WWE wrestlers in Japan.

[Nr1Humanoid]

Do WWE stars still do Japanese tours while E employed?

If so any matches to recommend?

[Gerard Gerard]

They do not. They cracked down on non-WWF/WWE appearances for contracted talent around 00/01.

[Reflecto]

Oct 10, 2014 17:15:46 GMT -5 Gerard Gerard said:

They do not. They cracked down on non-WWF/WWE appearances for contracted talent around 00/01.

I thought they cracked down on Japan appearances back in 1997, after the "Undertaker worked a Michinoku Pro show and had to fight his way out of the arena after a gang of Yakuza got pissed at him" thing.

[CATCH_US IS the Conversation]

Oct 10, 2014 17:15:46 GMT -5 Gerard Gerard said:

They do not. They cracked down on non-WWF/WWE appearances for contracted talent around 00/01.

I wish they still allowed outside appearances. There are so many guys in WWE doing absolutely nothing, and guys who have been unfairly tagged with the stigma of being "bad wrestlers" just because they were unfortunate enough to get picked up by WWE early in their careers.

It would do some of these guys good if WWE let them work indy/Japan shows so that they could improve their craft and get "IWC cred".

[Nr1Humanoid]

In that case what American wrestlers are active in Japan these days?

[mattyy]

Oct 10, 2014 17:35:47 GMT -5 Nr1Humanoid said:

In that case what American wrestlers are active in Japan these days?

Alex Shelley, Kenny Omega, Rocky Romero, Shelton Benjamin, Lance Hoyt/Vance Archer, David Hart Smith, The Young Bucks, Luke Gallows, AJ Styles, and Karl Anderson are all in New Japan. ROH Wrestlers like Michael Bennett and Adam Cole have made recent appearances with NJPW. Tarver wrestled on two shows, and Rob Conway was on NJPW's WrestleMania earlier in the year. He lost the NWA Heavyweight Championship to Kojima. Ricochet tore it up in their Super Juniors Tournament this year as well.

[OldDirtyBernie]

I bet that Itami guy they've got captive in NXT would be HUGE there if they gave him a shot.

[Deleted]

Oct 10, 2014 17:23:49 GMT -5 Reflecto said:

Oct 10, 2014 17:15:46 GMT -5 Gerard Gerard said:

They do not. They cracked down on non-WWF/WWE appearances for contracted talent around 00/01.

I thought they cracked down on Japan appearances back in 1997, after the "Undertaker worked a Michinoku Pro show and had to fight his way out of the arena after a gang of Yakuza got pissed at him" thing.

Bradshaw & Windham did the All Japan tag league a few months later but that's the last time I can remember WWE wrestlers working in Japan. Once business picked up in 1998 there wasn't much reason to send guys halfway around the world for a decent payday.

Oct 10, 2014 17:39:09 GMT -5 mattyy said:

Oct 10, 2014 17:35:47 GMT -5 Nr1Humanoid said:

In that case what American wrestlers are active in Japan these days?

Alex Shelley, Kenny Omega, Rocky Romero, Shelton Benjamin, Lance Hoyt/Vance Archer, David Hart Smith, The Young Bucks, Luke Gallows, AJ Styles, and Karl Anderson are all in New Japan. ROH Wrestlers like Michael Bennett and Adam Cole have made recent appearances with NJPW. Tarver wrestled on two shows, and Rob Conway was on NJPW's WrestleMania earlier in the year. He lost the NWA Heavyweight Championship to Kojima. Ricochet tore it up in their Super Juniors Tournament this year as well.

To add on, Chris Hero and Colt Cabana wrestle semi-regularly for NOAH. There's also Akebono and Joe Doering in All Japan. A good portion of the TNA roster has been making occasional appearances for Wrestle-1.

[1 Free Moon-Down with Burger]

I'd pay about 50 dollars to see Cena Vs. Tanahashi.

[sonofblaine]

Oct 10, 2014 23:08:06 GMT -5 1 Free Moon-Down with Burger said:

I'd pay about 50 dollars to see Cena Vs. Tanahashi.

Give me Cena vs. A young Mr. Pogo in an exploding barbed wire deathmatch.

[Tony Schiavontay]

Oct 10, 2014 23:08:06 GMT -5 1 Free Moon-Down with Burger said:

I'd pay about 50 dollars to see Cena Vs. Tanahashi.

I'd love to see Brock and Shibata beat the shit out of each other.