NXT Superstar Hideo Itami wins WrestleMania Axxess tournament for a spot in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal

Hideo Itami reacts to his impending WrestleMania debut

Watch Corey Graves' exclusive interview with NXT Superstar Hideo Itami, the new Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal entrant who punched his ticket to WrestleMania by winning the Axxess NXT Tournament.

SAN JOSE, Calif. Hideo Itami is going to WrestleMania. Though he’s only been in WWE NXT — and America — for six months, the Japanese sensation has made an immediate impact since arriving. It was no different at the first session of WrestleMania Axxess tonight, where Itami won a four-man tournament to earn a spot in the prestigious Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal this Sunday at WrestleMania.

See photos of the awesome tournament action at Axxess

Itami defeated former NXT Champion Adrian Neville in the semi-finals of the tournament. That win earned the Japanese star a spot in the finals against his friend and occasional tag team partner Finn Bálor, who beat Tyler Breeze in the other semi-final match. It was the first time the two friends met since they clashed in the semi-finals of an NXT Championship No. 1 Contender’s Tournament, where Bálor emerged victorious.

Itami and Bálor had WWE fans at Axxess swarming around the ring to catch a glimpse of a high-octane struggle. In the end, the Japanese Superstar put his friend away with a running dropkick to punch his ticket to WrestleMania. The magnitude of this opportunity isn’t lost on Itami. He almost couldn’t believe that he was heading to The Show of Shows.

Watch Hideo Itami in action during the WrestleMania Kickoff on WWE Network

”I’m not dreaming? This is real?,” an exhausted Itami asked Corey Graves in a WWE.com exclusive interview.

And if the big win wasn’t enough, Itami was joined by a very special guest to celebrate his victory in the ring. WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2015 Inductee Tatsumi Fujinami entered the Axxess arena to raise Itami’s arm in victory.

“He is a legend in Japanese wrestling,” Itami said. “I was very honored. Very honored.”

After letting the magnitude of the moment set in, Itami turned his attention to Sunday night and the prestigious over-the-top-rope affair.

“I’m not finished, “ he declared. “The Battle Royal? I’m going to win.”

How will Hideo Itami fare in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal? Find out this Sunday during the two-hour WrestleMania 31 Kickoff, live on WWE Network at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT!

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