equivalents?

[newpurofan1]

okay, this question is fairly complicated and bound to get some interesting answers...

if there was an "equivalent" wrestler between puroresu and north american wrestling (e.g. WWE, NWA-TNA, etc.), who would it be? in other words, what wrestler in Japan would be comparable to a counterpart in the north american scene, in terms of either wrestling style, charisma, mic work, attitude, or impact on the sport? for example, antonio inoki could be comparable to hulk hogan for helping to bring wrestling to the mainstream, and being on top for so long (even though both are hanging on by their fingernails right now). ric flair could be compared to genichiro tenryu, in that they can have so many different matches with so many different people and still be good. toshiaki kawada and undertaker who have been the "so close and yet so far..." types. or liger and shawn michaels in that they both proved smaller wrestlers CAN get over. your thoughts?

[newpurofan1]

kobashi and benoit... two guys who have the desire and ability to absorb and dish out punishment... not to mention being intense and not someone you want to have mad at you...

[bannabop]

Kobashi gets pushed and has held major titles.. Benoit hasn't.

[Luds]

Their style is indeed similar, but like bannabop said, Benoit is a high midcarder, Kobashi is a superstar heavyweight.