10 Best NJPW Wrestlers In WWE
From 'King Of Sports' to Sports Entertainment.
New Japan Pro Wrestling may not be the biggest promotion on the planet, but they're definitely the coolest.
Their incredible in-ring output and big stage presentation have captured the imaginations of thousands of fans around the world. A wrestling-centric island away from WWE's contrived sports entertainment trappings, they provide a real alternative to the mainstream, and with business booming following Wrestle Kingdom 12, their rise is unstoppable.
Unfortunately, this success makes their multi-talented roster ripe for the picking. Vince McMahon has been swooping in to snatch NJPW's biggest and brightest for years. This has accelerated in the modern area, with WWE now looking to Japan to bolster their own ranks more than ever, but the practice is far from new.
Some have bombed ('sup, Yoshi Tatsu?) while others have soared, but who has been the most successful? Let's take a look.
In order to be included, wrestlers must have worked for NJPW before WWE, and must've either been considered a "New Japan guy" prior to moving west, or won a tournament/title in the 'King Of Sports' universe. This means no Hogan, Bret, or Andre, but it's an excellent group regardless...
10. Kota Ibushi
'The Golden Star' was only in WWE for the Cruiserweight Classic and a couple of freelance dates beyond that, but everything he did was fantastic.
Ibushi's story-driven bout with Brian Kendrick and fast-paced battles with Cedric Alexander and TJ Perkins stood among the CWC's finest matches. He was presented as the competition's star attraction throughout, and he returned later in the year, teaming with TJP in the 2016 Dusty Rhodes Classic, before signing off with a house show loss to Bobby Roode.
WWE reportedly had Ibushi pegged as a potential CWC winner if he was willing to stick around, but he didn't. Wrestling's eternal freelancer, he, like Zack Sabre Jr., turned the company's contract offer down. He returned to New Japan Pro Wrestling as the anime-inspired Tiger Mask W soon after, and now, 18 months later, he's starring in wrestling's most progressive angle, having just reunited with former tag partner Kenny Omega.
Staying independent has allowed Kota to flex his creative muscle in ways that may not have been possible on Vince McMahon's watch, though there's still a twinge of regret from WWE fans who'd have liked to see him sign.