Hideo Itami trolls CM Punk before NXT TakeOver: Chicago

Chicago may be home to CM Punk, but Hideo Itami took a dig at the former WWE superstar turned UFC fighter about Punk’s use of his finisher, the GTS.

Hideo Itami and CM Punk, whether they like it or not, have always had a natural feud over the use of the Go 2 Sleep, or the GTS, finisher that they both use.

Punk had plenty of big moments in the WWE with the finishing move, but Itami can say he did it first. Itami, the originator of the GTS back in his time in Japan, has gone after Punk before for the former WWE champion’s version of the move, but took an extra dig on Twitter today.

Itami, leading up to NXT’s next big WWE Network special, made sure to emphasize that it was time for the real GTS to make its home in Chicago, the site of the next NXT TakeOver event.

This definitely isn’t the first time that Itami has brought up Punk using his move, but this instance was far less provoked. Back in 2015, Itami chimed in on Punk’s conversation with one of the Young Bucks, Matt Jackson, when Jackson accused him of stealing moves. Punk said he would never steal someone’s finisher, which Itami got a chuckle out of.

Itami, in his time with NXT, has brought the GTS back to a WWE ring, and gets a far bigger pop for the move than Punk did, even during Punk’s historic match with John Cena in Chicago at Money in the Bank back in 2011. For an example, just listen to the crowd when Itami hits the GTS on Austin Aries back at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn II

If Itami uses the move in his match with Bobby Roode for the NXT title at TakeOver, who knows what the reaction will be? Fans could either side with their long time Cult of Personality and boo Itami for “using Punk’s move”, or could pop like crazy for being able to see the move as it was originally created.

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Either way, Itami definitely put Punk to sleep with his shot at the UFC star on Twitter, and for that he gets some props.