Two most seen Puroresu stars in America...

[Supah Indy]

The answer may shock you. I know you may be thinking Ultimo Dragon, Kenzo Suzuki, Chono, Sasaki or even Inoki....but the fact is, the two most seen Wrestlers are Mr. Pogo and Masato Tanaka! before you say "This is crazy!" look at these facts.

From what I understand, Connan O'Brien has had higher ratings than the big two fedferations and in 2003, Connan O'Brien showed clips of Masato Tanaka vs. Mr. Pogo from "Ring Of Torture" during one of his "Lullabys". Thus making them the two most seen Puroresu stars in America. Sure noone recognizes them, but they've atleast been seen by millions of people in the US, something very few Puroresu stars can claim. And if you add Tanaka's ECW, that's more.

I know I may be wrong, I'm not trying to claim I'm right, after much thought, it appears this is logical.

[kwilson83]

Well I still would have to give my nod to Ultimo Dragon in this case. In 2002, "based on Nielsen ratings figures, which indicate that O'Brien averages 2.55 million viewers." If that was in 2002, I know his ratings have gone up a little, but they have not reached the 4.5 to 5.0 ratings that WCW and WWF used to get. WCW in its prime (and when Dragon was there) would have had more then 2.55 million viewers. Also add in current WWE viewers that saw Dragon last year.

When you think about it, 2.55 million really isn't that many. From lords of pain in 2002 "WWE Raw, 2.8, 3.02 million homes." So if a 2.8 significes 3.02 million homes, then there are probably quite a few Japanese wrestlers that wrestled on WCW or WWF in the last 10 years is probably a more visable figure. I still think Ultimo Dragon wins though.

Although for what it matters I did happen to see that episode and marked out when it showed them and I actually knew who they were.

[Supah Indy]

That's a good point. I didnt think Conan did that low of ratings. But still, how many other Japanese Garbage Wrestlers in Japan can say "I was seen on American TV by millions of people". lol.

[One to Remember X]

the first post of this threads kinda like a trick question. It would be like Mid-South saying it was far more succesful then WWE for feeling arenas when in fact their arenas only feel about 200. Ultimo Dragon is memorable because he sticks out. Not just another face in the crowd because of the mask and shoulder sheild. Those too things make him more memorable to non wrestling fans then Kenzo Suzuki or Mr. Saito. Same thing with Mysterios uniform. Sense Drag stuck out with his mask in WCW's boom years he will always be familiar if not remembered. Same with the road warriors as oposed to the Rockers.

[kwilson83]

That makes no sense and has nothing to do with the topic.

Anyway, I was watching that Conan with someone else and starting yelling "Look, it's Mr. Pogo!! YAY POGO!!!" Needless to say I got a weird look, so I showed him the clip I have of Mr. Pogo getting paralyzed. Then he understood.

Conan does get great ratings for his time slot, it just comes on so late that in the grand scheme of things it doesn't compare to prime time.

[One to Remember X]

whats the topic suposed to be then? Sure the ppl saw the wrestlers but they dont remember or care less about who they r so what now? Being seen by millions on an actually wrestling program during a boom period is much better then being seen on a show full of people who9 could care less. Did I make my point K.W.?

[kwilson83]

Sure noone recognizes them, but they've atleast been seen by millions of people in the US, something very few Puroresu stars can claim.

He admited he wasn't naming the most "memorable," but rather was just saying who he thought had been seen by the most. The Japanese wrestler that has been seen the most and remembered by the most are two different things. His post was about the former. I wouldn't have minded your post, but you made no comment as to what his idea was, but rather went off on a different tangent. Which you have a habit of doing.

[One to Remember X]

well heck even ive been on tv. So thrn I'd still say Ultimo during the WCW boom period.

[kwilson83]

Agreed. Wonder if Pogo and Tanaka are aware of their 3 seconds of fame? Probably not.

[Pheonix_Chi25]

Most seen Garbage puro wrestlers in the States? I'd say it would have to be W*ing Kanemura, Masato Tanaka, Jado and Gedo when they wrestled for ECW. And Tajiri because he wrestled for the WWE/F, ECW and then the WWE again.

[kwilson83]

Most remembered, absolutely, you're right. But do you think over 3 million people have seen those guys in ECW? I guess it is a stat that can't be proven either way. I have only seen them once in ECW, and I have watched years of ECW stuff.

Although if Tajiri is considered a garbage wrestler, then he would win out due to his WWE stint, hands down.

[Supah Indy]

Tajiri was trained by Kendo Nagasaki if you consider that Garbage enough

[One to Remember X]

when was Tajiri's pre-ecw WWF run? what was it all about?

[kwilson83]

I think he had a match or two, nothing serious. I doubt he was under contract. This was 1996 or so, when the likes of Sasuke and company made a few random appearances in WWF.

[Hisaharu Tanabe]

Yeah, I remember Tajiri, wrestling under his full name without any gimmick, being just a jobber for those Michinoku Pro guys.