WWE Reportedly Made Offers To "At Least Three" Top Japanese Stars
NJPW's Tetsuya Naito wasn't the only one approached...
Earlier this week, a report by Tokyo Sports claimed WWE made an offer to former IWGP Intercontinental Champion Tetsuya Naito sometime after NJPW's Dominion event in June. Naito was reportedly quick to turn this offer down.
Following on from Tokyo Sports' story, Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter notes that the Los Ingobernables de Japon man wasn't the only top Japanese star approached - with no less than three reached out to by WWE.
No names were mentioned in The Observer's report, but one of the other wrestlers approached is said to be a "huge surprise," while another is said to have no reservations about moving to America like some Japanese stars might. Both are said to have given consideration to WWE's offer before turning it down. Here's the full quote from this week's Observer:
"Naito would be one of the three (at least) Japanese top guys feelers have been sent to. The other two that we’re aware of didn’t turn the offers down without thought although one would be a huge surprise and the other would be a great worker who I didn’t see flourishing in the WWE system, but also probably wouldn’t have any reservations about moving to the U.S. like many of the Japanese might."
While it appears that WWE did make it a little way with the two unnamed stars they approached, they didn't get anywhere with Naito. In that Tokyo Sports story, the 36-year-old claimed that he didn't give the offer a thought because NJPW is number one in his eyes.
"I didn't even give it a thought," Naito said. "This New Japan ring is already the world's number one stage. The fans know this. That's why I think we should focus on our home crowd before looking international."
Following on from Tokyo Sports' story, Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter notes that the Los Ingobernables de Japon man wasn't the only top Japanese star approached - with no less than three reached out to by WWE.
No names were mentioned in The Observer's report, but one of the other wrestlers approached is said to be a "huge surprise," while another is said to have no reservations about moving to America like some Japanese stars might. Both are said to have given consideration to WWE's offer before turning it down. Here's the full quote from this week's Observer:
"Naito would be one of the three (at least) Japanese top guys feelers have been sent to. The other two that we’re aware of didn’t turn the offers down without thought although one would be a huge surprise and the other would be a great worker who I didn’t see flourishing in the WWE system, but also probably wouldn’t have any reservations about moving to the U.S. like many of the Japanese might."
While it appears that WWE did make it a little way with the two unnamed stars they approached, they didn't get anywhere with Naito. In that Tokyo Sports story, the 36-year-old claimed that he didn't give the offer a thought because NJPW is number one in his eyes.
"I didn't even give it a thought," Naito said. "This New Japan ring is already the world's number one stage. The fans know this. That's why I think we should focus on our home crowd before looking international."
Written by Ross Tweddell
Written and video journalist for Cultaholic Wrestling | twitter: @rossonrasslin | instagram: @rossonrasslin