Every Wrestling Rookie Of The Year: Where Are They Now?

15. 2008: KAI

Essa Rios Lita
Dragon Gate

A promising wrestler who never progressed to become a world-beater, nobody was to know that in 2008.

Kai has worked the odd excellent match long into a career that never unfolded as some forecast. Perhaps the fading fortunes of All Japan Pro Wrestling did his prospects in; almost as soon as he caught the attention of the international fandom, New Japan Pro Wrestling entered its resurgence era. Tracking the progress of a talented youngster was difficult when a major force was back and stocked with an endless wave of great talent - old, new, and repackaged.

After a disastrous run post-AJPW, in which his Atsushi Onita cosplay drew widespread mockery, he has experienced modest critical acclaim in Dragon Gate. He even won the big one, but this generated as much bemusement as praise. That Dragon Gate was red-hot before that run doesn't help his perception.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!