Any fans of this guy and his tenure in Japan ? I'd personally think New Japan is lacking of super heavyweights who can shake things up in the roster.. a true monster heel
Both his character and in ring work were solid. I really didn’t care for the look though
It’s been a long time since I’ve seen him, but he was a good tag wrestler and a better version of Gallows. I’d say he was right around the level of prime Fale – big foreign guy who could work reasonably well and be an obstacle for a Japanese face to overcome.
Probably should be more recognized for one of the great gaijins the promotion had, especially when they were struggling.
Bernard was the guy who came in to be the big bad “monster heel”, ala Vader and Norton, when Brock Lesnar fucked off with the IWGP like the dickhead he was.
Bernard was also instrumental to Tanahashi’s career, in that he was the one Tana defeated to win his first IWGP Heavy and made Tana look like a million bucks in the process.
Bad Intentions with Bernard & Anderson was also a damn good tag team (MUCH better than Anderson & Gallows).
Terrible tattoos
He worked his ass off, was a huge part of the company for more than half a decade as one of its top gaijins first and then as part of one of the best tag teams in the world at the time alongside Karl Anderson. Not to mention:
-First NJ Cup winner ever
-The man Tanahashi beat to win his first IWGP Heavyweight title
-One of the founding members of Chaos
Wish he had stayed out more years and eventually transitioned into a trainer/office role. But I guess WWE paid way more + offered him a great role and being closer to his family. Which is a shame Nooj-wise cause by all accounts he seems to be a great coach.
He was big
He was my first unhinged pro in WWE super cards
Def Was a fan. He wrestled a match at a live nxt show and it got dead silent so I yelled out “let’s go giant Bernard!” He stopped mid match turned to look at me laughing and went “shhh”. I’ll always have that moment
He was a throwback to guys like Mike awesome and Vader. A massive gaijin that hits Japan like godzilla and just kills dudes
[deleted]
Crazy that this is the same guy that was Sweet T and *in Jawnny from nL voice* a train
Miss him and Tomko.
I always had a soft spot for him in WWE back in the day (I always felt T&A was an underrated big man team and that his team with Scotty was pretty solid), so I was happy for him when he got brought into NJPW.
I was not prepared for the massive upgrade he got during his time in NJPW. If it had been during a different time, I definitely think he could’ve had a run as IWGP Champion as the top gaijin monster for a top hero to slay (something Brock’s mess of a run nuked the possibility of unfortunately). Or, if he had stuck around, I could’ve seen a thank you reign similar to what other long timers had gotten in time.
I don’t fault him for taking the WWE money, or for the mess he was forced into once there, but it is a shame his career went out with a wet fart after such strong years in NJPW. It definitely helped ensure he’s left out of the discussions of GOAT of big men as opposed to the possibility of him running out his career strong still in NJPW could’ve done for him.
The best Japanese wrestler ever tensai
A strong giant that pays the fact that when he wrestled in Japan, New Japan wasn’t as covered as it is right now, and they only had one Heavyweight title in the IWGP one, instead of having 3-4 like they do now, which means his list of trophies seems to be empty. Still, one of the most feared gaijins of his era, only behind Lesnar but far more useful to New Japan.
Missed what he did in Japan, but what I saw was awesome. Loved the Tensai gimmick in WWE. Though his first WWE run was the reason why I didn’t care from the start. Big hairy dude … funny.. ok, Vince. Will probably rewatch stuff from the 00s with him.
maybe most underrated run ever
A freak athlete that if he was born maybe a decade later would have been a bigger star than he was. Athletic bigs weren’t pushed because they said it wasn’t “realistic” in today’s wrestling landscape he’s be a bigger star.
Great gaijin, even better trainer
His match with Nagata in NJ Cup is a favorite. His run in AJPW with Voodoo Murders was also great. I was in high school watching his stuff from IVP. He’s how I learned how much WWE really neuters talent in general.
That is Prince Albert. Bar non one of the most versatile heavyweights in history.
21 comments
Both his character and in ring work were solid. I really didn’t care for the look though
It’s been a long time since I’ve seen him, but he was a good tag wrestler and a better version of Gallows. I’d say he was right around the level of prime Fale – big foreign guy who could work reasonably well and be an obstacle for a Japanese face to overcome.
Probably should be more recognized for one of the great gaijins the promotion had, especially when they were struggling.
Bernard was the guy who came in to be the big bad “monster heel”, ala Vader and Norton, when Brock Lesnar fucked off with the IWGP like the dickhead he was.
Bernard was also instrumental to Tanahashi’s career, in that he was the one Tana defeated to win his first IWGP Heavy and made Tana look like a million bucks in the process.
Bad Intentions with Bernard & Anderson was also a damn good tag team (MUCH better than Anderson & Gallows).
Terrible tattoos
He worked his ass off, was a huge part of the company for more than half a decade as one of its top gaijins first and then as part of one of the best tag teams in the world at the time alongside Karl Anderson. Not to mention:
-First NJ Cup winner ever
-The man Tanahashi beat to win his first IWGP Heavyweight title
-One of the founding members of Chaos
Wish he had stayed out more years and eventually transitioned into a trainer/office role. But I guess WWE paid way more + offered him a great role and being closer to his family. Which is a shame Nooj-wise cause by all accounts he seems to be a great coach.
He was big
He was my first unhinged pro in WWE super cards
Def Was a fan. He wrestled a match at a live nxt show and it got dead silent so I yelled out “let’s go giant Bernard!” He stopped mid match turned to look at me laughing and went “shhh”. I’ll always have that moment
He was a throwback to guys like Mike awesome and Vader. A massive gaijin that hits Japan like godzilla and just kills dudes
[deleted]
Crazy that this is the same guy that was Sweet T and *in Jawnny from nL voice* a train
Miss him and Tomko.
I always had a soft spot for him in WWE back in the day (I always felt T&A was an underrated big man team and that his team with Scotty was pretty solid), so I was happy for him when he got brought into NJPW.
I was not prepared for the massive upgrade he got during his time in NJPW. If it had been during a different time, I definitely think he could’ve had a run as IWGP Champion as the top gaijin monster for a top hero to slay (something Brock’s mess of a run nuked the possibility of unfortunately). Or, if he had stuck around, I could’ve seen a thank you reign similar to what other long timers had gotten in time.
I don’t fault him for taking the WWE money, or for the mess he was forced into once there, but it is a shame his career went out with a wet fart after such strong years in NJPW. It definitely helped ensure he’s left out of the discussions of GOAT of big men as opposed to the possibility of him running out his career strong still in NJPW could’ve done for him.
The best Japanese wrestler ever tensai
A strong giant that pays the fact that when he wrestled in Japan, New Japan wasn’t as covered as it is right now, and they only had one Heavyweight title in the IWGP one, instead of having 3-4 like they do now, which means his list of trophies seems to be empty. Still, one of the most feared gaijins of his era, only behind Lesnar but far more useful to New Japan.
Missed what he did in Japan, but what I saw was awesome. Loved the Tensai gimmick in WWE. Though his first WWE run was the reason why I didn’t care from the start. Big hairy dude … funny.. ok, Vince. Will probably rewatch stuff from the 00s with him.
maybe most underrated run ever
A freak athlete that if he was born maybe a decade later would have been a bigger star than he was. Athletic bigs weren’t pushed because they said it wasn’t “realistic” in today’s wrestling landscape he’s be a bigger star.
Great gaijin, even better trainer
His match with Nagata in NJ Cup is a favorite. His run in AJPW with Voodoo Murders was also great. I was in high school watching his stuff from IVP. He’s how I learned how much WWE really neuters talent in general.
That is Prince Albert. Bar non one of the most versatile heavyweights in history.