While most American wrestling fans remember the nWo for its takeover of WCW, a parallel story was unfolding across the Pacific. The nWo's influence was so vast that it spread to Japan, where it became a dominant force in NJPW. This is a unique and often overlooked chapter in the nWo's legacy.
nWo Japan was established in 1997 by Masahiro Chono, an established and highly respected homegrown star. Other highly respected Japanese talents in nwo Japan were Keiji Muto, Satoshi Kojima, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, and Hiro Saito.
American members of the nWo were also a part of nWo Japan: Marcus Bagwell, Michael Wallstreet, Brian Adams, Scott Norton, and nWo Sting. The American members experienced more frequent main event matches while with nWo Japan than with nWo in America, where they were usually utilized in the midcard. In fact, Scott Norton won the IWGP Heavyweight Championship while being a member of nWo Japan, becoming the first non-Japanese holder of the championship in seven years.
Additionally, Big Titan, who had seen championship success in Japan as WWA Martial Arts Heavyweight Champion during his time in FMW, was also a member of nWo Japan. Unfortunately, his time in the faction was cut short as a result of suffering a serious neck injury during a match.
One of nWo Japan's most notable periods was when the faction split into two opposing sides. The roots of the conflict trace back to the group's leadership. A serious neck injury forced nWo Japan leader Masahiro Chono to take time away from the ring, leaving a power void. During Chono's absence, Keiji Muto took over the leadership role.
When Masahiro Chono made his return, he was unhappy with the direction Muto had taken the group. His leadership had steered nWo Japan away from its rulebreaker origins, and the group had become fan favorites. This clash of ideals and a power struggle for control led to a division. Chono, seeking to restore the group's original ruthless identity, formed a new rival faction called TEAM2000. He recruited AKIRA and MMA legend Don Frye, and two wrestlers defected from nWo Japan to join Chono's new faction: Michael Wallstreet and nWo Sting (who began wrestling as "Super J").
The war between the two factions came to a head on January 4, 2000 at Wrestling World 2000 in the Tokyo Dome. Masahiro Chono faced off against Keiji Muto in a high-stakes singles match with a clear stipulation: the losing wrestler's faction would have to disband. Chono defeated Muto, forcing Muto to disband nWo Japan. This match can be seen in its entirety via the NJPW World streaming service.
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