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Post by laker8kiss on Sept 22, 2013 9:47:46 GMT -5
I was thinking about wrestlers like Hakuhi, Taka, Funaki, Tajiri, Essa Rios, Sin Cara, and even Del Rio who are big in their native countries but have or had struggled to be a big deal in the States. What do you think went wrong and do you think that Vince invested in these guys or gave them his "we give opportunities rap not contracts at the WWE?"
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Post by The Scuba Guy on Sept 22, 2013 9:50:29 GMT -5
Eh, I wouldn't say Tajiri necessarily struggled. He did fairly well in the WWE, was over, treated seriously. The others though, I gotta agree with you.
Except Del Rio. He was a big deal.
Fairly quick.
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El Pollo Guerrera
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Post by El Pollo Guerrera on Sept 22, 2013 13:01:33 GMT -5
I was thinking about wrestlers like Hakuhi, Taka, Funaki, Tajiri, Essa Rios, Sin Cara, and even Del Rio who are big in their native countries but have or had struggled to be a big deal in the States. What do you think went wrong and do you think that Vince invested in these guys or gave them his "we give opportunities rap not contracts at the WWE?" I think that Hakushi was pretty well received, but he came around at a time when the roster was so full that the writers struggled to give him anything to be involved in. Tajiri was definitely over, no question. The others... I'm personally believing that it has to do with adapting their style to the WWE style, especially coming from a lucha-based company. |
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BlackoutCreature
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Post by BlackoutCreature on Sept 22, 2013 13:43:28 GMT -5
I was thinking about wrestlers like Hakuhi, Taka, Funaki, Tajiri, Essa Rios, Sin Cara, and even Del Rio who are big in their native countries but have or had struggled to be a big deal in the States. What do you think went wrong and do you think that Vince invested in these guys or gave them his "we give opportunities rap not contracts at the WWE?" I think that Hakushi was pretty well received, but he came around at a time when the roster was so full that the writers struggled to give him anything to be involved in. I recently purchased the "Best of In Your House" Blu-Ray and after watching the Bret Hart-Hakushi match on it, it amazes me how the WWF could not follow up on anything with the guy. He was an interesting character, was over as a heel and just had amazing match with one of the companies top stars and then, nothing. |
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Post by "Gizzark" Mike Wronglevenay on Sept 22, 2013 15:28:19 GMT -5
In a lot of cases, I think it is a mix of two things - WWE not letting them speak English onscreen, or them refusing to speak English onscreen.
Del Rio is now a four time world champion, what does he do that the rest of your list doesn't do? Speak English on camera.
Also Tajiri was over as f***, but his gimmick was a bit limited to be a world champion outside of ECW (I know he wasn't ECW champion, but I could imagine him being).
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 22, 2013 15:52:19 GMT -5
Regal made Tajiri, match one. He was fine.
Hakushi wasn't given enough of a push imo. He was never "featured," he was just there.
Taka and Funaki were made from Kaientai but sort of faded as the years rolled on.
People liked Rios, but he didn't speak English.
Sin Cara is his own worst enemy. If he were crisper/avoided hurting himself, he'd be fine.
ADR......what's to say? They obviously like the guy. They've been trying to get him over for years now.
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Post by Todd Pettengill on Sept 22, 2013 16:02:45 GMT -5
Hakushi was around during the weakest/thinnest years of the WWF roster.
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Post by Joe Neglia on Sept 22, 2013 19:19:37 GMT -5
Taka and Funaki were made from Kaientai but sort of faded as the years rolled on. Taka was brought in long before the rest of Kaientai. The thing about Taka is that McMahon wasn't wanting to bring him in to begin with. He wanted to build the lightweight division that was starting around Great Sasuke, and only brought Taka over as a short-term opponent for him. Sasuke bombed, but Taka was getting fans' attention, so McMahon switched course and signed Taka instead. And then had no idea what to do with him. Anyone remember the angle where he befriended Bradshaw, who'd just split from Windham as the Blackjacks? |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 22, 2013 19:36:49 GMT -5
Taka and Funaki were made from Kaientai but sort of faded as the years rolled on. Taka was brought in long before the rest of Kaientai. The thing about Taka is that McMahon wasn't wanting to bring him in to begin with. He wanted to build the lightweight division that was starting around Great Sasuke, and only brought Taka over as a short-term opponent for him. Sasuke bombed, but Taka was getting fans' attention, so McMahon switched course and signed Taka instead. And then had no idea what to do with him. Anyone remember the angle where he befriended Bradshaw, who'd just split from Windham as the Blackjacks? Lay down the law, Mad. I know you watch more faithfully than I. I appreciate the clarification. And no, I don't. I remember Yamaguchi-san attempting to eunuch-ize The Big Valbolski and the one time when Trips almost made you think TAKA was going to be a champion. The rest is haze, save the fact that Togo used to rock 80's metal shirts. |
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El Pollo Guerrera
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Post by El Pollo Guerrera on Sept 23, 2013 1:15:15 GMT -5
Hakushi was around during the weakest/thinnest years of the WWF roster. I found a site that lists the roster, month by month. linkDoesn't look like a thin roster to me. |
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Post by Todd Pettengill on Sept 23, 2013 14:44:10 GMT -5
Hakushi was around during the weakest/thinnest years of the WWF roster. I found a site that lists the roster, month by month. linkDoesn't look like a thin roster to me. Those are absolutely horrible rosters. The top level talent was the thinnest it had been in years. Heck, the midcard was pretty terrible too. |
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Post by laker8kiss on Sept 23, 2013 14:51:02 GMT -5
To answer what Del Rio doesn't do that the rest of the list does, is he hasn't crossed over. He has been forced fed to us, winning a rumble, money in the bank, and world titles. He still isn't cared for by the audience, some higher ups are hoping he pans out but he just hasn't yet.
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Chip
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Post by Chip on Sept 23, 2013 15:13:27 GMT -5
Tajiri was the coolest f***er back in the day, I remember popping huge for the Buzzsaw kick, always looked so stiff.
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Post by froggyfrog on Sept 23, 2013 18:36:47 GMT -5
I was thinking about wrestlers like Hakuhi, Taka, Funaki, Tajiri, Essa Rios, Sin Cara, and even Del Rio who are big in their native countries but have or had struggled to be a big deal in the States. What do you think went wrong and do you think that Vince invested in these guys or gave them his "we give opportunities rap not contracts at the WWE?" These guys were all over at one point with the exception of Rios and Cara I d say |
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Post by Citizen Snips on Sept 23, 2013 20:49:04 GMT -5
Weren't Furnas and LaFon pretty huge in Japan? They didn't even get over in ECW, let alone WWF.
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