Kurt Angle won the 1996 Freestyle Olympic Gold Medal in Atlanta, and thought there has been past Olympians in the WWE, Angle would become the first Gold Medalist to enter the organization. Angle would have the best rookie year in WWE history, winning the European, Intercontinental and World Heavyweight Title, while dazzling fans with his in ring ability and entertaining them with his goofy sense of humour.

Like Mitsuharu Misawa, Kenta Kobashi rose up the ranks to become of the top stars of All Japan, and subsequently one of the most respected wrestlers in the world.  The tough grappler was credited with the invention of many high impact offensive moves that have been liberally stolen in the States.  Despite the high regard he is held in, the current draw of Pro Wrestling NOAH is like Misawa in another regard; he never plied his trade in the States and is thus unknown to the average North American wrestling fan.

Kensuke Sasaki is best known to North American wrestling fans for his multiple appearances in World Championship Wrestling, where he had a brief feud with “Ravishing” Rick Rude and defeated Sting for the United States Title. In his native Japan, the stocky and powerful Sasaki collected multiple championships and was the first to win the IWGP World Heavyweight, the All Japan Triple Crown, and the NOAH Heavyweight Title.   Sasaki may not have been the flashiest Japanese wrestler, but he was among the most successful.

When we moved Kane from the Futures to the Core List when he turned 46 (our mandatory age to be removed from the Futures), he was still an active wrestler.  Now, he is over 50, still looks great, and can still wrestle.  Oh, he is also the mayor of Knox County in Tennessee.