Opinion: Why Hideo Itami's departure will be a huge setback for WWE's future plans in Japan

It was reported on Tuesday that former NXT and current 205 Live superstar Hideo Itami has asked for his release from the company. Itami is reportedly done with the company and his match against Akira Tozava on this week's 205 Live was his last under the company.

There have been conflicting reports about his current contract status with a few reports suggesting that WWE has granted him his release while others saying he is yet to be granted his release.

For those unaware, Hideo Itami, formerly known as KENTA, was one of the biggest high-profile signings for the WWE in the past few years.

The Japanese star was a huge name in the independent circuit having classic matches against the likes of Daniel Bryan, Low Ki, and Samoa Joe.

He was the biggest star to have come out of Pro Wrestling Noah, an independent Japanese Promotion.

When KENTA signed with the company in 2014, many thought that he was going to be the 'next big thing' and they couldn't have been wrong.

Itami's style never really translated well inside the WWE umbrella as he had to tone down his wrestling, which was mostly centered around hard strikes and stiff kicks, and mold it into WWE's PG style, which hurt his in-ring performance to a large extent.

For instance, Itami couldn't do his patented GTS and the Running Knee, as they were already used by superstars like CM Punk and Daniel Bryan.

In addition to that, Itami suffered a couple of very nasty injuries during his time in the WWE, which meant that he had to spend a majority of his WWE whilst being on shelf rehabbing.

Fans felt that Itami was being demoted when the company announced that he will be joining 205 Live in November 2017. Many felt that a Superstar of Itami's repute deserved better but the company never really believed in Itami.

Itami's departure is great news for the independent circuit as the former NXT Superstar has a lot to offer to the business.

Itami will most likely be heading back to his home promotion, Pro Wrestling Noah. Promotions like NJPW, ROH, and AEW will be keeping a close eye on KENTA, once he becomes a free agent

While the departure of Itami might not be that big of a blow to the WWE as Dean Ambrose, it will severely hamper the company's prospects of signing big names from the Land of the Rising Sun in the near future.

WWE's uninspiring booking of Shinsuke Nakamura and Asuka has been one of the biggest talking points of 2018.

While the company has partly-redeemed itself by having Asuka win the SmackDown Women's Championship at TLC, Nakamura's main roster has been a trainwreck so far and it is highly unlikely that the former United States Champion will re-sign with the WWE.

With WWE reportedly looking to sign Kushida once his New Japan contract expires and their plans of branching out NXT to newer shores (Japan being one of the biggest territories in all of professional wrestling), Itami's departure and his treatment in the company could be a huge deterrent for the former IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion.

Japan is home some of the talented stars in professional wrestling and WWE's ill-treatment of some of it's biggest Japanese signings could spell the end for the company in Japan. (H/T- SESCOOPS)

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in the article belong to the writer and doesn't necessarily represent Sportskeeda's stand.