4 WWE Superstars who were released in 2019: Where are they now?

Tye Dillinger (Shawn Spears) with Peyton Royce and Hideo Itami (KENTA)
Tye Dillinger (Shawn Spears) with Peyton Royce and Hideo Itami (KENTA)

#3 Hideo Itami (KENTA)

Hideo Itami/KENTA
Hideo Itami/KENTA

Hideo Itami signed with WWE in 2014 and was assigned to NXT. He had a long feud with The Ascension which resulted in him teaming up with the debuting Finn Balor. Itami competed in several tournaments to become the number one contender for the NXT Championship but was unsuccessful on both occasions.

In 2015, he suffered an injury which caused him to be sidelined for over a year. He joined 205 Live in 2017, which ultimately led to his downfall. In January, he requested his release from WWE and his request was granted.

Why he was released: Itami requested his release from the company after a 5-year tenure. He competed on NXT, Raw and the 205 Live brands but failed to win a championship. After his release, he took to Twitter and said 'thank you.'

What he's been up to: Itami currently wrestles for New Japan Pro Wrestling under the ring name KENTA. He took part in the 2019 G1 Climax where he joined the Bullet Club stable.

Quick Links