Many wrestlers have competed across multiple promotions over the years. From WWE to TNA to AEW and NJPW. NJPW is a huge wrestling company and can be viewed as the Japanse equivalent of WWE. Due to its massive popularity in Japan and even in America and Europe.
Related: 10 Best Events In New Japan History
However, a lot of wrestling legends have competed in NJPW. Some runs are iconic such as AJ Styles and Chris Jericho. Whilst, others you may not even know about for a multitude of reasons. As a result, a list. has been created compiling the top 1o wrestling legends you didn't know competed in NJPW.
10 Shelton Benjamin
An insane in-ring athlete and vastly underrated. Shelton Benjamin is currently back in WWE after years away from the company. During his time away he competed in NJPW during a three-year spell from 2012 to 2015.
Related: WWE: 5 Recently Released Superstars Who Should Sign With NJPW (& 5 Who Should Sign With NWA)
He competed for titles during his time in the company but it didn't result in any reigns. Also, he altered his name to Shelton X Benjamin joining a heel stable called Suzuki-Gun. The heel run was easily the best part of his New Japan run.
9 Brock Lesnar
After leaving WWE in 2004, Brock Lesnar aimed to go back to a career in American Football. However, this ended in failure resulting in Lesnar making a shock move to NJPW.
In his debut match, he instantly won the IWGP Heavyweight Title but only went on to make three title defenses before being stripped. On top of this, he also fought Kurt Angle in an NJPW ring in a rematch of their WrestleMania classic.
8 Kurt Angle
Speaking of Kurt Angle, he also had a run-in NJPW as part of a TNA partnership. As stated previously, he defeated Brock Lesnar and won the IWGP Heavyweight Title as well. Holding it for the rest of 2007 before losing it to current WWE star Shinsuke Nakamura.
Angle would remain in New Japan until 2009. In which he competed at Wrestle Kingdom III in an eight-man tag team match. As well, as having one last world title match in a losing effort before leaving the company.
7 "Macho Man" Randy Savage
Back in the '80s and '90s WWE and NJPW worked together often. This results in Randy Savage competing for the Japan-based company. Then years later he returned again under WCW, fighting an array of wrestling legends.
He returned one final time in 2000 facing Rick Steiner in a losing effort. However, Savage may not be remembered for his NJPW run, he had a bunch of entertaining matches. Leaving his legendary mark on the New Japan stage.
6 Eddie Guerrero
The much-loved Latino legend Eddie Guerrero traveled many paths before joining the WWE. One of these paths ended up in NJPW where he donned a mask and went under the ring name Black Tiger II.
During his run in New Japan, he won the Best of the Super Juniors in 1996. As well as receiving a title shot which he ultimately lost. He then left the company in '96 making the move to ECW for a short spell.
5 Sting
WCW had a partnership with NJPW during the peak of its run. This resulted in their top star Sting competing in a New Japan ring. He made his debut in 1991 facing off against The Great Muta. Whilst also competing for the IWGP Heavyweight Title.
He continued to wrestle for NJPW on and off for five years. Until eventually stopping in 1996 concentrating solely on WCW. However, during the New Japan run, he lost the WCW United Stated Title to Kensuke Sasaki in a shock outcome.
4 Andre The Giant
The greatest giant in all of WWE history was also a staple for NJPW. Working for New Japan for a staggering 12 years in which. he worked hundreds of matches.
During his NJPW run, he won the Sagawa Express Cup and the 1985 International Wrestling Grand Prix. Andre is not only an icon in WWE but also for NJPW, leaving his giant legacy on the company.
3 Ric Flair
Another wrestling icon who competed in NJPW is the Nature Boy Ric Flair. We all know Flair has competed in many promotions across his illustrious career. However, his run in NJPW is often overlooked.
He lost his NWA World Heavyweight Title in New Japan to Tatsumi Fujinami. However, he won it back at WCW Superbrawl later that year. He also competed in tournaments for NJPW and wrestled on a handful of house shows.
2 The Undertaker
Now this one is a huge shock. The Deadman has wrestled for WWE for 30 years, however, there was a short spell before that. Beginning his run in the wrestling world for WCW, he had a short few weeks competing in NJPW.
Related: ECW: 10 Wrestling Legends You Didn't Know Competed In The Promotion
It wasn't anything special as he didn't have his iconic gimmick yet as he was known as Dice Morgan. Working tag team matches with different superstars during the three weeks such as Scott Hall. Before being released shortly after by WCW and the rest is history.
1 Hulk Hogan
One of, if not the biggest wrestler of all time. Hulk Hogan was the megastar for WWE during its rise to dominance in the '80s. However, he also had two stints in NJPW with the first being in the early '80s. This coincided with Hogan going from nothing to the worlds biggest draw in WWE.
His second stint came in 1993, in which he defeated The Great Muta to win the IWGP Heavyweight Title. What surprised many fans was Hogan's brilliant technical wrestling during his New Japan runs. As his skill set in WWE was very basic.
Next: NJPW: The 10 Longest-Reigning IWGP Heavyweight Champions
