Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Apr 30, 2020 19:52:06 GMT -5
Was thinking about how I never really followed any non-American wrestling companies too closely and got curious about folks who had markedly better careers in other countries. I'd been reading a bit about Bart Gunn doing alright for himself in Japan and figured you fine folks could educate me a bit more.
Edit: only talking about North American wrestlers.
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Venti
Unicron
Posts: 3,000
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Post by Venti on Apr 30, 2020 19:59:16 GMT -5
I could be wrong, but didn't Mark Jindrak end up being pretty successful in Mexico?
In San Antonio I got a channel that had wrestling from Mexico and I remember seeing him there.
Edit: looked it up, he's been CMLL Champion.
Thats pretty cool to read.
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petef3
Don Corleone
Posts: 1,783
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Post by petef3 on Apr 30, 2020 20:08:51 GMT -5
Johnny Ace, of course. As a wrestler only.
Gary Albright.
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XIII
Bill S. Preston, Esq.
Posts: 18,561
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Post by XIII on Apr 30, 2020 20:11:48 GMT -5
I feel like Vampiro fits this. He has some decent runs in the States but he was huge in Mexico for a while
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Post by Citizen Snips Has Left on Apr 30, 2020 20:13:34 GMT -5
Doug Furnas and Phil LaFon/Dan Kroffat
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Post by DiBiase is Good on Apr 30, 2020 20:15:12 GMT -5
Stan Hansen had a successful career in his home country but compared to his career in Japan where he’s pretty much the most successful foreigner ever, it’s underwhelming.
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Post by Andy Martin on Apr 30, 2020 20:18:43 GMT -5
Albert/Giant Bernard.
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Post by realist on Apr 30, 2020 20:36:03 GMT -5
Would Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson count?
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Post by Can you afford to pay me, Gah on Apr 30, 2020 20:46:33 GMT -5
Konnan was a huge star in Mexico, was label the Hogan of Mexico at one time. He had a decent run in WCW but wasn't at Main Eventer. He was over but not at that level.
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Post by kingoftheindies on Apr 30, 2020 21:15:20 GMT -5
Norman Smiley. Big star in Mexico as Black Magic. Comedy lower midcard in the US. Same with Vampiro.
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petef3
Don Corleone
Posts: 1,783
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Post by petef3 on Apr 30, 2020 21:15:30 GMT -5
Stan Hansen had a successful career in his home country but compared to his career in Japan where he’s pretty much the most successful foreigner ever, it’s underwhelming. Ehhh...I don't think he's nearly on the same level as guys like Albright. Hansen was more of a case of a guy simply choosing not to have a great U.S. career as opposed to a guy who really couldn't. I also question the "most successful foreigner ever" label, when guys like both Funks, the Destroyer, and Abdullah were around. Every time Hansen came back to the U.S., in any territory or promotion, he got over and was in some kind of title picture. Hogan could have gotten him a spot in the WWF at almost any time (they were tight), and he would have gotten over there, too, but the All-Japan gig was possibly the best in wrestling at that point. |
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Mozenrath
FANatic
Foppery and Whim
Speedy Speed Boy
Posts: 121,121
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Post by Mozenrath on Apr 30, 2020 21:19:22 GMT -5
So far, Juice Robinson, though that's obviously something that could change in the future.
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Post by Joe Neglia on May 1, 2020 0:37:07 GMT -5
Terminator, the third Laurinaitis brother, did better in Japan than he did in the U.S.
That's NOT saying he was a major draw, but he did better there than here.
Same with Corporal Kirchner getting some mileage over there out of the Leatherface gimmick.
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petef3
Don Corleone
Posts: 1,783
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Post by petef3 on May 1, 2020 0:41:24 GMT -5
What did Terminator do in Japan, exactly? Other than that 6-man with the three Laurinaitis brothers, he didn't really do much more there than he did here. He was a generic musclehead tag wrestler who had a few token tours just like his few token runs in the U.S.
And Abdullah at his peak in the '60s and '70s was bigger than Hansen or just about any foreigner ever aside from the Destroyer and maybe a few other NWA World Champion-level guys. He was a mainstream celebrity (as was Beyer), which I'm not sure if Hansen was. Big among wrestling fans, for sure, but not a crossover star.
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Post by Joe Neglia on May 1, 2020 0:43:26 GMT -5
What did Terminator do in Japan, exactly? Other than that 6-man with the three Laurinaitis brothers, You just made my case for me. That's Terminator's most successful moment. My statement stands. |
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petef3
Don Corleone
Posts: 1,783
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Post by petef3 on May 1, 2020 0:44:34 GMT -5
Well, he still wasn't a "success." He got a better push in the dying days of the UWF than he ever did in All-Japan.
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Post by Joe Neglia on May 1, 2020 0:51:05 GMT -5
Well, he still wasn't a "success." He got a better push in the dying days of the UWF than he ever did in All-Japan. Jesus, and people say *I'm* humorless. |
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Post by Joe Neglia on May 1, 2020 0:56:45 GMT -5
Scott Norton was definitely more successful in Japan than he was in the U.S.
Bob Sapp for sure. Don't @ this with a bunch of technicalities. His U.S. career wasn't successful, no matter the reason.
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Post by Larryhausen on May 1, 2020 3:19:27 GMT -5
Remains to be seen, but Kenny Omega and Jay White?
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Post by Viking Hall on May 1, 2020 3:30:12 GMT -5
I wouldn't exactly call his U.S. career underwhelming but there's a case for Steve Williams here when you consider what he achieved in Japan compared with what he did in The States.
Horace Hogan. Perennial jobber to the stars in the U.S. but had a good run in FMW at the top of their cards when they were arguably the biggest promotion in Japan outside of the big two.
George Hines. Younger brother of Bobby Fulton had a few U.S. runs alongside his brother in the dying days of the territories but carved out a successful career in Japan becoming a mainstay for AJPW well into the 2000's as well as runs in IWA Japan too.
Giant Kimala II/Atkie Malumba. Again like Hines had runs in the territories in the late eighties but would also make AJPW his home promotion for well over a decade. Briefly appeared in ECW as Uganda too but was clearly much better thought of abroad.
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