“The Rebel” StarBuck is still thankful for a major opportunity that Tajiri gave him, and he looks to return the favor in Japan this weekend.
StarBuck spoke with WrestleZone Managing Editor Bill Pritchard to promote his upcoming match with Tajiri at his 30th Anniversary Show on September 28. Starbuck (Michael Majalahti), a native of Timmons, Ontario, Canada, has made a name for himself in Finland over the past several years. He left home due to a recession in Eastern Canada in the mid-90s and ventured to Finland, where his parents originally came from.
StarBuck originally planned on eventually going home to Canada, but ended up opening a business and stayed in Finland. In addition to working as a pro wrestler, Majalahti is a musician, graphic artist and voiceover artist.
“God himself gives you certain gifts. So some people get a few more gifts than the guy next to them. Luckily myself, I have the gift of art. I have the gift of musicianship so I can write songs. I’m a songwriter, I have two active bands that I am a lead singer in. I’ve been a singer now for 25 years. In addition to that, I’m a voice-over artist,” he explained. “I’m one of the top B to B, B to C, export voiceover speakers in all of Finland in native English. So, with that in mind — and plus professional wrestling, yeah, I was given a few gifts. And by cracky, I am glad to have them. Because life would be dull without them.”
One of those gifts is a great voice, which aided him in getting started in the pro wrestling business. StarBuck recalled working as an announcer and commentator in the 1990s, and getting to know other Canadians such as Lance Storm, Chris Jericho and Lenny St. Clair, better known as Luther/The Concierge in AEW. He says many wrestlers have a goal of getting to WWE, but Japan was his end game.
Tajiri’s influence
StarBuck runs his own promotion, Slam Wrestling in Finland, which is what first linked him to Tajiri. He didn’t know it at the time, but StarBuck helped get Tajiri booked in Finland in 2010. Tajiri was equally happy with their match, then shared plans for bringing new talent to Japan for his new promotion.
“[Tajiri said] ‘I’m starting a new company. I’m now going to be running shows on a monthly basis in Tokyo, I’m looking for new guys and new people that Japan hasn’t seen yet. And if you want to go to Japan, I think the people in Japan would like you.’ And he brought me over. So he did a bunch of vignettes and a bunch of promos where I had sent some of my other students to Japan ahead of myself,” StarBuck said. “We kind of set the groundwork for me coming to Japan. And through that, I went there and my debut was the 24th of July, 2010. And little did I know the plans that he had for me were much bigger than what I had expected.”
StarBuck wrestled Hajime Ohara, a prominent name in Pro Wrestling NOAH, in a matinee match on a double card. That evening, he beat Tajiri for the company’s championship. He was an overnight success, and the trip easily exceeded any expectations he’d had prior.
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An overnight sensation
“I had Tokyo Sports Newspaper writing about me, I had Samurai TV doing pieces on me. Japanese Press Weekly, Pro Wrestling Magazine, etc. I became a star, literally an overnight sensation, overnight, and it was because Tajiri believed in me,” StarBuck said. “The one thing that he always said in his promos like he built up my coming and my arrival Japan. There is one word that I could make out, and that is charisma.”
StarBuck was ranking at the top of reader polls in Japanese magazines, including a top five ranking in Weekly Pro Wrestling Magazine’s “most popular” category.
“[In 2010], I’d been there for five months. And I was already in the top 5 most popular in the entire country. So that’s where like, not only did I make it, I exceeded what my expectations were. And I am glad and I am so thankful to this day for the opportunity that Tajiri gave me,” StarBuck explained. “Because, to be honest with you, in 2012, New Japan approached me and they said, ‘Now is the time to make the switch. Now is the time to come over.’
“At that point, Tajiri had just lost his promotion… He had fallen out with the guy that was promoting SMASH and he had started WNC, Wrestling New Classic,” he continued. “[Tajiri] had gotten a new money man, a new promoter. He was restructuring and rebuilding WNC after SMASH. I said to New Japan, ‘I cannot do it. I cannot leave Mr. Tajiri. Because he is the man that opened the door for me to come to your country to become a star in your country. And now he needs me more than ever.’ Out of integrity and respect for Tajiri, I said, ‘No,’ to New Japan.”
They have shared the ring more than a dozen times since then, as opponents and partners. StarBuck will once again be there for Tajiri on September 28 at Tajiri’s milestone celebration under the Kyushu Pro Wrestling banner.
Watch our full interview with “The Rebel” StarBuck below:
