13 Wrestlers Who Were Better In NJPW Than They Were In TNA

Taichi hadn't seen much action in TNA, coming in as an import from All Japan Pro Wrestling. He took part in the Gauntlet for The Gold, a tag team match, and a four way ladder match that involved future star Eric Young and legend Jerry Lynn.

Once Taichi found his way to NJPW he took up the role of being one of the junior division's dastardly heels, aligning himself with Suzuki-Gun. He constantly found a way to be a spoiler in tournaments like the Best of The Super Juniors, and has even been featured in the G1 Climax.

He also created a distinct and compelling character for himself, going way beyond the "foreign talent" label that many promotions saddle Japanese babyfaces with. Instead, he draped himself in ornate and aristocratic vestiges, singing his way to the ring on a microphone which would undoubtedly come into play as a weapon. Miho Abe would also accompany him to the ring, attempting to seduce whoever his opponent was.

Spurned on by the heat he gained through the use of this new persona, Taichi would earn an ironic appreciation from the NJPW faithful. While he has often been used in a jobber capacity, Taichi has still been able to pull of a few shocking upsets with big wins in his tournaments, even winning IWGP Junior Tag gold, along with stealing the NEVER title from both Goto and Jeff Cobb.