Itami makes his return.
For the first time in four years, former GHC Heavyweight Champion "KENTA", now known as Hideo Itami made his return to Pro Wrestling NOAH today to face his longtime rival and former partner Naomichi Marufuji. This match was made official during a Pro Wrestling NOAH show this past June and was set to be a match in celebration of the 20 years that Marufuji has been in the pro wrestling business.
The two former GHC Heavyweight Champions clashed for the first time since their bout in 2013 at the NOAH 'Great Voyage' event. This go-around unlike their last bout, Marufuji was able to best Itami and get his revenge on the fourteen year NOAH veteran. Itami's last match prior to leaving Japan was a tag match in-which he teamed with Marufuji to take on Katsuhiko Nakajima and Takashi Sugiura and in Itami's return for the first time in four years, he stood toe-to-toe with the man who tagged with him in his sendoff to America. Itami was bested in return but nonetheless was able to once again compete where he put himself on the map to be recruited by the WWE.
Naomichi Marufuji recently did an interview with 'Boku-Pro' to promote this match with Hideo Itami and to read what the former 3-time GHC Heavyweight Champion had to say about KENTA, click here.
