8 Amazing Wrestlers That Flopped In WCW
3. The Great Muta
How Good He Was: The name Keiji Muto commands instant respect from those who closely follow and adore the Japanese wrestling scene. Whether as Muto or The Great Muta, he's someone who became highly regarded for working a stiff, uncompromising style that paved the way for Puro respect throughout the 1980s and 90s.
Muta had several excursions in WCW: He wrestled there between 1989-1990, again in 1991 and 1992, once more in 1994, then made several cameo appearances between 1995-1998. After that, Keiji returned to Japan before an unexpected WCW reprise reared into view come 2000. Yes, he was part of that chaotic year.
Why He Flopped: Initially, WCW fans were intrigued by this mysterious figure from Japan when he worked celebrated bouts vs. Ric Flair, Sting and others, but the 2000 run was supposed to be a proper stab at making waves in North America for someone who had conquered the scene in his homeland.
It fell flat. Like, seriously flat.
Muta was part of the dreary 'Dark Carvival' stable alongside Vampiro, but he was tasked with staring at the lights for everyone from Mike Awesome (who had already lost steam by July 2000) and Tank Abbot to Ernest Miller and even KroniK in tag action. Put it this way: This was not the Muta that people who watched New Japan knew and appreciated.
His matches were either too short to really matter or found themselves stifled by workers who weren't on Keiji's level. In hindsight, the only good thing 2000 WCW did for Muta was put some cash in his pockets. There was nothing creatively fulfilling.