Some new updates on some recent steam-gaining puro to WWE rumors:
KENTA continues to be at the WWE Performance Center for a tryout. While he has not signed or been offered a WWE contract yet, some Japanese media report NOAH may be preparing as he’s gone, meaning a farewell event/match possibly in June. NOAH has never mentioned anything about this and he is still listed for upcoming events including Monday. As mentioned before, former WWE superstar and very respected veteran William Regal was reportedly behind KENTA being brought in. Keep in mind should a deal go through that, by WWE standards, KENTA is really small at about 180 pounds so he may not be used like he is in NOAH.
There are reports that Prince Devitt has been offered a WWE deal and is now deciding whether or not to accept it or stay with New Japan. His current NJPW contract has expired. Word is the decision may come down to whether or not Devitt wants to relocate from his native Ireland to the US (which he would have to do with WWE). WWE has had interest in him since Regal provided WWE Executive VP, Talent Relations Paul Levesque (Triple H) with a tape of the Devitt-Pac match from New Japan a couple years ago. This lef to WWE signing Pac, who now competes as Adrian Neville in NXT.
More as it becomes available.
UPDATE: KENTA reportedly will make an announcement about his career Monday in Japan. That coincides with the next NOAH event. More about that after it goes down.
UPDATE 2: According to a post presumably translated from Japanese to English, KENTA says he is not signing with WWE. It was just for “WWE training/workout” but not trying to get a contract. More or less just to have the experience of what it’s like being in WWE and the training that comes with it. So for now it sounds like he’ll be staying in NOAH.
UPDATE 3: SportsNavi reports KENTA made an appearance at Ikegami Temple in Tokyo today (where Rikidozan is said to be buried) before the NOAH event today and confirmed that he is not going to WWE and is staying with NOAH. The event was attended by several wrestlers including KENTA’s mentor, Kenta Kobashi, and Keiji Muto among other sports stars and drew a reported crowd of 13,000.
UPDATE 4: Devitt reportedly has a WWE offer on the table. A decision on whether or not to accept it is expected by the end of the month.
UPDATE 5: While not definite, the latest rumor is that Devitt is leaning towards staying in New Japan over going to WWE.
UPDATE 6: The matter may be settled once and for all this weekend-reports are there is a Devitt-Ryusuke Taguchi Loser Leaves Town match this weekend. WWE has extended a standing offer to Devitt so if he loses, it’s safe to say he may be WWE-bound.
UPDATE 7: I have not been able to verify rumors that Sunday’s Devitt-Taguchi match was a Loser Leaves Town match (it was billed as a last grudge match between the two and ending the rivalry. Devitt lost). Devitt, as of today (4/9), still has not signed with WWE. If he doesn’t sign anywhere in the coming weeks word is TNA may try to sign him. He is not on either of New Japan’s events this weekend (both are in Taiwan). We should know more next week as the next tour gets closer.
UPDATE 8: The latest rumors are as follows:
Devitt is done with New Japan. The standing offer from WWE remains as it has for some time now. For those curious, Devitt recently has been working events for various promotions in England & his native Ireland. According to pics on his official Facebook he also has been experimenting with different looks and face/body paint schemes that appear to be based on/inspired by comic book characters.
KENTA is still believed to be WWE-bound but it’s not definite yet and nothing will be annoucned until he finishes up with NOAH. That’s expected to be after the promotion’s 5/17 event but could also be as soon as tomorrow.