Over the course of my extensive and colorful career spanning three decades and change in the professional wrestling industry, I always made it my career goal to be a star in Japan.

That objective was reached in 2010, by the serendipitous grace of God Almighty and a bit of tunnel vision from Yours Truly, where I set my sights on achieving that specific goal.

I arranged to book “The Japanese Buzzsaw” Yoshihiro Tajiri in Finland, where I would wrestle him in February 2010 during a hellacious Nordic winter war in Helsinki. Tajiri was so taken by our match, that immediately afterward, he asked me, “You want to wrestle in Japan? I think the Japanese fans would like you.”

Little did I know at the time, that Tajiri was just starting up his own new company, SMASH, and they were just getting their feet off the ground. I was booked as the top foreign wrestler at the main event level for SMASH during it’s entire, albeit short-lived, run. Thereafter, I was poised as a top attraction for WNC – Wrestling New Classic – which followed where SMASH left off in 2012 through to 2014.

Now, here in September 2024, and more specifically inside of 24 hours, I am primed to leave for the Land of Rising Sun once again. This will mark my 23rd tour of the country and my long-awaited return to Japanese shores since my last excursion there for Tokyo Pro Wrestling in 2018, where I was in the main event yet again against Tajiri.

Tajiri is, without doubt, the most influential person in my entire wrestling career. He is the man that opened the doors for me to enter Japan. When propositioned by New Japan Pro Wrestling in 2012, I declined their advanced out of loyalty to Tajiri, who had just started up anew with WNC at the time.

Now, that respect and honor is paid back yet again. On September 28 in Kumamoto, Japan, Tajiri will hold his 30th Anniversary event under the Kyushu Pro Wrestling banner. I am one of the few foreign talents that has been invited to be a part of this magnanimous occasion, and I am truly honored.

My WNC title win from Tajiri in 2014: