Source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter

A big reason why WWE signed KENTA is because the WWE Network is expanding into Japan next year and they really have wanted a top Japanese star for that reason.
It's clear so far that WWE officials are not bringing KENTA in to fail and from an importance standpoint, it appears there is more to his signing than meets the eye.

KENTA is playing a big part in WWE's Japanese expansion as it was announced a few days ago that NXT, where KENTA will be going first, will start airing on J Sports, a Japanese satellite channel. NXT was added to the channel due KENTA being expected to be a regular there in just a few months.

KENTA is scheduled to arrive in Orlando this coming week and WWE has another press conference scheduled then.

For fucks sake if you wanted a big star why didn't you just poach Okada?

Okada turned them down i do believe.

Is... he retarded?

I googled it. Seems he had an offer from 2013. Very different circumstances. I'd think had he been offered now he'd have gone, but it really depends on what he wants.

He also had the title when he got that offer. Dont think he wanted to turn down what he was doing to come overseas.

WWE needs to have more international flavor if they want to call themselves a worldwide company. They've got some good talents, but the west is vastly over-represented. It'd be cool if they could get just 3-4 real solid Japanese talents who aren't treated like jokes.