I write a professional wrestling column every Monday and Friday for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. The latest column focuses on the top story of the weekend that WWE signs KENTA from Japan. I explain the reason I’m excited and nervous. The following is an excerpt:
WWE is once again going to embark on the adventure of bringing in an international star.
This past weekend while WWE was doing live events in Japan, they had a ceremonial contract signing of Kenta Kobayashi.
I’ve spent a lot of time recently looking at hours of match footage and talking to those who have wrestled in Japan about the work of the man who is commonly known as KENTA.
The best way to describe him is a Japanese version of Daniel Bryan.
A quick style in the ring filled with lethal kicks, running knees, a submission hold for every position and he even slams his back into the turnbuckle before running full speed at his opponent to deliver one of his many offensive weapons.
Bryan and KENTA did have had some classic battles in Bryan’s pre-WWE years. Much of Bryan’s style seems to be modeled after KENTA’s. Bryan isn’t the only one, but more on that in a moment.
The 33-year-old Japanese star has me excited to see him in person in the United States on the WWE stage. As excited as I am, I’m equally nervous for him.
There have been Canadians who have done well. Sheamus has had a good career as the first Irish-born WWE champion and there have been some good men from England.
Talent from countries, cultures and wrestling styles drastically different than the United States — such as Japan or Mexico — haven’t had the greatest success in WWE.
Taka Michinoku was good for a little while in the 90s in his role. He was a guy WWE was trying to build their light heavyweight division around in an effort to counter WCW’s cruiserweight division. After a serious presentation, things got weird. Remember the Val Venis skit parodying John Wayne Bobbitt?
Yokozuna was a great character and world champion. However, the character was Japanese inspired, but the man who played it was Samoan-American.
One of the biggest faults I’ve seen in international stars when performing in WWE is the lack of facials. WWE is all about the cameras and emotion. I’ve seen some great show of emotion from KENTA in his matches with a good story or feud behind it. He must keep this and continue to develop it. If you don’t have facials, you’re no good to WWE, no matter how many moves you know.
CLICK HERE for what I fear WWE will do with KENTA, my favorite in-ring move I’ve seen him do and what WWE talent he said stole his moves.
