5 Hideo Itami dream matches we will never get to see in WWE

Hideo Itami was one of WWE's most high-profile signings. He was signed to WWE after wrestling in promotions such as Ring of Honor and Pro Wrestling Noah in 2014 to their NXT brand.

In NXT, he had great matches with the likes of Finn Balor, Bobby Roode, Kassius Ohno, Aleister Black, and Tyler Breeze. However, as soon as it would look like he was gaining momentum, he would suffer an injury.

After suffering two major injuries, he would have one last major run in NXT before being called up to 205 Live. While it took a while for Itami to gain some momentum, he would soon gain his stride on 205 Live.

He had great matches with the likes of Gran Metalik, Lince Dorado, Roderick Strong, Mustafa Ali, Cedric Alexander, and Akira Tozawa. He would also challenge for the Cruiserweight Championship on two separate occasions.

Hideo Itami has now been granted his release and is no longer a part of WWE. His last match in the company was against his fellow countryman Akira Tozawa on an episode of 205 Live in a losing effort.

Hideo had a chance to be a true star in WWE and it is unfortunate that there are several dream matches that we will never be able to see. If WWE had moved him to Raw or SmackDown Live, we might have eventually been able to see one of these matches.

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#5 Hideo Itami vs Kevin Owens

Hideo Itami and Kevin Owens along with former NXT Champions

WWE was reportedly planning on having Hideo Itami dethroning Kevin Owens for the NXT Championship at the Beast in the East special back in 2015.

However, he suffered an injury (it was teased that Kevin Owens is the one who injured him). Unfortunately, by the time Hideo was cleared to return from injury, Owens was already on the main roster.

Therefore, we never got to see Hideo attempt to get revenge on Owens after he brutally attacked him. The two can definitely have a great match that would tell a great story.

There can be several innovative counters including a Pop Up Powerbomb into a Running Knee, a GTS 2.0 into a DDT, and a Roundhouse Kick into an Apron Powerbomb that would make this match great.

#4 Hideo Itami vs Shinsuke Nakamura

These are two of Japan's top superstars.

Hideo Itami and Shinsuke Nakamura are similar in that both superstars were top superstars that came from Japan and originally wrestled in NXT. However, while Itami floundered, Shinsuke Nakamura shone.

The Artist became NXT Champion while Hideo was unfortunately never able to become NXT Champion. If he was not injured during the time period that Nakamura was champion, it must be presumed that this match would have happened at some point.

It is unfortunate that we never got to see this match as it would have been great. Both superstars have similar styles as both superstars rely on kicks and other types of strikes.

They differ in the fact that Hideo Itami relies on power moves like the Avalanche Falcon Arrow and the Fisherman's Suplex while Shinsuke Nakamura relies on submissions like the Flying Cross Armbar and the Triangle Choke.

This would have been a great match as both superstars have a great deal of respect for each other and would certainly steal the show.

#3 Hideo Itami vs AJ Styles

AJ Styles and Hideo Itami would have had a great match.

Hideo Itami and AJ Styles are both similar in that both came from promotions in Japan. However, while AJ Styles came from New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) and Hideo Itami came from Pro Wrestling Noah.

Hideo also spent an extensive amount of time in NXT before moving to 205 Live while Styles immediately went to the main roster. Due to the long amount of time that he spent in NXT and 205 Live, he was never able to move to Monday Night Raw or SmackDown Live.

Therefore, Hideo was never able to face AJ Styles. The two would have had a great match as Itami has had great matches with high-flying, technical wrestlers like Finn Balor while Styles has had great matches with striking specialists like Rusev and Shinsuke Nakamura.

There can be several innovative counters in this match including a Phenomenal Forearm into a GTS and a GTS 2.0 into a brainbuster that would make this match amazing.

#2 Hideo Itami vs Seth Rollins

Seth Rollins is The Man.

Seth Rollins and Hideo Itami have both spent extensive time on NXT as Rollins was the first ever NXT Champion while Itami spent about three years in NXT.

The two have also faced off in the past before they joined WWE as Kenta and Tyler Black. Both superstars are incredibly talented in-ring performers and can tell a great story in the ring together.

Both superstars also use the Falcon Arrow which would make the match amazing. Hideo Itami has had great matches with high fliers like Oney Lorcan and Mustafa Ali while Seth Rollins has had great matches with strikers like Finn Balor and Cesaro.

Some impressive counters can include the Curb Stomp into the GTS, the GTS 2.0 into the Falcon Arrow, and the Falcon Arrow into the Falcon Arrow would make this match one for the ages.

#1 Hideo Itami vs Daniel Bryan

Hideo Itami and Daniel Bryan have faced off in the past.

Hideo Itami and Daniel Bryan were two of the most skilled strikers in all of WWE. It is a true shame that they have never gotten to face off with each other in WWE because they have quite the history with each other.

In fact, Daniel Bryan claims that Itami is the reason he cannot hear out of his left ear. Bryan has also adapted one of Hideo's old moves (a diving knee drop to the back of the neck of an opponent draped on the top rope) so there is clearly a lot of respect between the two superstars.

Both superstars are either cruiserweight size or near cruiserweight size which makes them even more similar. Hideo Itami has had great messages with specialists of strikes and submissions like Aleister Black and Tyler Breeze.

Daniel Bryan has also had great matches with strikers like AJ Styles and Cesaro. Some impressive counters that can be in a match could be the GTS into the Yes Lock, the Falcon Arrow into a Cross Armbar, and a Running Knee into a Running Knee.