WWE don't have the best track record when it comes to their use of Japanese talent (although Hideo Itami and Shinsuke Nakamura may change all that). Many careers of excellent performers have been seriously damaged due to WWE's approach to (not) pushing Japanese wrestlers. Just look at the likes of Taka Michinoku, Ultimo Dragon and Hakushi. All talented guys who were over, at least initially. All were reduced to something much less than what they were really worth. The same fate could have befallen the truly amazing Kenta Kobashi, had he signed in the mid-to-late 90s, but I don't think that would have been the case. Kobashi, one of the most respected wrestlers ever, was the man in the 90s. He, along with Mitsuhara Misawa, Toshiaki Kawada, Akira Taue, Steve Williams and others made All Japan one of the premier promotions during the decade. Kobashi and Misawa, in particular, contested a bunch of five-star classics. WWE were well-aware of AJPW's reputation and briefly had a working relationship with them in '97. Had Kobashi made an appearance for WWE against, say, Vader, he would have no doubt become an instant sensation. Sadly, Kobashi never stepped foot in a WWE ring*. He would have been at home in the company, I feel, as the brawling style favoured by The Undertaker, Steve Austin suited him. While he probably wouldn't have thrived in the promo-heavy Attitude Era, he would have been a great fit during the tail-end of the New Generation. *Kobashi did technically work one WWE show, albeit one co-promoted with New Japan and All Japan: the 'Wrestling Summit' supershow at the Tokyo Dome April 14th, 1990 (Kobashi and Masanobu Fuchi lost to Jimmy Snuka and Tito Santana).
