KENTA immediately signed with New Japan Pro Wrestling upon leaving WWE, and made his return at the Dominion event last year. He was released from the company last February, and while it was reported at the time that he was looking to simply return to Japan, it seems there's more to the story than meets the eye.
Talking to Sports Illustrated, the man once known as Hideo Itami explained why being part of WWE proved to be the most frustrating five years of his life.
"I’ve felt in my heart that the five years I spent in WWE were the most frustrating days of my life," he explained. "I’ve talked about this, but I’ll always remember the humiliation in America. Being here reminds me of that regret. And when you’re not good, you tell yourself that. That is what inspires me."
Clearly, he did not enjoy his time with WWE, but his run was doomed from the start. The company made a huge deal out of signing him, and just as he was starting to find his footing in NXT, he was injured. Nothing was the same after that and he somehow ended up being part of 205 Live, WWE's worst show.
Are you glad KENTA is back in NJPW?