10 More WWE Superstars And Their Japanese Counterparts
1. Ric Flair
Ric Flair is right at the top of any list of greatest wrestlers of all time. Through his time in NWA, WCW, Japan, and WWE, Flair has put on some of the most outstanding matches ever seen. He was a master of ring psychology and storytelling, and was still wrestling well into his 50s. He has an incredibly long list of outstanding matches under his belt, and was a massive draw wherever he went. In short, he was a mega-star who really deserved the lifestyle he perpetuated on television.
Even as his body slowed down and his move-set became increasingly limited, Flair still knew what he could do to get a crowd behind him. He is truly a legendary figure in pro wrestling, whose experience and knowledge would be priceless to anyone willing to listen.
Japanese counterpart: Keiji Mutoh/The Great Muta
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNoOKf_IG7k
Flair name-dropped Muta’s name during Tatsumi Fujinami’s WWE Hall of Fame induction as a guy that ‘he loves’. Considering just how good Muta is at what he does, that should not be a surprise to anyone.
Wrestling since 1984, Mutoh/Muta is an outstanding wrestler who could be considered the absolute master of ring psychology. He knew how to hold the audience in the palm of his hand, and performed with the grace and technical precision of a true wrestling master. Whether he was wrestling under the Great Muta gimmick, or under his own name, Mutoh has been arguably the most popular and beloved wrestler in Japan since Rikidozan.
Perhaps the only real difference between these two men is that Flair is/was an excellent speaker, while Mutoh preferred to let his actions speak for him. Moreover, where Mutoh excels more than Flair is in body language, as Mutoh’s mannerisms, expressions and movements make his presentation far more interesting and unique than Ric Flair.
Finally, like Flair, Mutoh has wrestled well into his 50s, and is still an active wrestler who performs around the world, but mainly in Japan. As the former owner of All Japan Pro Wrestling, the creator of both ‘Pro Wrestling Love’ and the Shining Wizard, and the founder of Wrestle-1, he has left a profound impact on the wrestling industry. Truly, the wrestling business would’ve been a radically different (and less interesting) place if either Flair or Mutoh never came along.