9 Things We Learned From Bruce Prichard's Undertaker 1993-1994 Podcast

7. NJPW Wanted To Make Undertaker A Semi-Regular

It will surprise many wrestling fans to learn that New Japan Pro Wrestling were interested in making The Undertaker a regular in their ranks as early as 1994; recognising the vast appeal of the character, NJPW officials actually made noise in the local press that they intended to strike a deal with the WWF to bring 'Taker in.

Sadly for New Japan, there was never any real interest from the WWF side, especially when the story broke to the media without any communication between both promotions.

Names like Shinya Hashimoto and Tatsumi Fujinami were huge in NJPW during this time, so it's even more shocking when Prichard recalls no interest in WWF stars like Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart from Japan. Workhorses like Michaels and Hart would have been better-placed to work wonders with New Japan's roster than the slow-moving Undertaker. But would they have attracted punters quite like 'the Phenom'?

It was 'Taker NJPW desperately wanted, but the deal never got off the ground due to that lack of formal conversation between both parties.