5 Greatest WWE Superstars from Japan

Japan has always been a hotbed for sports entertainment and many superstars have carried over success in Japan into WWE. As far back as the late 60s and early 70s, Japanese-born superstars made their way to the company and had successful runs in the United States. WWE has had great working relationships with many Japanese organizations throughout the years.

Some Japanese superstars have come to the United States on a part-time basis and had excellent runs, while others have come to the United States and had long distinguished careers in WWE. Whether it was part-time or full-time, the WWE has always benefited from the Japanese superstars that have been a part of the company.

Although WWE has had a female Japanese champion, there has yet to be a Japanese-born male world champion. With the number of superstars continuing to flow in from Japan, it is only a matter of time before WWE crowns its first ever male Japanese world champion.

Here are the 5 best WWE Superstars from Japan:

#5. Tajiri brought comedy and talent to WWE.

Tajiri had his initial success upon entering the United States in ECW. He won a tag team title as well as the ECW TV title. Once ECW folded, Tajiri found himself in WWE from 2001 to 2008. Along the way, the superstar moved from a comedy act to a multi-time champion. Tajiri won both the Cruiserweight and US Title, having a substantial role on the roster during his time with the company.

The Japanese superstar had high-profile feuds both as a face and a heel, battling Rey Mysterio, The Hurricane and Jamie Noble during his heyday. When his run as cruiserweight champion came to an end and the company moved on from the title, he became a tag team specialist.

Tajiri won multiple WWE tag team titles with different partners but his most memorable pairing was with William Regal. The pair became WWE’s odd couple and were wildly popular. Both as a singles performer and tag team specialist, Tajiri was a highly successful superstar.

#4. WWE part-timer and all-time great, Antonio Inoki

If this list were to rank the best wrestlers from Japan and not just the best WWE Superstars, Antonio Inoki might very well be ranked #1. This is only because Inoki was never a full-time performer in WWE. Although his appearances were infrequent, they were very memorable. Inoki was so impactful that he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2010.

Inoki was a special attraction during live events at Madison Square Garden over the years but his main matches against high level performers were in Japan. One of his fiercest opponents was Stan Hansen. The two had memorable feuds during Hansen’s trips to Japan. Inoki also faced off with Andre the Giant in Japan on several occasions. Long before Hulk Hogan made it famous, Inoki was known for body slamming Andre.

Perhaps Inoki’s most famous opponents in Japan were boxing heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali and WWE champion Bob Backlund. Ali famously admitted to the pain in his legs following his boxer vs. wrestler match with Inoki that was broadcast worldwide. Inoki defeated Backlund in 1979 to win the WWE Championship. WWE never recognized the title change and Backlund earned his title back days later.

Antonio Inoki founded the famous New Japan Pro-Wrestling in 1972 and has become a major political figure in Japan. Inoki’s place in WWE is also secured as one of the all-time greats to ever perform.

#3. WWE’s female Japanese champion, Asuka

After spending eight years honing her craft in Japan, Asuka signed a developmental contract with WWE in 2015 and quickly shot through the ranks. Asuka remains one of the best female superstars on the roster and is a multi-time champion on NXT, SmackDown and RAW. Asuka was the longest reigning singles champion in NXT history and carried an undefeated streak onto the main roster.

Once on the main roster, Asuka became a main attraction on WWE’s RAW brand. She was the lone survivor at her first WWE Survivor Series event and would go on to win the RAW Women’s Title at the Royal Rumble vs. Alexa Bliss. Her undefeated streak would finally come to an end after 914 days at WrestleMania when she submitted to Charlotte Flair. Asuka was soon after drafted to SmackDown.

On SmackDown, Asuka would find even more success as a singles star. She initially feuded with Carmella, but was unable to defeat her for the SmackDown Women's title. She was eventually put in a triple-threat match against Charlotte and Becky Lynch for the SmackDown title. This time Asuka would come out on top and win the title, following which she held it for 100 days. Asuka then moved back to RAW and earned another title run after winning WWE’s Money in the Bank.

Asuka already has a decorated career in WWE. She has already become the third WWE women’s triple crown winner and just the 2nd WWE women’s grand slam champion. Still in her prime, there is more to come for the Empress of Tomorrow.

#2. A WWE Superstar in and out of the ring, Mr. Fuji.

Harry Masayoshi Fujiwara was a long-time superstar in WWE and performed both in the ring and as a manager. Known by his ring name "Mr. Fuji", he was not only a singles star and tag team specialist. He was also a manager to some of the biggest names in WWE. Fuji was a fixture in WWE from the early 1970s to the late 90s and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2007. The WWE legend died in 2016.

As a WWE Superstar, Fuji had a long and illustrious career with his biggest successes coming as a tag team performer. Fuji won 13 tag team titles in his career, including 5 tag team titles during his time with WWE. Fuji’s most famous tag team partner was Professor Tanuka, with whom he won three WWE tag team titles. As a singles performer, Fuji had a few WWE title opportunities against both Pedro Morales and Bob Backlund. He used to throw salt in his opponents’ eyes and win in evil ways, earning him the reputation as one of the most hated heels in WWE.

Upon his retirement from performing, Fuji moved seamlessly into a manager’s role. One of his first successful pairings was with Don Muraco, the two would perform multiple comedy skits and were a perfect heel pairing. Fuji eventually went on to manage tag team champions Demolition, one of WWE’s best tag teams ever. His last major managerial role was as the manager of WWE Champion Yokozuna. Fuji famously threw salt into Yokozuna’s eyes and cost him the title at WrestleMania against Hulk Hogan. This was after doing the same to Bret Hart, helping Yokozuna win the title that same night.

For one generation, Mr. Fuji was a tuxedo-wearing, dastardly manager willing to cheat to help his client win. For another, he was a dastardly tag team specialist who frequently wore tag team gold. Either way, Mr. Fuji is a WWE legend.

#1. A WWE Champion in waiting: Shinsuke Nakamura

Shinsuke Nakamura makes the #1 spot on this list not only because of what he has done, but also for what he could still do. Nakamura was already a famous Japanese star before WWE signed him. Upon his arrival, he was immediately placed in NXT and proceeded to win the NXT title on two separate occasions. The three-time IGWP champion quickly became one of the most exciting and popular stars in NXT. However, his ascent to the main roster has been a bit of a mixed bag.

Nakamura has won the IC title twice, the US title twice and has been SmackDown tag team champion with Cesaro. His most notable run was in 2018 when he won WWE’s Men’s Royal Rumble, which led to a headline match at WrestleMania for the SmackDown title with AJ Styles. This was Nakamura’s chance to headline WWE as its’ champion. However, Styles was able to retain his title and Nakamura turned heel. While he is currently the IC champion and a face once again, there are many that still hope Nakamura has a world championship run in him before his time in WWE is done.

Shinsuke Nakamura was so close to being WWE’s first ever Japanese world champion. He is already the most decorated male Japanese Superstar in WWE history but has one more hill to climb.