10 Things WWE Could Learn From Kenta Kobashi's Career

5. How To NOT Treat A Universally-Respected Veteran

Kenta Kobashi€™s final months as a wrestler were highly controversial. He was a longtime wrestler for NOAH, and because of his loyalty, it was widely assumed and expected that he€™d be offered a backstage or executive position with them after retiring from in-ring competition. Instead, the NOAH figureheads released him because they could no longer afford his salary. As a comparison, imagine if the Undertaker was suddenly fired from WWE after all his years of service. The internal and external reactions would be devastating for WWE, and that€™s what happened in NOAH. Many of his protégés and close friends, some of whom were NOAH€™s top stars, quit in protest out of loyalty to Kobashi instead of to NOAH. As a result, NOAH was gutted of its top stars and their only consolation prize was a sold-out venue for Kobashi€™s retirement match. Though WWE hasn€™t mistreated any of their employed veterans recently, the Montreal Screwjob was one occasion where Vince narrowly avoided an internal disaster. Vince needs to pay attention to this Kobashi story because there€™s always a chance that something similar could happen in WWE. If Vince ever decides to mistreat or disrespect a veteran, he could face serious consequences from his roster. The WWE locker room is still a €˜family€™ that take care of one another, and if someone that€™s universally-respected gets screwed by management, there€™s a chance that family might stand with their comrade and against the company.