrestle for the promotion at 20th Anniversary Show while he was still under WWE contract. Several years later, he would team up with Marufuji to challenge for the GHC Tag Team titles at New Year 2023. The duo failed to beat Takashi Sugiura and Satoshi Kojima for the belts.
The announcement doesn’t state the length of KENTA’s contract, but it’s safe to say that he’s officially done with New Japan Pro-Wrestling for the time being. There didn’t seem to be big plans brewing for KENTA and since he’s pretty much done everything there is to do in the mid-card and tag team scene, then it’s not too surprising that he opted to leave. KENTA just teamed with Kenoh to fight Kaito Kiyomiya and Shuhei Taniguchi at NOAH’s Star Navigation Premium in the Jr. Tag League on Feb. 11. Him and Kenoh picked up the victory within 18 minutes. There’s no word on whether The Bullet Club will address KENTA’s exit or not.