Muta in NWA

[ratetankmark]

He was very, very polished in America for how young I'm guessing he was, I'm sure everyone's jaws dropped when he did the moonsault, especially in a company like NWA at the time and Gary Hart was a really underrated manager, do you think if Muta had stayed in America, would he get a push from the NWA or do you think he did the right thing by only staying for a period of time then heading back to Japan?

I think Akira Tozawa did the same thing, an American excursion.

[Capt Lunatic]

Oh yeah short term bursts. Good exposure in America probably helped his pocket book upon return to Japan. He made a pretty good impact then returned home to be a much bigger star.

Then whenever he came back to the states he had just a bit more mystique

[Fundertaker]

Apr 14, 2014 9:54:01 GMT -5 ratetankmark said:

I think Akira Tozawa did the same thing, an American excursion.

It's still a regular thing to occur, an "excursion" overseas (not just the US, but Europe and Mexico too) for Japanese wrestlers. Nakamura and Tanahashi had a year long one in Mexico (and Nakamura had another one in America), Liger (then just plain old Keiji Yamada) went to UK and Canada, Chono did US (although not as high-profile as Muta's) and, of course, most recently you had Okada's stint with TNA.

Of course, there's always the off chance they might STAY there, like Naofumi Yamamoto (aka Yoshi Tatsu) and Shigeo Okumura (aka OKUMURA) who stayed in America and Mexico respectively.

[Kash Flagg]

The Muta vs Sting tv title matches were great stuff to watch.

[Ken: The Hero of WWE]

I saw a cage match with Muta/Funk taking on Flair/Sting and it was really fun.

Found it - www.youtube.com/watch?v=tt6MDfXiVz0

[NOwave]

I'd bet Muta would have gotten an NWA World Title run if he'd stayed for longer. He was clearly stronger in the ring than most of their other talent, which is saying a lot, given that they had Flair, Funk, Steamboat, Sting, Luger, Windham, etc.

The only thing that might have held him back was his mic skills. I don't know how strong his command of english was then, and that would have been a drawback, even with a manager as good as Gary Hart. There haven't been many non-English speaking world champions of major companies. One of the (few) things I partially agree with Vince Russo about is that non-English speakers(he was referring to Japanese and Mexican wrestlers) have a disadvantage when they come to wrestle in the US. It's just vitally important for the champ to be able to talk people into buying tickets and there's only so much a manager can do.

[Mozenrath]

I liked his track on Straight Outta Compton.

[salz4life]

I've been watching some of his matches on The Network. He was fun to watch!

[The 1Watcher Experience]

Technically he did have an NWA World title run.

[lovingway]

Apr 14, 2014 16:36:58 GMT -5 NOwave said:

I'd bet Muta would have gotten an NWA World Title run if he'd stayed for longer. He was clearly stronger in the ring than most of their other talent, which is saying a lot, given that they had Flair, Funk, Steamboat, Sting, Luger, Windham, etc.

The only thing that might have held him back was his mic skills. I don't know how strong his command of english was then, and that would have been a drawback, even with a manager as good as Gary Hart. There haven't been many non-English speaking world champions of major companies. One of the (few) things I partially agree with Vince Russo about is that non-English speakers(he was referring to Japanese and Mexican wrestlers) have a disadvantage when they come to wrestle in the US. It's just vitally important for the champ to be able to talk people into buying tickets and there's only so much a manager can do.

Is there video of Muta speaking English for a good bit? I don't think I ever heard him speak

[________ has left the building]

Apr 15, 2014 4:36:54 GMT -5 lovingway said:

Apr 14, 2014 16:36:58 GMT -5 NOwave said:

I'd bet Muta would have gotten an NWA World Title run if he'd stayed for longer. He was clearly stronger in the ring than most of their other talent, which is saying a lot, given that they had Flair, Funk, Steamboat, Sting, Luger, Windham, etc.

The only thing that might have held him back was his mic skills. I don't know how strong his command of english was then, and that would have been a drawback, even with a manager as good as Gary Hart. There haven't been many non-English speaking world champions of major companies. One of the (few) things I partially agree with Vince Russo about is that non-English speakers(he was referring to Japanese and Mexican wrestlers) have a disadvantage when they come to wrestle in the US. It's just vitally important for the champ to be able to talk people into buying tickets and there's only so much a manager can do.

Is there video of Muta speaking English for a good bit? I don't think I ever heard him speak

His English is bad. He had to bring a translator with him when he met Jeff Jarrett at TNA headquarters months ago. Double J's drawl ain't that thick.

[ratetankmark]

Apr 15, 2014 8:30:47 GMT -5 ________ has left the building said:

Apr 15, 2014 4:36:54 GMT -5 lovingway said:

Is there video of Muta speaking English for a good bit? I don't think I ever heard him speak

His English is bad. He had to bring a translator with him when he met Jeff Jarrett at TNA headquarters months ago. Double J's drawl ain't that thick.

On the flipside, apparently Liger's English is prefect according to people like Prince Devitt so Liger could've polished his mic skills and gotten big in America with the Jushin Liger gimmick. I can imagine the NWA fans marking the hell out when Liger did the Shooting Star Press.

[________ has left the building]

Apr 15, 2014 9:24:05 GMT -5 ratetankmark said:

Apr 15, 2014 8:30:47 GMT -5 ________ has left the building said:

His English is bad. He had to bring a translator with him when he met Jeff Jarrett at TNA headquarters months ago. Double J's drawl ain't that thick.

On the flipside, apparently Liger's English is prefect according to people like Prince Devitt so Liger could've polished his mic skills and gotten big in America with the Jushin Liger gimmick. I can imagine the NWA fans marking the hell out when Liger did the Shooting Star Press.

Liger never did the Shooting Star Press in WCW. Billy Kidman was the first person to do so against Alex Wright in a WCW Saturday Night match. It was treated as a mid match move. After that, Kidman went from a jobber to midcard attraction. Another fact, 2 Cold Scorpio was the first wrestler to do a 450 in WCW.

[ratetankmark]

Apr 15, 2014 9:32:24 GMT -5 ________ has left the building said:

Apr 15, 2014 9:24:05 GMT -5 ratetankmark said:

On the flipside, apparently Liger's English is prefect according to people like Prince Devitt so Liger could've polished his mic skills and gotten big in America with the Jushin Liger gimmick. I can imagine the NWA fans marking the hell out when Liger did the Shooting Star Press.

Liger never did the Shooting Star Press in WCW. Billy Kidman was the first person to do so against Alex Wright in a WCW Saturday Night match. It was treated as a mid match move. After that, Kidman went from a jobber to midcard attraction. Another fact, 2 Cold Scorpio was the first wrestler to do a 450 in WCW.

Which is ironic because I'm sure he was either the first to do the shooting star press or the first person to make it a big move, you thought he would've busted it out for his appearances with the WCW fans, the commentators could say that Kidman was influenced by Liger (which explains why you can't powerbomb him) and that would give them both an excuse to keep doing the move.

[________ has left the building]

Apr 15, 2014 9:44:43 GMT -5 ratetankmark said:

Apr 15, 2014 9:32:24 GMT -5 ________ has left the building said:

Liger never did the Shooting Star Press in WCW. Billy Kidman was the first person to do so against Alex Wright in a WCW Saturday Night match. It was treated as a mid match move. After that, Kidman went from a jobber to midcard attraction. Another fact, 2 Cold Scorpio was the first wrestler to do a 450 in WCW.

Which is ironic because I'm sure he was either the first to do the shooting star press or the first person to make it a big move, you thought he would've busted it out for his appearances with the WCW fans, the commentators could say that Kidman was influenced by Liger (which explains why you can't powerbomb him) and that would give them both an excuse to keep doing the move.

By the time Liger made his WCW debut, he retired some of the flashier moves in his arsenal including the Shooting Star Press. And Mike Tenay made mention about Liger being the originator of the move but Heenan and Schiavone brushed him off.

[ratetankmark]

Apr 15, 2014 9:51:42 GMT -5 ________ has left the building said:

Apr 15, 2014 9:44:43 GMT -5 ratetankmark said:

Which is ironic because I'm sure he was either the first to do the shooting star press or the first person to make it a big move, you thought he would've busted it out for his appearances with the WCW fans, the commentators could say that Kidman was influenced by Liger (which explains why you can't powerbomb him) and that would give them both an excuse to keep doing the move.

By the time Liger made his WCW debut, he retired some of the flashier moves in his arsenal including the Shooting Star Press. And Mike Tenay made mention about Liger being the originator of the move but Heenan and Schiavone brushed him off.

Schivone would but I got the impression that Heenan wouldn't brush off something like that, then again WCW'll do that to you, also Pycosis in WCW's costume looked a hell of a lot like Ligers or was that just me?

[willywonka666]

Apr 14, 2014 16:41:38 GMT -5 Mozenrath said:

I liked his track on Straight Outta Compton The Orient

Fixed

[Psy]

First off, I read the title wrong initially and did a double-take as I was scrolling down the main forum listing. I thought it said, "Mutiny in WWE". Mutiny is a "foxy" or "apartment-style" wrestler that has tried to do pro wrestling a few times. She is French-Canadian & sometimes vacations in Virginia Beach, where I met her outside a restaurant. Cool person. Anyway, since this thread is not about her...

I wish I could see more of Muta. He is a legend, but I don't know that the American crowds at the time would have rooted for him over American wrestlers for long periods of time, at least not in the southern US. You may think that's prejudiced of me, but I've lived here for 20+ years and I know many pro wrestling fans that still talk about the NWA days, not saying they're racist but times have changed since back then.

[Chuckie Finster]

Liger was the first wrestler in North America to do an Asai Moonsault.

[Mr PONYMANIA Mr Jenzie]

soon as i saw MUTA in NWA, i loved the guy, and with GARY HART as his manager i was totally on his side ..... even though they were massive heals

and in the J-TEX CORPORATION they were even BETTER!!!!!

and muta can still kick ass