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From former WWE standouts to NJPW legends, these veterans stepped inside the Filipino squared circle.
Professional wrestling may not be as deeply rooted in the Philippines compared to countries like the United States, Japan, Mexico, or the United Kingdom, but the local scene has continued to grow through the years with a passionate and loyal fanbase behind it.
While the Philippines is rarely mentioned among wrestling’s biggest territories, local promotions have still managed to bring in internationally recognized talent from former WWE and NJPW stars to legends of the international independent scene. For many wrestlers around the world, the independent circuit has always been part of the grind, and Filipino promotions have quietly become part of that journey as well.
Here are some international pro wrestlers who have competed inside a Filipino wrestling ring.
TJP
There is no better way to start this list than with someone who proudly embraces his Filipino roots. TJP or TJ Perkins represented the Philippines during WWE’s Cruiserweight Classic in 2016, eventually winning the tournament and becoming the inaugural WWE Cruiserweight Champion of the modern era.
Following his WWE run, TJP continued competing across several promotions worldwide and made his way to the Philippines in 2019 for Philippine Wrestling Revolution, where he faced longtime Philippine wrestling standout Jake De Leon.
Jeff Cobb
During the same PWR event, former NJPW standout Jeff Cobb competed in the Philippines. A proud Filipino wrestler, Cobb wrestled in a triple threat match for the promotion’s top championship against top local stars Quatro and Chris Panzer.
Known as JC Mateo in WWE, the explosiveness and raw power he showed throughout his career made him a standout in NJPW and other promotions. Cobb’s appearance became one of the biggest international showcases in Philippine wrestling at the time.
Kushida
NJPW standout and former NXT star KUSHIDA headlined multiple FPW shows, appearing in 2025 and 2026. One of the most historic matches saw FPW’s Quatro defend the promotion’s top title against KUSHIDA, who also put his MLW World Middleweight Championship on the line.
The match became a significant moment for Philippine wrestling as one of the country’s local promotions shared the spotlight with internationally recognized talent and championship gold.
Tajiri
Tajiri is one of the most recognizable names on this list. He had stints in WWE, ECW, NJPW, and AJPW. But in 2019, he graced the Manila Wrestling Federation stage and delivered the iconic Buzzsaw Kick multiple times. One of his matches against Fabio Makisig in 2019 is still available on YouTube.
The Brian Kendrick
If you grew up during WWE’s Ruthless Aggression era, there is a good chance Brian Kendrick was part of one of your favorite tag teams.
Years later, after becoming one of wrestling’s most respected veterans on the independent scene, The Man With A Plan stepped inside a DEXCON ring against none other than Jake De Leon.
Minoru Suzuki
Japanese legend and catch wrestling pioneer Minoru Suzuki also stepped inside a Filipino ring against none other than Jake De Leon (again) and Dabid Ravena. Known as one of the toughest and most feared veterans in wrestling history, Suzuki’s appearance became another massive moment for the local scene.
Zack Sabre Jr.
Widely regarded as one of the best technical wrestlers in the world today, Zack Sabre Jr. also competed in the Philippines against Jake De Leon.
ZSJ is set to return to DEXCON on May 24, where he will face Ravena in another major international showcase for Filipino wrestling fans.
Other notable stars
Other internationally recognized wrestlers such as Riho and Robbie Eagles have also stepped inside a Filipino wrestling ring, proving that the local scene continues to grow and attract talent from around the world.
Banner Images from DEXCON on Facebook.