After being a mainstay for the Pro Wrestling NOAH promotion where he seized GHC Junior Heavyweight and Heavyweight gold, KENTA sought to test himself in America for five years. On his return to Japan in 2019, his long time friend Katsuyori Shibata pushed for KENTA to join NJPW, and at Dominion on June 9, he made his first appearance, vowing to be part of the G1 Climax. 

KENTA started strongly in the G1, but he was met with boos from a crowd who didn’t see KENTA as one of their own. On the last night of the G1, he was to tag with Tomohiro Ishii and YOSHI-HASHI against a BULLET CLUB trio of Bad Luck Fale, Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa. Midway through the match however, he refused to tag Ishii and dropped off the apron. A Go2Sleep to Ishii later, and KENTA had joined BULLET CLUB. 

KENTA had turned his back on his past, and his best friend Shibata. A furious Shibata tried to get answers from KENTA, only to be badly beaten by the BULLET CLUB, including its newest member. KENTA would now embrace the hate of the crowd moving forward, and his new BULLET CLUB brothers. GoD interference played a huge part in his success days later in London, as on August 31 at Royal Quest, KENTA pinned Tomohiro Ishii to become NEVER Openweight Champion.