Features
Return to the Land of the Rising Sun
Published October 9, 2011 at 4:20 am by Tez Himself
Explosive Pro Wrestling’s Shane Haste and Mikey Nicholls have returned to Japan to compete for Pro Wrestling NOAH. The pair debuted for the promotion in February this year making appearances at the world famous Korakuen Hall and competing at big televised events like the Great Voyage.
Nicholls debuted in Japan in 2006 for New Japan Pro Wrestling teaming with “Jag” Hartley Jackson against Minoru and Hirooki Goto in a Japan vs. Australia World Cup Revenge match. Both men have travelled extensively throughout the US during their careers as well training with Harley Race in Missouri, Florida Championship Wrestling, with Nicholls also training at the Inoki Dojo in Los Angeles while getting the opportunity to work for companies such as Ring of Honor and Pro Wrestling Guerilla.
Wrestle Hustle caught up with both men earlier in the year to see how they were going in the land of the Rising Sun.
WH: How did you feel when you were invited to Japan by NOAH?
Mikey: It was kinda surreal. We had made some good contacts through our time in Missouri with Harley Race and I thought everything went really well, but then to finally get the call was great. Made me realize that for once I had actually made some good decisions!
Shane: Felt good man. Didn’t think we would hear from them so it was quite a surprise.
WH: What is the training at the NOAH dojo like. Do they use the Strong Style in training?
Mikey: The training here is similar to the type of training I used to do years ago at the New Japan Dojo in LA. It’s very conditioning based, be it squats, pushups or crunches. Also stretching is a big part of the training. It’s like anything though; you get out of it what you put in. Leaving all pre-conceived ideas at the door makes training so enjoyable, and just to fully embrace yourself in the traditions and ideas behind it has been great.
Shane: Like Mike said training here is lots of conditioning, which I think is great. A few of the guys here use to be on the Army wrestling team too so from time to time I try to get into the ring with them and try hold my own (laughs). There is no ‘strong style’ over here, over here there’s just wrestling. So at training we just wrestle, out in matches on shows is where people’s strong style comes out and is not something that can be replicated in training.
WH: Has it been difficult to work with the language differences?
Mikey: Yes and no. A lot of wrestling is very universal and so even if neither person speaks the same language, the basis is still the same, and the idea is still the same. But having said that, it does make for some fun conversations when trying to put some stuff together!
Shane: You get used to it. I mean I speak pretty bad English as it is so half the time even in America people didn’t understand what I was saying.
WH: What is it like working in front of the Japanese crowds and how have they taken to you?
Mikey: It is different that’s for sure. Very held back and quiet, although like anywhere, if a crowd likes what you are doing they are going to get into it and get a bit loud. Considering we came into this with no momentum and no one knew who we were, I think they have taken to us pretty well. I think that we also bring something a little bit different too, if nothing else just by the way we interact with the crowd and each other.
Shane: People love me where ever I go. I don’t know if it’s my good looks or my charm but they're always asking for photos and autographs after the shows. Of course sometimes they call me Mikey which I don’t get but I smile and sign anyways. But for reals I love the crowds here, fun to react with and allow me to do some character stuff with them.
Upcoming Appearances:
10/10/2011 - NOAH Wrestler’s Performance “FAITH IT” @ Differ Ariake Yoshinari Ogawa & Ricky Marvin vs. Mikey Nicholls & Shane Haste
16/10/2011 - NOAH “The Navig. Sunday, 2011 in KORAKUEN” @ Korakuen Hall Genba Hirayanagi vs. Shane Haste
Yutaka Yoshie vs. Mikey Nicholls
