NWO Japan. What happened when wrestling’s most popular faction crossed the pacific? Back in 1996 the New World Order had taken the pro wrestling world by storm. WCW and New Japan Pro Wrestling had a long standing working relationship by that point, so it was just a matter of time before the black and white came to Tokyo. It all started on a December 1996 episode of Monday Nitro where NJPW star Masahiro Chono made a surprise reveal that he’d joined the NWO. He’d become the leader of the Japanese chapter, if you will, of the NWO and draw the likes of scott norton, hiro saito, tenzan, Akira and more into the group. American counterparts like Syxx, Buff Bagwell and NWO Sting would also come over and participate on a tour to tour basis. There’s an amazing period of time in 1997 where The Great Muta is in NWO Japan, but Keiji Muto isn’t. For those unaware Keiji Muto plays the Great Muta character and they are booked as completely separate entities. There’s even an NWO vs New Japan and WCW tag match where BOTH Muto and Muta wrestle in the same match, on opposite sides. At different times of course. In 1998 Chono would be forced to step back from wrestling due to injury and Keiji Muto would take over leadership of the group. The NWO were riding high in Japan, with both Scott Norton and Muto having runs with the IWGP heavyweight belt and Tenzan and Kojima holding the tag belts. He’d move the faction away from a purely heel faction, kind of like NWO Wolfpack back in WCW. Chono eventually returned and a power struggle for leadership ensued. He formed a rival group called team 2000, with the feud culminating in a january 4th Tokyo Dome singles match against Muto where the loser had to disband their team. Muto lost the match and just like that, NWO Japan was no more. #wwe #wrestling #shorts