Jim Ross on 56-year-old failing during 11-month WWE spell
Legendary commentator Jim Ross cannot understand why former WCW wrestler Ultimo Dragon did not succeed in WWE.
The masked Japanese superstar wrestled for WWE between May 2003 and April 2004. He previously made a name for himself with the American wrestling audience as a key member of WCW's cruiserweight division in the 1990s.
Ross was a WWE announcer and talent relations executive when Ultimo Dragon worked for the company. On his Grilling JR podcast, he questioned why the 56-year-old was not used better during his 11-month WWE spell:
"I don't know, that's a good question," Ross said. "He was a really talented guy, no doubt about that, but for some reason, it just didn't click. It may have been who we booked him with, I don't know, but he was very, very talented, there's no doubt about that, and he should have had more success in WWE than he earned." [36:12 – 36:29]
Ultimo Dragon has competed in more than 2,000 matches throughout his career, which began in 1987. To this day, he still wrestles full-time in Japan.
How Jim Ross viewed Ultimo Dragon as an in-ring performer
During his short WWE stint, Ultimo Dragon mostly wrestled cruiserweight stars such as Brian Kendrick, Jamie Noble, Shannon Moore, and Tajiri.
Rey Mysterio and Ultimo Dragon meet again,this time in the WWE in this match in Atlanta,Georgia back on October 28,2003. https://t.co/hOt3DtTN1W
Having liked his in-ring displays in WCW, Jim Ross is still unsure how WWE failed to properly utilize someone with Ultimo Dragon's talent:
"I enjoyed his work in WCW when I would catch it, but it just didn't pan out. It's one of those head-scratchers. He's such a talented guy, it's almost like, hell, he can't fail. Oh yeah, he can [fail], and he did." [36:31 – 36:47]
Ultimo Dragon left WWE after the company's higher-ups told him to unmask. At the time, they felt he needed to undergo a character transformation because he looked too similar to fellow masked wrestler Rey Mysterio.
Do you think Ultimo Dragon should have received more opportunities? Let us know in the comments section below.
Please credit Jim Ross' Grilling JR podcast and give a H/T to Sportskeeda Wrestling for the transcription if you use quotes from this article.