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| Might fans see this presence in a NXT/WWE ring sooner rather than later? Photo Credit: Scott Finkelstein |
Three months ago, KENTA pledged lukewarm support for staying in Pro Wrestling NOAH after an extended tryout with WWE in Florida. Now, he's announced his resignation from the company, with his final match scheduled for May 17. Rumors are swirling that he's on his way to WWE (with one stating that if he's signed, it'll be at Daniel Bryan's recommendation), but as of right now, nothing is official. Resigning from NOAH indicates that a WWE signing could happen, because NOAH and New Japan have done talent sharing deals in the past, most notably with Kota Ibushi. As of right now, every rumor is just that, a rumor.
With KENTA and Prince Devitt rumored to be on WWE's radar, the whispered-about cruiserweight show for The Network seems to be more Legends House than rebranding-RAW-or-Smackdown-as-Nitro in terms of imminence for the company. That option is certainly possible, but I wonder if WWE is gearing up to have more of a Japanese presence. I am not sure how a cultural wrestling invasion would go over in the company, but never count out Vince McMahon from trying to conquer new territory. I am not saying I'd support such an endeavor, because the last thing the wrestling world needs is for WWE to pillage the puroresu scene like it has the lucha scene in Mexico. But the man didn't get a reputation as a megalomaniac for nothing...