Despite how much respect that many American wrestling fans have towards Japanese grapplers, it is hard to get noticed if you remain exclusively in Japan.  For many wrestling fans, Nobuhiko Takada may be the best wrestler from Asia that they never heard of.

The father of current WWE Superstar, Alberto Del Rio, was an outstanding wrestler in his own right.  The masked Caras (and brother of Mexican legend Mil Mascaras) was one of the larger wrestlers in Mexico and considered by many to one of the best true Heavyweights to come out of Mexico.

When Bret Hart mentioned on a recent Legends of Wrestling Roundtable that the best wrestler to come out of Canada was the Stomper, Archie Gouldie, the rest of the panel thought it was a real stretch.  It may still be, but the more you think about it the accomplishments of Gouldie, it isn’t as far out of leftfield as originally thought.

Hiro Matsuda was a very good wrestler and fairly successful both Japan and in the Florida territory.  Like other Japanese wrestlers, he played the stereotypical foreign heel and fans delighted in booing him.  However, it was not his in ring performances that he is most known for.  His contributions as a Professional Wrestling trainer is really what made Matsuda valuable in the industry.  The endless list of his students included Hulk Hogan, Lex Luger, Ron Simmons and The Great Muta.  Had Matsuta had more widely known in ring career he would be a far more viable candidate.