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Over the years in WWE, we've seen superstars join the ranks from all around the world in promotions like IMPACT Wrestling, New Japan Pro-Wrestling and beyond. At times, some rivalries and matches are rehashed onto WWE television, reigniting feuds from years gone by.
WWE managed to turn them into their own, but added elements from past rivalries. There have been instances where feuds have continued outside of WWE, after they've been prominent in WWE storylines.
That being said, let's take a look at five matches that were contested in various promotions, not just WWE.
#5 Brock Lesnar vs. Kurt Angle happened again after they left WWE
Brock Lesnar and Kurt Angle had an incredible feud on SmackDown in 2003. They competed against each other at WrestleMania 19, and also in a famous sixty minute Ironman Match an episode of SmackDown. The WWE Championship was on the line in both of those matches.
Brock Lesnar abruptly left WWE in 2004 to pursue a career in the NFL that didn't work out for him. It resulted in Brock turning up in Japan and winning the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship on his first night with NJPW. During this time, WWE has been filing lawsuits against Lesnar for appearing in NJPW, when his terms leaving WWE didn't allow it.
On June 29th 2007, Brock Lesnar and Kurt Angle crossed paths in a champion vs. champion match. Brock Lesnar was the alleged 'proper' IWGP World Heavyweight Champion. Lesnar was stripped of the title due to visa issues, but continued to carry the title. Kurt Angle was also the TNA World Heavyweight Champion. The match took place at an Inoki Genome Federation event in Japan and ended with Kurt Angle earning the victory over Brock Lesnar.
#4 Bobby Lashley vs. Drew McIntyre happened after their initial runs with WWE
At WrestleMania 37, Bobby Lashley defeated Drew McIntyre to retain the WWE Championship. A few years before that match took place in 2016, Bobby Lashley and Drew McIntyre were fighting over the TNA World Heavyweight Championship in IMPACT Wrestling.
Both men had stints with WWE in the mid-2000's before departing for new pastures. Bobby Lashley quietly left WWE after an enormous push in 2005. Drew was released from his contract after a run with Heath Slater and Jinder Mahal as 3MB, even though he was picked as 'The Chosen One' by Vince McMahon when he debuted.
The match at IMPACT Wrestling saw interference from EC3, hitting McIntyre with a steel chair, before Lashley made McIntyre pass out to retain the TNA World Heavyweight Championship. This time, Lashley was on top of IMPACT Wrestling similar to how he is now on Monday Night RAW.
Drew McIntyre told DAZN about his past feud with Bobby Lashley:
"That’s wild to watch how far we’ve come. I hadn’t watched the match in a while. I need to watch it back to get any ideas of how to mess up Bobby at WrestleMania. I think for both of us at that point, if you asked us, we’d be like yeah, this is as good as we’re going to get. We’ve totally reached our potential. Then to watch the journeys we went on. They know how I feel these days, and I’m sure in a few years from now, we’ll be able to say that I look back at 2021 and realize I had so much further to go." Drew McIntyre said (h/t Pro Wrestling.net)
#3 AJ Styles vs. Samoa Joe took place in IMPACT Wrestling before WWE
AJ Styles and Samoa Joe first had matches in TNA/IMPACT Wrestling before winding up in WWE. They were a part of the X-Division, which was designated for high-flyers and those with exceptional ability. Some of the greatest matches in the history of IMPACT Wrestling have involved AJ Styles, Samoa Joe and AEW backstage worker Christopher Daniels.
Of course, AJ and Samoe Joe reignited their war in WWE, with Samoa Joe as the heel targeting AJ Styles' family in some of the most dastardly promos we have witnessed in some time.
AJ Styles told WWE commentator Corey Graves on the After The Bell podcast:
"There are so many things about [Samoa] Joe that are great. This guy always finds a way to do what he does best. In my personal opinion, he’s one of the best wrestlers I’ve ever seen. You have no idea how awesome he is. If you only knew how great he was with his kicks and punches and everything he does, it’s just brilliant." AJ Styles said (h/t 411mania.com)
#2 Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens faced each other before joining WWE
How many times have we seen these two go at in WWE over the last few years? Plenty. But they always deliver. Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens have had a rivalry in NXT, and multiple times on the main roster. They've even teamed up together, taking on Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon at the WrestleMania 34 pay-per-view.
Before they arrived in WWE, they were battling each other all over the world on the independent scene as El Generico and Kevin Steen. They became best friends in their early careers and have remained best friends every since.
Kevin Owens told Sky Sports in the UK about his first meeting with Sami Zayn:
"We first met at a random wrestling show back home in 2002 - and he annoyed me from the very beginning because he was so loud and bouncy! That's why we are more like brothers - I never asked to travel with him, I ever asked to be with him, we were just positioned together by default. Now that Sami and I are in WWE, I think we are going to be here for a long time and do great things." Kevin Owens said (h/t Sky Sports)
#1 AJ Styles faced Shinsuke Nakamura in Japan before joining WWE
Before their feud in WWE, AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura collided at New Japan Pro-Wrestling's Wrestle Kingdom 10 pay-per-view event in a dream match for the ages. Styles, who was leading The Bullet Club, faced Nakamura, who was a mainstay on the NJPW roster. The match was ultimately won by Nakamura, who retained his IWGP Intercontinental Championship.
The match in Japan received rave reviews from all corners of pro-wrestling, and WWE capitalized on the WWE Universe's demand to see this match in a WWE ring. They pulled the trigger on the feud which spanned over the second quarter of 2018.
AJ Styles spoke up for the feud to Sports Illustrated in 2018 before it began:
The only other time we were in the ring together was more than two years ago [in New Japan Pro Wrestling]. We gave people a taste in the “Money in the Bank” match, and that moment let everyone in the back know how special this match could be. The fans responded by asking for this match, and I want to give it to them. Shinsuke won the Royal Rumble, so now we have that opportunity." AJ Styles said (h/t Sports Illustrated)
What makes Sting special? His first AEW opponent opens up RIGHT HERE.
