We end this list with one of the most successful foreign imports into Japanese wrestling, Vader. Wrestling under the moniker Big Van Vader, the large chap originally signed for AJPW but his contract was quickly traded to NJPW. Championships and notoriety soon followed. His first real splash came after a run in with Antonio Inoki (how many times has he been mentioned in this list?). Inoki was on a four-year winning streak and had just defeated yet another opponent when Vader came to the ring and challenged him. Never one to turn down a challenge, Inoki accepted and Vader promptly put a beating on him, ending the four year streak in the process. The fiercly pro-Inoki crowd proceeded to riot, and New Japan was banned from Tokyos Sumo Hall for some two years. Not a bad way to establish a major heel. Vader would soon win his first IWGP World Title, beating Shinyo Hashimoto in the final of a tournament for the vacant strap. In doing so Vader became the first non-Japanese holder of the belt. During his run as champion Vader would win titles in Mexico and Europe, making him the first man to hold world titles on three separate continents at the same time. Vaders time in Japan was a real success, and it was this that led to him signing with WCW and his career in the States really taking off. Vader returned to Japan on a couple of occasions in the late 90s and early 00s, winning AJPWs Triple Crown Title in the process. In total he was a three-time IWGP World Champion, a two-time AJPW Triple Crown Champion and he also held a variety of tag titles. As mentioned previously he also had his eyeball removed in a match against Stan Hansen and continued the match (pictured), holding the ball in place with his eyelid. I cant get over that. So there you have it, 10 (well, 11) wrestlers who headed to Japan and found varying levels of success. With New Japan arguably putting out the finest wrestling product in the world right now, many American grapplers are lining up to try their hand out east. Michael Elgin will be taking part in this years G1 Climax tournament; will he be the next to join this prestigious list? Time will tell.
Born in the middle of Wales in the middle of the 1980's, John can't quite remember when he started watching wrestling but he has a terrible feeling that Dino Bravo was involved. Now living in Prague, John spends most of his time trying to work out how Tomohiro Ishii still stands upright. His favourite wrestler of all time is Dean Malenko, but really it is Repo Man. He is the author of 'An Illustrated History of Slavic Misery', the best book about the Slavic people that you haven't yet read. You can get that and others from www.poshlostbooks.com.
