7 Best Ever NJPW Gaijin Wrestlers
5. The Steiner Brothers
Don't be fooled by what Rick and Scott Steiner became later in their careers. Before Scott was a musclebound and broken-down washout and Ricky was a, erm, real estate salesman, the Steiner Brothers were one of the most awesome - and most feared - tag teams in the entire world. Much of this was due to their work on the global stages of WCW and WWE, but their greatest matches as a team happened overseas in New Japan Pro Wrestling.
The Steiners, with their suplex-based offense and shooter reputation were a perfect fit for Japan. They made an immediate impact in 1991 and '92, having some excellent matches with Hiroshi Hase and Kensuke Sasaki (and a few lesser contest with other teams in 1993) before returning full-time in '94 and '95. Upon their return, they were pushed as the premier tag team in the organisation.
The brothers beat everyone and they did it in style, working a strong style at a fast pace. Scott's finishing move, the Steiner Screwdriver, was the most feared in the company, and fans always knew they would get their money's worth when the Steiners were on the card. In their prime years they won the IWGP Tag Team Titles twice and managed to make a great living touring the country.
As their WCW commitments grew and injuries kept them out of action, their Japan dates tapered off. In 1996 and '97, they wrestled just two matches as a team in New Japan, returning to the group once more in 2002 for a trio of matches. By that point it was clear that the Steiners were well past their best and their matches were a shadow of their earlier work.
Scott signed with WWE later that year and Rick took a job with rival group Pro Wrestling NOAH, then a major force in the Japanese wrestling scene, after a few solo tours in '03. Their final New Japan match came at Wrestle Kingdom II in 2008, failing to dethrone IWGP Tag Team Champions Giant Bernard and Travis Tomko in the Tokyo Dome.
For examples of just how good Rick and Scott could be, check out their late '80s/early '90s tag work in New Japan.