courtesy: wwe.com
The best that Tensai did in America before was when he won the WWE Intercontinental title under the name A-Train. However, when he went to Japan, he teamed with Tyson Tomko and dominated. He won the IWGP tag titles twice, and the New Japan Cup in 2006. Here is a look at some more notable America wrestlers that found great success in Japan.
Tyson Tomko
Tyson Tomko is best known for his days in TNA Impact Wrestling when he teamed with Christian. He also worked in the WWE prior to that but to lesser success. However, from 2006-2008, Tomko achieved his greatest success when he teamed with Giant Bernard (Tensai) to win the IWGP tag team titles. Since that time, Tomko returned to TNA and has since flamed out and ended up in the WWE rehab program.
Dr. Death Steve Williams / Terry "Bam Bam" Gordy
The late Steve Williams and Terry Gordy were pretty big stars in America on the Independent scene. Williams, a former Oklahoma Sooners' football player, dominated in Bill Watt's Mid South Wrestling, holding the federation's biggest title as well as teaming with Ted DiBiase. Terry Gordy was one of the Fabulous Freebirds. However, when they went to Japan, they teamed up as The Miracle Violence Connection and held the AJPW Triple Crown Championship twice. Gordy died in 2001 at the age of 40 and Williams passed away in 2009 at the age of 49.
Stan Hansen
Stan Hansen is an old school wrestler whose biggest success in America came in the '70s when he feuded with Bruno Sammartino and in the '80s when he was the AWA World Champion. He was a tough-as-nails redneck that just beat up his opponents and used the most devastating clothesline in the sport. In singles action, he was the only man to pin both Antonio Inoki and Giant Baba in championship matches. He also worked as a tag team wrestler with partners like Terry Gordy, Ted DiBiase and Bruise Brody. He held almost 30 titles in Japan.
Dynamite Kid
Most of America knows Dynamite Kid as one-half of the British Bulldogs, but he enjoyed his greatest success in Japan. It was Kid's success in Japan that led other North American wrestlers like Chris Benoit, Eddie Guerrero and Chris Jericho to make it overseas. Kid mainly wrestled in the junior division, putting on classic matches with men like Tiger Mash and Kobayashi.
source: sports.yahoo.com
