Loyal Soldiers

Loyalty is defined as being faithful to commitments or obligations, loyalty is one thing that’s very hard to come by nowadays not only in wrestling but in life as well. As many wrestlers come and go from companies there’s a very select few that stay loyal to their companies which is a nice rarity. These men I’ll be listening below are those loyal soldiers who are always their when called on for help or at the frontline for their companies in the time of need. With that being said I will not be counting owners,founders, and presidents I.E. Onita, Jarrett, The Elite, etc.

SCU- AEW

This is the most recent wrestling company to be on this list as AEW was established just two years ago. SCU would show their alliance with The Elite way before AEW was created as they would often appear on their YouTube channel Being The Elite and take part in All In. They’ll most likely be sticking with AEW for a long time as Daniels in head of talent relations for the company and aside from Scorpio Sky they seem to be in the veteran position on TV as for the most part they’re there to put over the young talent and take loses majority of the time. I’d personally like to see them featured and built up more but considering Daniels is 50 and Kazarian is 43 I sadly don’t see that happening anytime soon and both will most likely retire from in-ring in the next few years with Daniels being more focused on his backstage role and Kazarian becoming an agent, producer, or something.

Harashima- DDT

I’ll be honest I don’t watch DDT that much, as about the only thing I’ve really seen at most is clips throughout the years. So, I had to do a bit of research on him. From what I discovered is that Harashima debuted for DDT in early 2001 and for the most part has won nearly every championship in the company as he is most notably a 10 time KO-D Openweight champion and an 8 time KO-D Tag Team champion, and he would also competed under different names and gimmicks like Konica Man and HERO. It doesn’t seem like he’ll be leaving DDT anytime soon.

Nick Aldis- NWA

The NWA has been around since 1948 although it was just a governing body of the territories until the 1980s. Over the next few decades it would have its ups and downs until 2017. In 2017, Billy Corgan would purchase the NWA and revive the dying brand name. The “National Treasure” would play a big factor in NWA’s revival by winning the world heavyweight championships and becoming the face of the company. Personally I’m not a fan of Aldis in fact I find him being quite boring to be honest but the man is definitely loyal, and he’s really trying to make NWA special again. He’s definitely one guy that will probably go down with the company if it ever gets to that point, which sadly it seems to be heading that way with how many wrestlers are leaving the company and are leaving for other companies like Impact, ROH, and AEW.

Hayabusa- FMW

He’s the “Ace of FMW” as he was considered the greatest and most popular wrestler of FMW and the face of the company. He would spend his early career in the lower-card until he rose to popularity in 1995. He’d spend pretty much the entirety of his career in FMW and proved his loyalty to the company by turning down offers with better salaries from NJPW and WWE. Accepting these offers would’ve probably made him more successful but his loyalty really made him more iconic in hindsight. His legacy will live Kim forever as he is one of the pioneers of the high-flying style and the innovator of the Falcon Arrow, Phoenix Splash, and 450° Splash. Hayabusa inspired many wrestlers of today like Styles, PAC, Jericho, and Jack Evans. Wrestling wouldn’t be like it is today if it wasn’t for him to be honest RIP Hayabusa.

Toshiaki Kawada/Masanobu Fuchi- AJPW

I couldn’t choose just one on this one since these two men both have played a big part and have been very loyal to AJPW. Debuting in 1974 Masanobu Fuchi would become a top junior heavyweight star in 1986. He’d hold the World Junior Heavyweight championship on five occasions over 11 years with his third reign spanning 4 years with this record he holds the record for the longest World Junior Heavyweight champion at 1309 days. In 2013, Fuchi would become a member of the Board of Directors and co-head booker of AJPW, making him currently the longest tenured member of the AJPW roster.

“Dangerous K” Toshiaki Kawada would debut for AJPW in 1982. By 1996 he’d become known as All-Japan’s ace as he’d receive a big push beating the likes of Misawa, Kobiashi, and Akiyama. During his tenure he’d became a 5 time Triple Crown Heavyweight champion, 9 time World Tag Team champion, three time Real World Tag League winner, and a two time Champion Carnival winner. By 2005 he’d become a freelancer but his legacy with AJPW made him something special. He’s widely considered one of the greatest wrestlers of his generation as many fans and wrestling “experts” in the industry have said his matches against Misawa, Akiyama, and Kobashi are some of the greatest matches of all time.

Naomichi Marufuji- NOAH

Although Marufuji AJPW, MPW, NJPW and ROH (during his foreign excursion) he’s mostly known for NOAH as he became a massive part of the Junior Heavyweight division and for the longest time he was considered the “Ace of NOAH”. He’d form a tag team and eventually have a great rivalry with KENTA with them winning the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team championships one time. Throughout his time in NOAH he’d also win the Heavyweight championship 3 times, Tag Team championships 7 times, Junior Heavyweight championship 1 time, Junior Heavyweight Tag Team championships 2 times, and the Openweight Hardcore championship 1 time. Similar to Hayabusa, Marufuji was an innovator and has influenced the modern wrestling style with many wrestlers popularizing many of his moves with Seth Rollins crediting him for the Curb Stomp and Chris Jericho for the Codebreaker. Now in his 40s, he’s a veteran of NOAH and due to injuries he’s changed his high-flying style to a more ground-based style. While making this blog I found out to he was appointed Vice President of the company after Mitsuharu Misawa’s death in 2009 although he’d leave it for a short period of time he’d retain the position when he was reappointed in 2011 so it seems I’ll have to make an exception to the rule I stated in the intro. His loyalty to NOAH isn’t ignored as whenever I think about NOAH Marufuji is one of the first wrestlers that comes to mind with that being said he’s a wrestler I consider to be overlooked which is a shame but I believe it’s because when he was at his prime NOAH was struggling with low attendance, changing owners, bad booking, and their partnership with NJPW going sour many people missed the best of his career. Honestly his name should be brought up when talking about the best Japanese wrestlers.

The Briscoes- ROH

“Dem Boyz” The Briscoe Brothers debuted on ROH’s first-ever show on February 23, 2002, they’d have some success in their early years, but they’d take an 18-month abscess from wrestling in August 2004 to February 2006 due to Mark suffering a injury in a motorcycle accident. In 2009, they’d have a tryout for WWE, but they would be turned down as they were considered not to be “cosmetically pleasing” to suit WWE’s programming as they revealed on their YouTube channel in 2011. This turn out to be a blessing in disguise in the long run as they’d most extensively wrestle for ROH and become major stars for the company. Due to ROH’s partnerships over the years they’d also appeared in FIP, NOAH, and NJPW gaining a few championship wins from those companies as well. Since becoming a focal point for ROH they’d gain popularity over the years gaining multiple championships for the company with a record setting 11-time World Tag Team championship, 1-time World Six-Man Tag Team championship, and Jay becoming a 2-time World championship. Since gaining popularity it was reported in 2015 that WWE was now interested, and they made them a “top flight NXT level offer” but they’d turn them down this time and continue to remain loyal to ROH. I believe they’ll be with ROH until it’s dying days and I’m sure they have their fans but I personally am over them and don’t really have any respect for them anymore since Jay outed themselves a few years ago as being small-minded with sexist, homophobic, and racist views saying things like “The Delaware Senate passed a bill yesterday that allows same sex couples to get married. If that makes you happy, then congratulations… try and teach my kids that there’s nothing wrong with that and I’ll fcking shoot you.” and “Damn there’s a lot of fs out in New York today #WhatTheFck”.

Hiroshi Tanahashi- NJPW

Go Ace! The “Ace of NJPW” Hiroshi Tanahashi debuted in NJPW in 1999 but would rise to stardom until 2003 and established himself as main eventer by winning his first IWGP Heavyweight championship on July 17, 2006. Due to NJPW’s partnerships over the years he wrestled for CMLL, NOAH, ROH, TNA and RPW he’d win a few championship in these companies on a few occasions. He’s one of the best in-ring performers in the business today and help lead NJPW to new heights after to what some considered “terrible” inokism in the 2000s. He’d set record highs by becoming an 8-time IWGP Heavyweight champion and become an 2-time Intercontinental champion, 3-time Tag Team champion, 2-time U-30 Openweight champion, and 3-time NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team champion. He’ll no doubt will be in NJPW until he retires, and he’ll forever be known as the “Ace of NJPW” with his legendary matches and rivalries with the likes of Okada, Nakamura, and Suzuki his legacy with NJPW will live on forever and no doubt people will continue to talk about him for years to come.

Abyss- TNA/Impact Wrestling

Abyss debuted for TNA on its first ever show on June 19, 2002 under the name Justice. After a year away he’d re-debut under the Abyss character where he’d mostly play bodyguard to guys likes Kid Kash, Goldy Locks, Jeff Jarrett, and Don Callis. After these alliances ended he’d soon be managed by James Mitchell. He’d go on to have memorable feuds with AJ Styles, Monty Brown, Jeff Hardy, sting, and eventually after turning on him James Mitchell with Judas Mesias. Throughout the years he’d have many ups and downs creatively with his character, but he accomplished a lot winning many championships for the company becoming a grand slam champion by being a 1-time NWA World Tag Team champion, 2-time TNA World Tag Team champion, 2-time TNA Television champion, 1-time X-Division champion, and 1-time NWA World Heavyweight champion. He was one of TNA’s most loyal wrestlers even turning down a WWE contract with a guaranteed match with Undertaker at WrestleMania 23. Although he’s currently working in WWE now as a producer his tenure in TNA won’t be forgotten with him being inducted in their hall of fame and being the longest tenured wrestler for the company by spending 17 years there. TNA made the man a star it’s nice he’s one of the few who stuck around as long as he did and even retired his in ring career there, he’s gave so much to the company it’s nice they appreciate him as much as they did.

Tommy Dreamer- ECW

He’s known as the “heart and soul” of ECW for a reason debuting in ECW during its eastern years in October 1993 and stayed with them until they folded in 2001. During his time with the company he’d have some of my favorite rivalries/matches against Sandman, Raven, Jerry Lawler, Dudley Boyz, Justin Credible, and C.W. Anderson. Dreamer would win the World Tag Team championships 3-times and the World Heavyweight championship 1-time but expressed disinterest about the latter in an interview on The Rise and Fall of ECW documentary saying “I was actually pissed off. I wanted to go my entire ECW career without winning titles. The only reason I won titles is because guys left.” After WWE purchased he’d join WWE and join the Alliance in 2001 during the invasion angle and spend time in the hardcore division in the early 2000s. He’d prove his loyalty once again to the, albeit shitty, WWECW reboot from 2006 to 2010. He’s one of the first names, if not the first name, I think of when thinking or talking about ECW as his loyalty and legacy of ECW won’t be forgotten and glad he didn’t ruin his legacy by killing himself and Heyman at WrestleMania 17 as he admitted to almost doing in an interview.

Sting- JCP/WCW

Sting debuted in Jim Crockett Promotions in 1987 (which would change to WCW in 1988) and soon rose to stardom through the years. He’d go on to have legendary feuds with Ric Flair and Four Horsemen, Dangerous Alliance, Big Van Vader, Rick Rude through the late 80s and early 90s until his unforgettable character reinvention in 1996 based on the Crow film. He’d have a great year long build and feud with Hogan and the nWo but after that, he seemed to have a lot of ups and downs throughout the rest of his tenure but WCW was also going through some ups and downs during the time as well. He accomplished a lot in JCP/WCW by winning many championships being a 1-time NWA World Television champion, 1-time NWA World Heavyweight champion, 2-time WCW International World Heavyweight champion, 2-time WCW United States Heavyweight champion, 3-time WCW World Tag Team champion, and 6-time WCW World Heavyweight champion. He’s not know as “The Franchise of WCW” for nothing, he’s regarded as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time and the greatest WCW wrestler in history. Many other wrestlers have been loyal to WCW during its time like Ric Flair (despite him leaving for WWE in 1993), Diamond Dallas Page, Goldberg, and Booker T, but they just don’t compare to Sting as he spent 14 years in WCW and stuck with them till it’s final days.

The Undertaker- WWE

There’s nobody more loyal in wrestling than this man in my opinion, after being told by WCW booker, Ole Anderson that nobody would pay to watch him perform he’d debut for WWE at Survivor Series 1990 little did we know the wrestling world would be changed because of this. I probably have no need to go through his career because he’s so synonymous with WWE but I will. He’d have some legendary feuds and matches with the likes of Hulk Hogan, Jake Roberts, Yokozuna, Mankind, Shawn Michaels, Kane, Steve Austin, The Rock, Triple H, Kurt Angle, Brock Lesnar, Randy Orton, Batista and much much more. He never really needed them, but he won the Hardcore championship 1-time, World Tag Team championship 6-times, World Heavyweight championship 1-time, and WWE championship 4-times plus his legendary WrestleMania undefeated streak. He’s the greatest wrestler of all time in my opinion and his 30 year legacy in WWE will never be forgotten, for a company people label a tyranny ran by a “evil dictator” they treat the Undertaker and many many other wrestlers very well. It’s almost like those “journalist” and the IWC are full of sh*t. Overall he’s the most loyal wrestler there ever will be and nobody will ever be able to top his legacy and impact to the professional wrestling industry.

I’m sure I missed a few people as I missed a few promotions but I did the best I could. It’s nice to see loyalty in wrestling as it’s a rarity in wrestling nowadays not only with wrestlers but fans as well. I hope you enjoyed the blog and let me know what you think below.