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To this day, wrestling fans fondly remember the "Japanese Buzzsaw," former WWE and ECW wrestler Yoshihiro Tajiri, when he was in his prime. Having been in the wrestling industry since the 1990s, Tajiri coming to WWE from ECW was a big moment for his career as he gained moderate success in that organization. With that said, after spending more than four years in WWE, Tajiri left the company in late 2005 to pursue other interests.
Related: A Look Back At The Underrated WWE Career Of Tajiri
Tajiri Had A Successful Run In WWE
Tajiri has always been a unique character in the world of professional wrestling. His uniqueness is why he's still beloved by many wrestling fans after all these years. Dubbed the "Japanese Buzzsaw," Tajiri became best known for his deranged persona, as he'd spit mist into his opponent's face, a tactic he developed while wrestling for Extreme Championship Wrestling during the late 1990s. While Tajiri is arguably more known for his WWE tenure during the Ruthless Aggression Era, wrestling for ECW became a crucial turning point in developing his persona that would later carry into his WWE run.
Upon his arrival to WWE in mid-2001, Tajiri's ECW persona followed him to the company, as it helped establish him apart from the rest of the roster. Not only could Tajiri engage in comedic antics, for example, the on-screen relationship with William Regal over the years, but he was also someone to be taken seriously. Fans still remember his battles with Rey Mysterio on the SmackDown brand in 2003 for the Cruiserweight Championship, as Tajiri was a threat to him during one of the hottest times in SmackDown history. It's also worth noting that in the four and a half years he was in WWE, Tajiri won many championships as a solo and tag team wrestler, including being a three-time Cruiserweight Champion on SmackDown.
Tajiri Was A Great Wrestler And Sports Entertainer
Tajiri also made a name for himself regarding his unique in-ring ability, as he was widely portrayed as a lethal striker. His aggressive demeanor went along with his vicious in-ring style, considering he had a wicked roundhouse kick as his finishing maneuver. A mist to the face and a brutal roundhouse kick to the head is why Tajiri was someone to be feared in the ring, despite often showing a goofy side on WWE TV.
Wrestlers like Tajiri are something that every wrestling promotion wants in search of talent, whether for the exclusive in-ring talent or the overall sports-entertainment presentation. Because of how good he is, there's a reason why he continues to wrestle in his 50s.
Related: 10 Things WWE Fans Should Know About The Japanese Stable Kai En Tai
Tajiri Departed From WWE In 2005
Tajiri was never a main-event level superstar in WWE, but there's no denying that he was an established character on the main roster for years. With that said, it may be shocking for some to comprehend Tajiri's decision of wanting to leave WWE after spending less than five years in the company.
Tajiri departed from WWE in December 2005, citing personal reasons. It's worth noting that there's nothing said about Tajiri having any animosity towards the company. Tajiri decided to move on from WWE because he wanted to spend time with his family in Japan and planned on becoming a journalist.
Tajiri had his final match on a December 2005 episode of WWE Heat in a losing effort to Gregory Helms. After the bout, he received a standing ovation from the audience when departing from the ring, leaving behind a respected legacy.
Tajiri's On-and-Off Appearances In WWE After Leaving
Tajiri may have left WWE in late 2005, but that didn't stop him from returning for a few appearances. Not long after leaving WWE, Tajiri returned to the ECW One Night Stand 2006 PPV, teaming with Super Crazy in a losing effort at the hands of The Full Blooded Italians. Also, in February 2008, Tajiri reunited with William Regal at a WWE house show in Japan, accompanying William Regal to the ring during his match with Ric Flair.
Tajiri was initially supposed to have a full-time return to WWE after being a part of the Cruiserweight Classic tournament, as he announced he signed a deal in late 2016. However, his run was cut short in April 2017 after he stated, via The Wrestling Observer, that WWE didn't want to use him due to his age. Since leaving WWE in 2005, Tajiri has been mainly active in the Japanese wrestling scene, continuing to work with the modern generation of wrestlers while entertaining his fans.
