Update on KENTA Possibly Coming to WWE, His Farewell In Japan, When He Will Be Free

[Dale]

- As noted, top Japanese star KENTA is leaving Pro Wrestling NOAH and speculation is that he's headed to WWE after working an informal tryout earlier this year.

KENTA spoke to media in Japan and said that he's beginning a new challenge in his life at 33 years old. His NOAH contract expired on April 30th but he will work two show on a per-show deal - May 3rd for NOAH and then his farewell show on May 17th.

It's still not confirmed that KENTA is joining WWE but most believe that to be the case. There's speculation that he could join New Japan Pro Wrestling as well.

WWE issued this response to F4Wonline.com when asked about KENTA coming in:

"Unfortunately, we do not have any further information to share at this time. We will keep you posted if/when we have any news on him."

Good, bad or indifferent on this news? The name is familiar but i've never watched him so..

 

[Chris]

He's good, and he's been around American wrestling enough that the transition wouldn't be too hard. I can't see him ever getting too popular other than a mid card run though.

 

[Keith]

It would be a good signing with his level of experience and talent in the ring, just hope he is given the right part.

 

[AZUCAR!]

I don't think he'd be leaving NOAH if he wasn't guaranteed to bypass NXT and go straight to the roster imo.

But good luck to him if he's going to WWE. He'll be a loss for NOAH for sure.

 

[Chris]

I don't think anyone bypasses NXT completely after the Sin Cara debacle. He may not be there for long, but he won't go straight to the main roster.

 

[Deezy]

Can't do half his move set that got him over because it was liberally ripped off by CM Punk.

 

[Tapout]

I've never cared for Japanese wrestling so I've never bothered to watch any of stuff. Can't make much a judgment except I hope he isn't brought in with a lot of hype to fizzle out.

 

[Rated R Superstar]

His name pops up a lot when people talk about Japanese wrestling. So I'd be pretty excited to see what he can do.

 

[Weez]

lol Give KENTA a straight edge gimmick and be done with it. Maybe ppl won't notice?

Certainly won't in the ring.. lol

 

[The Cork]

Japs won't ever get over in America, they all look and sound the same so nobody stands out.

Plus they all look transgender lesbians, which makes it hard to take them srs.

 

[Gimmick]

So much casual racism in one post. Good to see ya back, Cork.

 

[Chris]

So much casual racism in one post. Good to see ya back, Cork.

To be fair, he's right though. Tajiri is the only Japanese guy to be anywhere near over in recent memory and that was mainly because of his comedy with Regal. Muta is the only one to ever really get over in the States, and that was only when he had the face paint in the mist to distinguish himself.

 

[Gimmick]

I wouldn't put that down to them "all looking the same" though. Tajiri and Muta did well for the type of roll they were in, I don't think WWE really wanted or expected them to achieve anything other than mid card success. At least Tajiri anyway, I don't know enough about Muta to know what was expected of him when he wrestled in WCW.

KENTA in WWE could easily work, it'd just depend on whether if WWE would want to really push him and if they fans would take to him. If it weren't to work out for him it'd have nothing to do with Japanese people supposedly looking the same. That's just ignorant and absurd.

 

[Deezy]

I wouldn't put that down to them "all looking the same" though. Tajiri and Muta did well for the type of roll they were in, I don't think WWE really wanted or expected them to achieve anything other than mid card success. At least Tajiri anyway, I don't know enough about Muta to know what was expected of him when he wrestled in WCW.

KENTA in WWE could easily work, it'd just depend on whether if WWE would want to really push him and if they fans would take to him. If it weren't to work out for him it'd have nothing to do with Japanese people supposedly looking the same. That's just ignorant and absurd.

Tajiri had Regal and Muta had Gary Hart talking for them, if they don't speak English, they don't get over. Being a good wrestler isn't the end all, be all of professional wrestling. You can't get people to give a shit about you, just because you can wrestle.

Let's see how many Japanese wrestlers went stateside and didn't get over? Tenryu, one of the biggest stars in Japan, didn't get over and he was pushed heavily in his babyface tag team. Inoki didn't do much either, a failed PPV match against Ali.

It's not ignorant to say that, it's being realistic.

 

[Chris]

It's not necessarily looking the same either, it's just that they all follow the same general formula once they get to the states. Most of them dress the same and have the same "martial arts kicks" gimmick and shit. I'm not saying it's the Japanese guys' faults, its booking too, but Cork has a point.