Former WWE Stars Debut & Return At NJPW Tapings

Three former WWE wrestlers showed up at the Strong: Rivals tapings in LA.

Tiger Ruas NJPW
NJPW/WWE

A trio of former WWE wrestlers appeared at NJPW's Strong: Rivals television tapings in Los Angeles, California on Thursday event, one of whom was making their debut.

Per the Wrestling Observer/Figure Four Online, Shane Strickland made his first ever New Japan appearance by answering an open challenge thrown down by 'Switchblade' Jay White. They ended up wrestling in the main event, with White taking the victory.

Strickland, formerly Isaiah 'Swerve' Scott in WWE, has been in contract talks with AEW recently, though signing a deal there would not preclude him from working further NJPW dates.

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Returning to NJPW at the tapings were Shane Haste and Mascara Dorada, who wrestled for WWE as Shane Thorne and Gran Metalik respectively. Appearing for New Japan for the first time since January 2015, Haste aligned with former TMDK stablemate JONAH and Bad Dude Tito at Strong: Rivals. Dorada, meanwhile, had previously been announced for NJPW's Strong Style Evolved event in Florida next month.

Dorada made his first post-WWE wrestling appearance earlier this month. Having been let go by the market leaders in November 2021, he faced Blake Christian, Gringo Loco, and ASF on a GCW scramble on 4 February.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.