5 WWE Legends you didn't know wrestled for New Japan Pro Wrestling
New Japan Pro Wrestling is the second biggest wrestling promotion in the world and in the last couple of years, larger numbers of fans from all over the world have tuned into New Japan programming to check out the best alternative to WWE’s product out there.
Although WWE have tried to avoid mentioning New Japan Pro Wrestling on WWE programming whenever possible, what WWE don’t want to tell you is that a number of WWE legends have appeared in New Japan Pro Wrestling.
Recently, there has been an influx of ex-New Japan stars in the WWE like Shinsuke Nakamura, AJ Styles, Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson while some failed WWE wrestlers like Juice Robinson and Tonga Loa went to Japan to rebuild their careers.
However, we’re not talking about these wrestlers on this list. We’re talking about bona fide future and current Hall of Famers.
5: The Undertaker
Yes, the man who plays the Undertaker – Mark Callaway, wrestled in New Japan Pro Wrestling.
The Undertaker is one of the most recognizable wrestlers in the history of the business and a surefire WWE Hall Of Famer. With a 26 year career in WWE, the Undertaker has done it all during his WWE career and is considered a living legend today. He also has one of the most famous streaks in professional wrestling which was only ended by Brock Lesnar at Wrestlemania 30.
Prior to becoming the ‘Phenom’, Taker had a fairly unsuccessful career in WCW where he was told by booker Ole Anderson that he’d never get over. Taker’s WCW run is quite well known today but fans may be unfamiliar with Undertaker’s solitary run in New Japan Pro Wrestling which only lasted one three-week long tour in March 1990.
Undertaker, under the moniker ‘Punisher’ Dice Morgan, teamed with the likes of Bam Bam Bigelow and even had an IWGP Tag-Team Championship shot while teaming up with Scott Hall.