Save for a few matches in WCW, Americans fans didn’t see much of Shinjiro Ohtani.  Those that did, saw a man who was one of the most influential light heavyweights of the 90s and early 2000s.

In Japan, Ohtani won the coveted J-Crown and with the relationship with WCW, he was the first ever Cruiserweight Champion.  Growing frustrated with the lack of attention paid to lighter weight wrestlers, he eventually co-founded (with Shinya Hashimoto) his own promotion (Zero One), and became a mogul in his own right.

This is a long shot, but anyone who has followed New Japan knows of the booking prowess of Gedo, who has written the best wrestling television regardless of promotion in the 2010s.  A former junior heavyweight star in both Japan and Mexico, Gedo might have the best wrestling mind of anyone, and perhaps (though not likely) that might be honored here.

Silver King was a lot more than one of the many Mexican luchadores who were signed by WCW in the late 1990s, but he was so much more than that.

Before the man who fooled us with his stocky physique appeared on the American scene, he was a successful tag team and singles wrestler in his native Mexico.  Along with his partner, El Texano, Silver King won the main tag titles in that country, and as a solo he ascended to the CMLL World Heavyweight Title. 

Silver King would then crack the U.S. scene with WCW, and while he was not used in a high spot, he was entertaining and did appear on five pay per views.  He returned to Mexico and would win more titles there and in Japan.

Sadly, he died in the ring in a match against Juventud Guerrera in England He suffered a heart attack and the untrained ringside attendants, including the referee were not equipped to handle the situation.  He was only 51 Years Old.

Bull Ramos was a very good mid to upper card heel who depending on the region would be a serviceable champion. Ramos is best known for his work in California and Texas, but he also was a four-time Champion in the Pacific Northwest.  Short, stocky and powerful, Ramos even had a run against Bruno Sammartino in New York.