8 current WWE superstars who come from non-traditional wrestling countries
We are in a new global age.
With new technologies, countries once distant enough to be considered irrelevant have now been put on each other’s doorsteps. Long gone are the days of the North American wrestling contingent. Sure, the WWE still gravitates its entire physical business within the United States, but the international fandom equates to a very large portion of the companies financial interests. With the expansion of the WWE network, the WWE universe continues to grow wider, and the national desires to share a bit of that proverbial wrestling cake, grow day-by-day.
WWE always sought to diversify and they’re not shy. To see the wide range of nationalities, look no further than the Cruiserweight or Mae Young Classic tournaments. Bringing in talent from around the world, not only increases the interest within the countries in question but also adds something new for the existing audience to experience. New trends, new cultures, and even new styles of wrestling, all of which contribute to the outward expansion of the WWE.
Forget your all-American heroes, your Canadian technical wizards, your high-flying Mexicans, and your Japanese hard-hitters. From the well-known Superstars on the main roster to the up and coming fledgelings on NXT, we look at eight wrestlers from nations that are obscured by the WWE’s standards.
#1 No Way Jose
No Way Jose was born in the Dominican Republic, not to be confused with Dominica. The nation makes up the eastern half of the Caribbean island of Hispaniola, alongside its neighbour of Haiti.
The Dominican dancer moved with his parents to the USA whilst he was still a child; in hope of finding a more prosperous life. Growing up on WWE, he idolised superstars such as The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin. Once Jose decided to pursue a career in wrestling, he retraced his heritage and looked to national greats, such as the great Jack Veneno for inspiration.
No Way Jose has oodles of talent, he is full of fun, and his dancing to the ring sends the NXT fans into a synchronised samba. Jose has been caught on the sidelines of NXT without breaking through into the main event. What if the creatives at WWE decide to skip the NXT title picture, and in the near future bring the dancing dynamo straight up to the main roster?