10 Best Male Japanese Imports In WWE History

Debuting opposite his mentor, The Great Sasuke, at In Your House 16, Taka Michinoku immediately caught the eye of WWF officials with his impressive in-ring skills. When Sasuke was dropped from the Light Heavyweight Championship plans, the promising youngster was picked as his replacement and Taka would go on to become the first WWF Light Heavyweight Champion.

Flying the flag for the WWF's Light Heavyweight Division, including a notable match at WrestleMania XIV, Taka would hold the title for 10 months before losing to the debuting Christian at Judgment Day '98. Despite numerous attempts, he was never able to regain the Light Heavyweight gold.

Taka would go on to feud with Japanese stable, Kai En Tai, before eventually turning heel and joining the faction himself. Ultimately, the rest of Kai En Tai would soon leave the WWF, leaving Taka and Funaki as the remaining members. The duo would keep the name and become a comedic tag team, largely reduced to jobbing and uttering their memorable catchphrases "evil" and "indeed".

Despite being presented as a mid-carder, Taka did memorably receive a WWF Title shot against Triple H in 2000. With the help of the APA and Funaki at ringside, Taka almost achieved the impossible but eventually fell foul to the Pedigree, much to the chagrin of the red hot crowd.