Hideo Itami suffered another setback on his shoulder injury and he could be out for several more months. (Photo : Twitter/@WWENXT)
Hideo Itami has been out of action since last year due to a shoulder injury and it looks like he won't be back in the ring very soon. According to the recent injury update, Itami suffered another setback and could be out for another few months.
The 35-year-old Japanese superstar was signed by the WWE in 2014 and he immediately made an impact in NXT. He was scheduled to win the NXT championship in 2015 but his injury caused him to miss his chance and his push was given to Finn Balor.
Itami underwent surgery to repair a torn left rotator cuff in May 2015 and doctors expected him to be sidelined for about six months. However, he suffered complications on his surgically-repaired shoulder in January and he had another surgery to correct it.
The former superstar known as KENTA teased fans on Twitter by posting the words "see you soon." Many thought that it was a sign of his return but Triple H revealed in a conference call via Uproxx that Itami is still a "few months away."
"Hideo had some issues with scar tissue along the way and some mobility issues, and when he returns, I want him to be a healthy return and a full return. Not a, almost, kind of was ready to return," Triple H said.
It is certainly heartbreaking for Itami and his fans that he has not recovered well from his shoulder injury. Many are excited about a dream match between him and Shinsuke Nakamura that has never happened in Japan.
According to Cageside Seats, Itami is close to returning, contradictory to the information given by Triple H. It is very likely that The Game did not want to give away the return of Itami just to keep it a surprise for many.
The landscape of NXT has changed a lot since Itami's injury with Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, Neville and Tyler Breeze already getting called up. Samoa Joe, Shinsuke Nakamura, Finn Balor and Austin Aries may also be making their way to the main roster as part of the WWE draft in July.
Nonetheless, the WWE is still adding names to the NXT roster by signing talents from other wrestling promotions. Veteran wrestlers like Bobby Roode and Eric Young are close to a WWE contract while two more ROH stars, Moose and Roderick Strong, may be on their way after deals expire in the coming weeks.
Check out the video below for the kayfabe attack on Itami to write him out of television.
