In 2001, as WCW and ECW passed away into oblivion, wrestling fans searching for a local alternative had to look to the independents. There, some of the best new wrestlers were making their marks. "Fallen Angel" Christopher Daniels had become the hot ticket that everyone wanted to see. American Dragon was making a name for himself in the early stages of his career. Samoa Joe was a few years away from attaining his status but still performed his craft in major events like King of the Indies. The stars of the independents were starting to shine. Oh, yeah. And there was another wrestler on the rise. A short, thin, bald youngster who many would hail as the next big thing on the scene. He was Low Ki.
Even for a cruiserweight, he was slight of stature. Both in terms of height and weight. Yet, somehow, he was not given the role of underdog in the same way that Spike Dudley and others of similar shortness were labeled. Low Ki was small, wispy, and the baddest kid to come down the pike. He wasn't an underdog. He was top dog. Low Ki would seem to strike his opponent so hard and so viciously that he would appear imposing. His legitimate martial arts background helped with that aura of intimidation. Low Ki, a fan may be convinced, could kick you in the face and shove your nose straight into your brain.
In an interview, Low Ki has said, very matter-of-factly, that he wants to be the best wrestler in the world. At the time he gave the interview or even today, I do not think anyone could make the case that Low K was or is the best or even one of the best. Although, one could say that he has the skills and the potential to be something special in the world of professional wrestling. So, why isn't he? What happened to Low Ki between 2001 and 2006? Let's examine his career as it pertains to major or well-known promotions.
Low Ki's dealings with WWE have been minimal over the course of his career. In 2001, he was "enhancement talent" on Jakked for a while. He wrestled Essa Rios, Raven, Perry Saturn, and other WWE stars of that period. At the time, WWE's cruiserweights were even less important than they are today. Low Ki was not given a contract. He has not been given much in the way of try-outs with WWE since his run on Jakked.
Last year, is was reported that Low Ki asked WWE for a try-out. Obviously, nothing ever came of it. Low Ki probably wouldn't work out too well in WWE. The Cruiserweight Championship is the least utilized title in the company. Even if WWE tried to push the cruiserweight division into something more, Low Ki still may not be at the top of their list of potential hires. He wrestles a stiff style, which is largely not the WWE way. Also, even for a cruiserweight, Low Ki is very lean.
In the past, he had much more success working for TNA. In its first year, the promotion used Low Ki as one of its top stars. He fit in with the X-Division perfectly, and the fans ate up his tough style. Low Ki won the X-Division Championship as well as the Tag Team Championships with Elix Skipper. He found great success in a stable called Triple X, which featured himself, Skipper and Christopher Daniels. He had found a home.
Unfortunately, it all fell apart due to Low Ki's alleged backstage attitude. Reading reports on what happened haven't explained the details, but suffice it to say, Low Ki did something that many believed would never allow him to return to TNA. Oddly enough, because TNA had an opening in Konnan's new Latin American Exchange stable and because the promotion needed as many stars as possible with the new Spike TV deal, Low Ki was contacted and asked to come back. Jeff Jarrett and Low Ki settled their past problems, and just when it seemed like Low Ki would be back in the spotlight, the plans fell through. Low Ki had far too many demands and basically killed his own deal.
While not as mainstream as the others, Low Ki exploded in popularity during his early Ring of Honor days. He was the first man to capture the ROH World Championship. At the time, it did not mean as much in the independent scene as it does now. Still, Low Ki has the distinction of being the first ever champion. In 2003, after a dispute with ROH over being double-booked in Japan, Low Ki parted ways with the company. He was brought back a year later when ROH was in desperate need of big name indy wrestlers. All seemed to be going well (feels like a broken record now) but Low Ki is once again gone from Ring of Honor due to demands for higher pay. Low Ki is now on the short list (he and Teddy Hart) of talent that ROH may never use again due to having so many backstage problems.
Low Ki's most frequent high-profile promotion is Pro Wrestling NOAH. He appears to be popular, and the Japanese fans are accostomed to his style. However, Low Ki is not a central figure in NOAH. Looking at the ten most recent shows currently available on DVD, Low Ki is only on half of them. Also, all but one have Low Ki in tag matches. Usually with other gaijins.
This is where things stand for Low Ki. He is praised by most critics and fans for his abilities but is not welcome in the top three wrestling promotions in America. His role is not particularly prominent in NOAH. Is it his size? Possibly in some cases. Is it his alleged attitude? Probably, for the most part. However, all is not lost for Low Ki if he wants to be, as he put it, "the best wrestler in the world." He is still relatively young. At age twenty-six, he is not showing any signs of wear and tear. He and TNA could come to an agreement somewhere down the road. WWE could change its mind about him and give him a spot in the maligned cruiserweight division. NOAH could give a few gaijins a more central role in the promotion. Not all is bleak. This isn't the end of the story.
But how long does a wrestler have to establish his legacy?
