11 Most Influential Japanese Wrestlers Of All Time

9. Ultimo Dragon

Yoshihiro Asai is one of the most accomplished wrestlers in history, in both Japan and in Mexico. In fact, he is considered to be THE most decorated wrestler in history, as he was the active reigning and defending champion of the eight titles that once made up the J-Crown, plus the WCW Cruiserweight title and the NWA Middleweight Championship, all at the same time. Asai was one of the pioneering cruiserweights that showcased the style to the WCW audience during the mid-to-late 1990s. His wrestling style combined the martial arts and technical wrestling of New Japan€™s Strong Style of wrestling with the speed and aerial maneuvers of the luchadore style. These two different styles made him an incredibly popular and exciting wrestler to watch. His influence also extends into the promotional and training side of the industry. Asai trained many wrestlers, and most of them ended up working in a promotion called Toruymon, which is now called Dragon Gate. Some of the top stars in Dragon Gate have become among the most well-known cruiserweights in the industry, including CIMA, Dragon Kid, PAC and BxB Hulk, among many others. So while his careers in the top two North American wrestling promotions might not have been the most successful, he is still an incredible wrestler, and many fans of luchadore consider him an ace in that style of wrestling.