A few years ago Sting was the biggest star not to compete in WWE (don't give me that one night WCW shit). Then it was AJ Styles. So who is currently the biggest star who hasn't competed in WWE?
The IWGP Title looks like a serious championship compared to pretty much anything stateside. Dare I say it looks like a "real" title (boxing, MMA, etc).
The correct answer is no one. There isn't a wrestler that had the international popularity of Sting (and arguably Styles) who hasn't wrestled for WWE.
All the Japanese performers listed aren't known outside of Japan except by a small circle of smarks who think they are better for watching Japanese wrestling.
Keiji Mutoh/Great Muta and it's not even close. He's a legend all over the world and people still remember his phenomenal battles with Flair and especially Sting from the late 80s and early 90s in the U.S.
Muta coming over for one match in WWE would be comparable to Taker working Wrestle Kingdom for New Japan.
TNA's Roode would have been great for a run but that window is closing.
Tanahashi is in a similar situation.
Okada could end up as one of the GOATs considering how young he is.
Lethal would be a terrific addition.
Cole and Sabre Jr. have long careers ahead of them that will probably see them in WWE at some point.
Omega thus far has refused a WWE contract because of his experience with Deep South.
Tenzan would have been great to see in the U.S. 10 or 15 years ago.
A U.S. run for Misawa was my ultimate dream but he sadly passed away.
All of them pale in comparison to the Great Muta though.
I don't know why, but I find Adam Cole boring as fuck. I can't fucking stand that guy and I think he'd just be a nobody in WWE. Roderick Strong is another guy who just bores me even though he's great in the ring. I hate the term vanilla midget because it's so derogatory but if there are any two guys I'd use it for it would be them.
I think Dalton Castle and Jay Lethal would be better pick ups for WWE. Although WWE wouldn't touch Castle's gimmick with a ten foot pole. They wouldn't know how to do it right anyway, and I don't know if it would get over with their casual audience. It'd have a chance if this was Attitude Era WWF though
Jay Lethal could be an awesome character in WWE though if they actually gave him a chance and you could honestly bring in Jindrak, Martini and Taeler Hendrix too. I'd leave Baby Tista behind though.
Taeler Hendrix might have to uh...tone down her look a bit though. This is PG Era WWE.
And Moose, Christ Vince would pop a boner for that guy
I don't know why, but I find Adam Cole boring as fuck. I can't fucking stand that guy and I think he'd just be a nobody in WWE. Roderick Strong is another guy who just bores me even though he's great in the ring. I hate the term vanilla midget because it's so derogatory but if there are any two guys I'd use it for it would be them.
I think Dalton Castle and Jay Lethal would be better pick ups for WWE. Although WWE wouldn't touch Castle's gimmick with a ten foot pole. They wouldn't know how to do it right anyway, and I don't know if it would get over with their casual audience. It'd have a chance if this was Attitude Era WWF though
Jay Lethal could be an awesome character in WWE though if they actually gave him a chance and you could honestly bring in Jindrak, Martini and Taeler Hendrix too. I'd leave Baby Tista behind though.
Taeler Hendrix might have to uh...tone down her look a bit though. This is PG Era WWE.
And Moose, Christ Vince would pop a boner for that guy
Cole is anything but Vanilla. One of the best promos in the game today. He's gotten tighten up though - last time I saw him he started looking a bit like Bo.
It's hard to mention Muta without mentioning Chono or Kobashi. Kenta Kobashi is incredibly well known worldwide as is Masahiro Chono for his time in the nWo.
Good question/thread. To be fair I will not say me. So I will say probably Jay Lethal. He has been around for awhile and won a lot of gold. He has a lot of charisma too.
On a global front, known by wrestling fans, there is literally no one. The WWE has essentially bought and used the most important, non-WWE names out there, from Punk and Bryan to Owens and Zayn and Balor. Styles was the last ranger left out on the ranch and even he's come to the stables to be whipped into shape.
Guys like Lethal and Raimaker and so on, just aren't on that level, both in terms of in ring ability or fame. The indies will have to start looking for/building new stars.
Sting and AJ styles were the last ones and since Triple H was able to land Bruno, Warrior and Savage for the hall of fame..I cant even think of any other big names they had a falling out with, that is now back in the WWE family.
Seems like the well has ran dry for the time being.
Here's a few people Id lIke to see in WWE, even though I don't see any of these guys joining anytime soon:
Kenny Omega
Bobby Lashley
Bobby Roode (w James Storm tbh)
Jay Lethal
Riochet/Prince Puma
Pentagon Jr
Fenix
Alex Shelley
This died when Sting signed. With the Monday night wars well in our rear view this title no longer has any appeal.
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
Wrestling Forum
23.4M posts
266.5K members
Since 2002
A forum community dedicated to all Wrestling enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about WWE, AEW, Ring of Honor, Impact and all forms of professional and amateur wrestling.