WWE Changes Strategy for Signing Japanese Male Wrestlers

WWE is changing the way it approaches signing male Japanese talent—and this time, it’s all about charisma.

Speaking on Self Made Session, Self Made Pro revealed that WWE has adjusted its mindset when it comes to scouting Japanese male wrestlers. After years of trying to replicate the success of Shinsuke Nakamura, the company is now being more selective in hopes of finding a star who checks every box—especially the “WWE charisma” one.

“Are there more international free agents that WWE is looking at? Yes. They’ve been looking for a Japanese male star to follow up on the Shinsuke Nakamura signing—someone with real charisma.”

It was noted that WWE has had far better luck with Japanese women, with most of their “Joshis” finding success in the company—minus one current name on SmackDown.

“WWE feels like they’ve done pretty well with the Joshis overall. Most of the Japanese women they’ve brought in have succeeded, with maybe one exception on SmackDown right now. Because of that, the mindset has been, ‘We need to get it right again with Japanese men.’”

But it’s not just about in-ring talent. WWE is laser-focused on how well a Japanese male wrestler can adapt to WWE’s style—and, more importantly, stand out on screen with their charisma.

“Their thinking is that it’s not just about talent in the ring. They believe they need to recruit the right Japanese male wrestler who actually fits WWE’s system. The big question they keep asking is, ‘Who has the charisma that will translate on our side?’ That’s been the main focus in their search.”

WWE’s international recruiting machine shows no signs of slowing down, and this change shows that they’re aiming for more than just technical excellence—they’re chasing crossover potential.

Do you think WWE will finally land their next big Japanese male star? Who do you see fitting that role? Drop your take in the comments and let us know.

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