Japan is often identified as the epicenter for professional wrestling. Puroresu, as it is fondly called in Japan (pro – puro, wrestling – resu) has produced some of the biggest names in the history of the industry.
From Mitsuharu Misawa to Jumbo Tsuruta, Japanese wrestlers have been known as innovators, and some of the finest wrestlers to ever step foot in a wrestling ring.
After finding great success in the land of the rising sun, some of these individuals moved to North America to compete in major organizations, including ECW, WCW and WWE. With WWE being the largest sports entertainment organization in the world, every wrestler wants to compete in the WWE at least for a brief period.
Today, we take a look at the ten best WWE wrestlers from Japan.
#10 Kenzo Suzuki
While Kenzo’s big break came in the United States, he became the only wrestler to win the Young Lion Cup twice during his stint with New Japan Pro Wrestling, defeating the future IWGP Champion and one of the biggest wrestling stars in the world today, Hiroshi Tanahashi.
Kenzo has worked for multiple organizations, including the likes of CMLL, AAA and Dragon Gate, but is best remembered for his stint with WWE.
Kenzo and his real life partner, Hiroko were initially sent to OVW, after which they were brought up to SmackDown. Kenzo, who initially played a villainous character, soon turned babyface, and won the World Tag Team Championship along with Rene Durpee.
Kenzo also unsuccessfully challenged the then United States Champion John Cena, and during this time, was involved in a memorable segment where he battle rapped the leader of CeNation.
Kenzo currently performs for All Japan Pro Wrestling, where he won the Gaora TV Championship and the tag team titles.
#9 Yoshi Tatsu
Yoshi Tatsu has been impressive since his return to Japan. Yoshi, who tried his hand in announcing while nursing his injury, also won the NEVER Openweight 6 – Man Tag Team Championship along with Elgin and Tanahashi.
While Yoshi is currently one of the most entertaining superstars on the New Japan roster, he wasn’t given enough opportunities to break through the ranks in WWE.
Yoshi was brought to ECW after spending a few months at Florida Championship Wrestling – which was later rebranded as NXT. Yoshi was involved in a couple of feuds before he was drafted to SmackDown.
Yoshi became a pro on the fifth season of NXT, but was soon relegated to appearing on Superstars. Yoshi competed in the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal at WrestleMania XXX, before he was eventually released by WWE.
#8 Taka Michinoku
Considered a legend in Japan, Michinoku was one of the best Junior Heavyweights during his time with AJPW and NJPW. After making a name for himself at FMW, he was brought to the United States by Paul Heyman, and later worked for Vince McMahon’s WWE as part of a working agreement between WWE and Michinoku Pro Wrestling.
Michinoku also became the first ever WWE Light Heavyweight Champion recognized by the company. After dropping the title, he along with Funaki formed Kae En Tai – a team of comedic jobbers, who got themselves over with the fans.
Michinoku was involved in some memorable skits – most famously for his badly lip synced “Indeed” promos.
Michinoku is also a former AJPW World Junior Heavyweight Champion, FMW Independent World Junior Heavyweight Champion and the winner of WWE Junior Light Heavyweight tournament.
#7 Tajiri
“The Japanese Buzzsaw” was known for his educated feet, and his quirky nature in WWE. A former WWE Cruiserweight Champion, Tajiri initially made a name for himself in the United States working for Paul Heyman’s ECW.
Tajiri was also a former WCW United States Champion and WWE Light Heavyweight Champion, during his tenure with the company.
Tajiri also formed an unlikely partnership with William Regal, winning the World Tag Team Championship along with the legend from Blackpool. Tajiri found success during his time with ECW, winning the ECW World Television Championship, and was one half of the ECW World Tag Team Champions.
After leaving WWE in late 2000s, Tajiri recently returned to the organization, and participated in the WWE Cruiserweight Classic.
#6 Ultimo Dragon
Ultimo is arguably one of the greatest Japanese legends in wrestling history. In mid 90s, Dragon held and defended a record ten concurrent championships! After competing for WCW, where he won the WCW Cruiserweight title, Ultimo Dragon was signed by WWE in 2003, expressing his desire to compete inside the Madison Square Garden and at WrestleMania.
While Dragon debuted inside MSG on an episode of SmackDown, his run with the company was rather uneventful. Dragon wasn’t able to recreate the kind of magic Rey Mysterio did upon his debut, and unfortunately, the greatest WrestleMania moment of Dragon’s lackluster WWE career came when he slipped during his entrance at WrestleMania 20!
#5 Tiger Mask
While various wrestlers competed as Tiger Mask, the original Tiger Mask – Tiger Mask I was portrayed by Satoru Sayama. Sayama was also considered to be one of the greatest Junior Heavyweights in professional wrestling history, and competed for New Japan Pro Wrestling till mid 80s.
In early 80s, Tiger Mask also competed for WWE, winning the WWE Junior Heavyweight Championship.
Sayama was also the only wrestler to have held the WWE Junior Heavyweight title and the NWA Junior Heavyweight title simultaneously. Sayama competed in what many believe to be one of the greatest matches in WWE history, against Dynamite Kid inside the Madison Square Garden.
Sayama also feuded with the likes of Bret Hart and Black Tiger, before AJPW bought the rights to the gimmick, and Mitsuharu Misawa started competing as Tiger Mask II.
#4 Asuka
Unbeknownst to most of WWE fans today, Asuka had earlier retired in 2006 due to chronic nephritis. However, she made her comeback a year and half later, and competed for various independent promotions before signing up with WWE NXT.
Asuka, who performed under the ring name Kana, won various accolades during her stint on the independents, winning titles in Pro Wrestling Wave and Smash to name a few.
Asuka is considered by many to be the best worker in the company today. Asuka is also the current NXT Women’s Champion, a title she won at NXT TakeOver: Dallas during the WrestleMania weekend, by defeating Bayley. Asuka is expected to be drafted to the main roster before the end of 2016.
#3 Hideo Itami
When WWE announced the signing of Kenta couple of years ago, he was unveiled in front of the Japanese fans in Osaka, and was considered to be one of the high profile signings in recent memory.
Hideo, who performed as Kenta, is one of the greatest Japanese wrestlers of all time, and was also synonymous with Pro Wrestling NOAH. During his time in Japan, he also won the GHC Heavyweight Championship and the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship.
While Hideo came to WWE with much fanfare, he couldn’t create much of an impact, thanks to a shoulder injury which forced him to sit on the sidelines for over a year. However, Hideo has since returned to in – ring competition, and expressed his desire to pick up where he left off, and his intentions to win the NXT Championship.
#2 Kota Ibushi
“The Golden Star” was the hottest free agent before agreeing to compete in CWC, and left New Japan Pro Wrestling earlier this year to participate in the Cruiserweight Classic. Ibushi is a multiple time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion, and won the prestigious Best of Super Juniors tournament in 2011, and put on a remarkable match against Shinsuke Nakamura at Wrestle Kingdom 9.
Ibushi came to WWE with a lot of expectations, and has already put on a couple of critically acclaimed matches against the likes of Cedric Alexander and more recently, Brian Kendrick during the WWE Cruiserweight Classic tournament.
It was also recently reported that Ibushi had signed an NXT contract, although Ibushi has since rubbished the rumors.
#1 Shinsuke Nakamura
“The King of Strong Style” made an emphatic debut in WWE, beating Sami Zayn during NXT TakeOver: Dallas, in a match that became an instant classic. Nakamura is considered to be one of, if not the best Japanese wrestler in the world today, and was a former IWGP Intercontinental Champion.
Nakamura also won the IWGP Heavyweight Championship on three different occasions, and had been linked with a move to the United States for quite some time.
Nakamura has already put on instant classics on NXT, against the likes of Finn Balor and Samoa Joe. Nakamura recently won the NXT Championship during NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn II, by beating Joe.
Shinsuke is arguably the biggest acquisition in NXT history, and is expected to make his main roster debut in the next couple of months.
One of Samoa Joe's colleagues had harsh words for him HERE
