There are only 3 wrestlers to have ever competed at Madison Square Garden, Wembley, Arena Mexico, and the Tokyo Dome. I think everyone can guess who one of the is, but I think the other two will surprise you.
There have only ever been two shows at Wembley, and except for one show in 2019 only wrestlers in the WWE have competed at Madison Square Garden. Arena Mexico is owned by CMLL and no other wrestling company has held a show at this venue. The Tokyo Dome has hosted numerous wrestling shows from various promotions since it opened in 1988 with annual January 4th NJPW wrestling show held every year since 1992.
Chris Jericho
The one that I feel everyone will guess would be Jericho. He just competed at AEW's All In London at Wembley, spent years in the WWE and had recent big matches with New Japan at Wrestle Kingdom plus his exploits in Mexico well documented in his book. His CMLL trading card is his official Rookie card, and is a highly sought after collectible.
Arena Mexico
April 23, 1993, CMLL
Ciclon Ramirez, Corazon de Leon, & Lazer Tron defeated Felino, Javier Cruz, & Titan
In this match Lazer Tron was portrayed by Hector Guerrero, the same gimmick he was using in Jim Crockett Promotions and other NWA territories. This was also Jericho's debut match in Mexico.
Tokyo Dome
January 4, 1997, NJPW Wrestling World in Tokyo Dome 1997
Super Liger defeats Koji Kanemoto
The infamous Super Liger match where the costume was too small and the mask didn't quite fit and the match was very bad, ending the gimmick after just one appearance. This was not Jericho's Japan debut but it was his NJPW debut. He did a few tours of New Japan in 1997, one show in 1998 and didn't return to the promotion until after his WWE run in 2018.
Madison Square Garden
October 30, 1999, WWE House Show
The Rock defeated Chris Jericho
This was Jericho's 25th match with the WWE. An interesting note, while researching this I discovered that Jericho's first every wrestling match in the WWE was a house show August 21, 1999 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada where he defeated the Big Boss Man in a Nightstick match.
Wembley
August 27, 2023, AEW All In London 2023
Will Osprey with Don Callis pinned Chris Jericho with Sammy Guevara
Not much to say about this one, it was a hell of a match and I would put this on the level of Rock vs. Hogan as far as it being a generational encounter.
Juice Robinson
What's interesting to note about Juice is that 3 of his 4 appearances have a connection to New Japan Pro Wrestling. After touring the independents Juice signed with WWE in 2011 where he spent the next few years in the developmental never going to the main roster. He entered New Japan in 2015 staying with them until signing with AEW in late 2022.
Arena Mexico
August 18, 2017 CMLL Super Viernes
Juice Robinson, Marco Corleone, & Matt Taven defeated Diamante Azul, Valiente, & Volador Jr.
Juice toured CMLL as part of their relationship with New Japan Pro Wrestling. This was his debut match in Mexico and CMLL, Marco Corleone competed in WCW and WWE as Mark Jindrak.
Tokyo Dome
January 4, 2017 NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 11 in Tokyo Dome
Cody Rhodes pinned Juice Robinson
Juice has joined NJPW as a Young Lion by his own choice in 2015 and worked his way up the ranks to have this huge singles match with Cody in the Dome. This was Cody's New Japan debut.
Madison Square Garden
April 6, 2019 ROH/NJPW G1 Supercard
New York Street Fight: Flip Gordon & Lifeblood: Juice Robinson & Mark Haskins defeated Bully Ray, Shane Taylor, & Silas Young
This is the only non WWE show to take place at Madison Square Garden since November 14, 1960. I attended this sold out history making event! This match doesn't stand out or resonate with me from this evening. I'll have to go back and watch it.
Wembley
August 27, 2023, AEW All In London 2023
Bullet Club Gold: Jay White, Juice Robinson, & Konosuke Takeshita with Don Callis and The Gunns defeated The Golden Elite: Kenny Omega, Adam Page, & Kota Ibushi
This was an outstanding match, since the debut of AEW Collision on June 17th Juice has been on quite the tear in AEW looking the best he ever has. He and Jay White have formed an outstanding tag team as well.
John Tenta
For me this is the name that shocked me the most on this list, Earthquake. He got his start in Sumo wrestling and debuted in pro wrestling with All Japan Pro Wrestling in 1987 wrestling in the promotion for two years. He made his WWF debut in 1989 as a plant in the crowd for a segment where Dino Bravo and The Ultimate Warrior did push ups with Tenta sitting on their backs, he attacked Warrior. Tenta would retire from wrestling in 2003 with his final matches being where he started, for All Japan Pro Wrestling.
Arena Mexico
December 3, 1993, CMLL Super Viernes
John Tenta, Dr. Wagner Jr., & Pierroth Jr. defeated Corazon de Leon, El Rayo de Jalisco Jr. & Haku
Tenta left the WWF In January 1993 and would wrestle in the WAR promotion in Japan until he returned to the WWF in January 1994. This match would be his only wrestling match in Mexico.
Tokyo Dome
March 30, 1991, SWS Wrestlefest in Tokyo Dome
John Tenta defeated Koji Kitao
This was a joint show with Tenryu's SWA: Super World of Sport & the WWF. He wrestled as John Tenta and not Earthquake wrestled for years in Japan with All Japan before going to WWF. Two days later on April 1st in Kobe they had their infamous shoot incident where Tenta would win by DQ. I had always heard about that match, I didn't realize they worked a match two days before with no issue.
Madison Square Garden
February 19, 1990, WWF on MSG Network
Earthquake pinned Ronnie Garvin
Nothing special about this match, he had been with the promotion for 5 months at this point and I'm more surprised he hadn't compete sooner at MSG.
Wembley
August 29, 1992, WWF Summerslam 1992
WWF Tag Team Champions: The Natural Disasters: Earthquake & Typhoon defeated The Beverly Brothers: Beau & Blake Beverly
This show is more significant than this match. It was the first WWE PPV held outside North America, but didn't air until 2 days after it was recorded. This was just a mid card match that was adequate. What everyone remembers is the Legion of Dooms entrance and the main event of Bret Hart vs Davey Boy Smith.
I bet you even forgot that Randy Savage defended the WWF Championship against the Ultimate Warrior on this card...they wrestled 28 minutes! This was their first match against each other since Warrior "ended" Savages Career at Wrestlemania VII in 1991.
I hope you found these random facts as interesting as I did, let me know!
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Until next time!
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