In Japan, the perception of wrestling is very different from what it is in North America. While wrestling may have lost some popularity over the years in the American subcontinent, it continues to be a celebrated sport in Japan. Naturally, the Japanese people have always been more inclined towards seeing “one of their own”, i.e, Japanese wrestlers.
The biggest stars in Japanese wrestling history include the likes of Giant Baba, Antonio Inoki Keiji Mutoh, Shinya Hashimoto, Masahiro Chono, Mitusharu Misawa, Jumbo Tsuruta, Toshiaki Kawada, Kenta Kobashi and more. However, there have been a handful of gaijins (foreigners) who have made a huge impact in Japanese wrestling.
Whether it was their physical stature or otherwise, they worked hard enough to earn the respect (or disrespect for top heels) of the Japanese people. They’ve surpassed any expectations set for them and became larger than life superstars in the land of the rising sun.
Here are the five greatest gaijins in Japanese wrestling history.
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