Which WWE Wrestlers

[Guest Your Olympic Hero]

If the WWE went on a tour of Japan, which WWE wrestlers do you think would best adapt the the Japanese style?

 

I would say Benoit, Jericho, Regal, Guerrero, Misterio, Tajiri, Funaki, and maybe some of the other cruisers... but that's about it.

 

I know quite a few of them could stand a few months in Japan, though.

[Guest XdojimeX]

"If the WWE went on a tour of Japan, which WWE wrestlers do you think would best adapt the the Japanese style?

 

I would say Benoit, Jericho, Regal, Guerrero, Misterio, Tajiri, Funaki, and maybe some of the other cruisers... but that's about it.

 

I know quite a few of them could stand a few months in Japan, though."

 

Actually all of the above have worked Japan before...or maybe that's why you picked them.

 

I dunno, with age/injuries adding up, and the WWE programming dulling their working instincts over the years.

Of the eight I only think Benoit and Guerrero (maybe Tajiri) would have anything remotely close to their old forms in those styles if they toured these days. Guerrero looked pretty decent during his "rehab" stint last March in NJ.

 

I think Angle would be fun in New Japan though, and a good learning experiance for him. Maybe Knoble too.

[Guest Vyce]

Naturally, those who have had success there in the past would probably find some measure of success there again - Benoit, Jericho, Guerrero, etc.

 

I can also see a guy with great talent like Angle going places.

 

But really, style doesn't matter much. All you really need is the name. Hogan had success in Japan, as has Scott Hall. Neither of them are exactly workrate champions. Guys like The Rock (or even Austin, if he ever wrestles again) would probably be huge overseas like they are here.

[Guest BionicRedneck]

Personally i think basically anyone in the WWE would fare well. I mean look at Scott Norton or Giant Silva both absolutely suck, and aren't even big names, yet Norton has won the IWGP Heavyweight title.

[Guest Your Olympic Hero]

Norton may suck but he can still powerbomb the hell out of you.

[Guest Black Tiger]

Norton was good until 1995 or so,

[Guest HBK16]

Benoit would go the best in Japan. Isn't he only 1 of two Americans who graduated from the New Japan dojo?

[Guest BionicRedneck]

"Norton was good until 1995 or so"

 

No, he wasn't.

[Guest HartFan86]

How about Angle?

[Guest godthedog]

aside from the guys who have already worked in japan, i think angle easily, since a)he's a quick learner, and b)he doesn't mind working stiff.

[Guest Zack Malibu]

Other than those with previous experience:

 

Kurt Angle

Jamie Knoble

Hardcore Holly

[Guest Black Tiger]

Has Kidman ever wrestled in Japan? I know NJPW had him booked for the BOSJ then WCW said they couldn't use him and replaced him with Kid Romeo.

 

Guys like Maven, Randy Orton, Batista, John Cena, etc could really benefit from Japanese experience.

[Guest UltimateWarrior]

Just one good tour for Angle.

[Guest TheSmarkzone]

Angle would rock in Japan.

[Guest wolverine]

"Angle would rock in Japan."

 

Where in Japan exactly? This is like saying Jun Akiyama would rock in the United States.

[Guest Black Tiger]

I would SO mark out for Angle vs Nagata, Kidman vs Kanemoto, and Tajiri vs Tanaka.

[Guest Your Olympic Hero]

Where in Japan exactly? This is like saying Jun Akiyama would rock in the United States.

Akiyama would ONLY rock in Virginia, so that way I could go watch him.

 

Also, I could see Hardcore Holly teaming up with Mike Barton (Bart Gunn) again in Japan. They weren't bad as the New Midnight Express.

[Guest Trivia247]

Imagine Angle's "Angle" in japan for being a Heel, he probably talk about the Atomic Bombs we dropped on them, he come in with Adam Bomb style tights.

[Guest TheyCallMeMark]

That would be pretty offensive~!

 

I'd enjoy it though.

[Guest NoSelfWorth]

Angle would be great for Japan.

[Guest Hogan Made Wrestling]

Depends what you mean by "fare well". In terms of getting pushed/crowd reaction, Angle and the Rock would do the best.

 

1. Angle has a legit "shooter" background which would make him over from the start and also reward him with a massive blowjob push from Inoki.

 

2. The Rock is a huge star and is well-known in Japan.

 

I think people often overrate how well guys like Benoit, Jericho, etc. would do in Japan. When these guys were in Japan they were juniors wrestlers, and so they would not (at least initially) have the credibility as main eventers there. The fact is, even top juniors guys like Liger are seen as "below" the main event heavyweights, for the most part, at least in the prevalent booking (Inoki-style).

[Guest RickyChosyu]

Depends what you mean by "fare well". In terms of getting pushed/crowd reaction, Angle and the Rock would do the best.

 

1. Angle has a legit "shooter" background which would make him over from the start and also reward him with a massive blowjob push from Inoki.

 

2. The Rock is a huge star and is well-known in Japan.

 

I think people often overrate how well guys like Benoit, Jericho, etc. would do in Japan. When these guys were in Japan they were juniors wrestlers, and so they would not (at least initially) have the credibility as main eventers there. The fact is, even top juniors guys like Liger are seen as "below" the main event heavyweights, for the most part, at least in the prevalent booking (Inoki-style).

Benoit breifly returned to NJ in 2000 and faced Tenzan at the Tokyo Dome. I realize it was only a one time thing, and I'm not sure if it was billed as a "junior-heavyweight Vs. heavyweight" match, but the fact that NJ had the confidence in him to put him against a guy they, at one point, nearly gave the IWGP heavyweight title to, is quite something. Benoit was one of the corner-stones of the Jr. division for a long time, basically on the levle of Liger. I know even Liger is looked at as "lower" but he is far more respected by fans than 90% of the NJ roster, and I think Benoit still has a lot of the same admiration from the fans. Again, I don't know if this would translate into a succesfull heavyweight push, but it's worth noting.

 

As for Jericho, he was only prominant in WAR, and while he did have some success there, it was hardly enough to generate any type of lasting reputation for him, other than that of a junior who faced Ultimo a few times and was in one of the J cups. Still, he did face the Rock at the last WWF show run in Japan, which had to elevate him greatly in the fans eyes, seeing as Rock is a huge star there. I agree with you about Angle, though. Not only does he have a huge natural charisma, but he's new to Japan, has a very strong shoot back ground, and is very distinctly american with his gimick, which is a pretty popular trend in Japan. Rock, of course, would be huge as well.

[Guest deadbeater]

How about Molly and Jazz? Molly has the combination of skills, power and puroresu experience, facing Malia Hosaka and the others early in her career, to be dangerous anywhere in the world. She will most joyfully adapt quickly, knowing that for the first time in years she doesn't have to carry a match all by herself.

 

Jazz has the raw power and strength that reminds one of Reggie Bennett, but she has some excellent mat skills too.

[Guest PlatypusFool]

Good point, with a bit of training in the Joshi style, Molly could be a good addition.

[Guest saturnmark4life]

i think japan could do a world of good for undertaker, if he's reduced to mainly matwork.

[Guest Your Olympic Hero]

I think Rock vs. Muto (dressed in his Great Muta getup) would be a HUGE draw in Japan.

[Guest PlatypusFool]

But it ain't gonna happen (see article posted on the main page of puroresupower.com for more).

[Guest Ravenbomb]

what aboot RVD? Or Booker T?

[Guest BionicRedneck]

RVD has wrestled for AJPW before.

 

I dont think Booker T would really fit.

[Guest RickyChosyu]

RVD has wrestled for AJPW before.

 

I dont think Booker T would really fit.

As if RVD did.