Hideo Itami Asks For WWE Release

[cero2k]

Source: fightful.com

The hits keep on coming for WWE. Hideo Itami has asked for his WWE release.

In weeks following Mike and Maria Kanellis, The Revival, and Dean Ambrose all informing WWE of their desires to leave the company, FightfulWrestling.com has learned that Hideo Itami asked for his WWE release this week. He finished up on Tuesday night's episode of 205 Live in a losing effort to Akira Tozawa. The talk backstage was that Itami will actually be granted his release, pending a 90-day no compete clause.

Fightful was told that Itami, much like the other wrestlers who had asked for a release was unsatisfied creatively. Outside of a WrestleMania

Itami made his NXT debut on September 11, 2014 at NXT TakeOver: Fatal 4-Way when he was introduced to the crowd by NXT General Manager William Regal. He would go on to team with Finn Balor in a feud with The Ascension before feuding with Tyler Breeze throughout early 2015.

Itami was entered into the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal at WrestleMania 31 after defeating Neville and Balor in a NXT tournament at WrestleMania Axxess.

His NXT career was derailed in May 2015 when he suffered a shoulder injury that kept him out of action until June 2016. Four months after his return, he suffered a neck injury that kept him out of action until April 2017.

Upon returning to the brand, Itami feuded with Bobby Roode over the NXT World Title. Itami would go on to feud with Kassius Ohno and Aleister Black before getting lost in the shuffle at the end of 2017. On November 21, 2017, it was announced that he would be part of the 205 Live brand. Itami made his main roster debut on the December 18, 2017 episode of Raw, helping Balor against Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel.

Itami entered the 2017 Cruiserweight Championship tournament but was defeated by Roderick Strong in the first round. He would wrap up his WWE career by eating the pinfall in Sunday's 4-way Royal Rumble Cruiserweight Title match to Buddy Murphy, and losing to Tozawa Tuesday night.

[cero2k]

[Big Red Machine]

Well f*ck.

[Serujuunin]

Can’t say I’m surprised, but a lot of these names make me really sad.

I’m just waiting for that one to come that’s going to break me as a WWE fan.

[Big Red Machine]

Fiightful and PWInsider are both reporting that he has been granted his release.

[cero2k]

I'm just surprised it took so long.

KENTA FOR THE G1 CLIMAX! Book it Meij!

[cero2k]

Can’t say I’m surprised, but a lot of these names make me really sad.

I’m just waiting for that one to come that’s going to break me as a WWE fan.

well, Balor took a beating on sunday, and another on monday, be careful what you say out loud

or Nakamura losing the title two days after winning it, i don't know what or who to believe anymore

[KILLdozer]

Can’t say I’m surprised, but a lot of these names make me really sad.

I’m just waiting for that one to come that’s going to break me as a WWE fan.

Oh stop it!

[XIV]

As long as WWE has the 10 people they put in their shows in various combinations, they won’t be too bothered.

Mike Bennett needs to be elsewhere. His career has derailed hard since going to WWE.

The Revival are floundering, much like Gallows and Anderson, one of the world’s best Tag teams consistently jobbing out to shorter term Tag team or not having stories that fit who they are.

It has been a while since Nakamura has been used properly (the AJ feud would be the last). Why they turned him heel is still a mystery to me.

If I was Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn or anyone else who constantly sits on the periphery and my contract was coming up? I’d look elsewhere.

Whilst AEW has buying power, there is a lot of work out there with other companies like ROH, NJPW etc. that is well paid and less demanding than a WWE schedule. The scope of wrestling is changing and wrestlers don’t have to stomach bad storylines and creative for a good paycheck anymore.

[Bob-O]

Nakamura losing the title two days after winning it, i don't know what or who to believe anymore

[cero2k]

Nakamura losing the title two days after winning it, i don't know what or who to believe anymore

woman crush wednesday?

[Serujuunin]

Can’t say I’m surprised, but a lot of these names make me really sad.

I’m just waiting for that one to come that’s going to break me as a WWE fan.

well, Balor took a beating on sunday, and another on monday, be careful what you say out loud

or Nakamura losing the title two days after winning it, i don't know what or who to believe anymore

I don’t necessarily mean Finn. At this point it’s not about him, but about the lack of faith in the WWE. I don’t know who it would be, but there’s going to be that one that just makes me lose total faith.

At least with some of the names we’ve kept so far, the fact that they’re still around means things can change. But I suspect we will be hearing more as they just drop like flies. I’ve already I think come to grips with Finn leaving, and Nakamura, but it just makes me so sad. I wouldn’t honestly be surprised if we lost Joe either, and I’m sure if I sat down and thought about it there would be a ton of names.

Good time to be a wrestler though. You can be literally anywhere you want to be!