The Jewel In The Crown

The recent signing of PAC from Dragon Gate in Japan was the strongest indicator yet that WWE’s talent acquisition policy has changed drastically. The Newcastle-born star had been putting in stellar performances for some time, and his international reputation seems actually to have been a positive in an era when it has often been a negative.

PAC, however, was a rare case of a wrestler who was very happy with his lot in the business, working as he was for a successful company that he loved. WWE had to go the extra mile to recruit him, and there is one other stand-out performer, again with a familiar accent, who also fits that mould: PAC’s good friend, Fergal “Prince” Devitt.

The unquestioned ace of NJPW’s junior-heavyweight division, Devitt has been embraced by the company's fan-base, and has a following that is greater than any foreign talent in Japan in years. The Irishman’s subtle charm and likeable personality, combined with his natural in-ring charisma, has merged with his athletic grace to create what is now a complete performer. It is far from beyond the realm of possibility that he too could sign a contract in the near future.

That said, whether or not Devitt would make such a move is another matter entirely; he is part of a family in New Japan, he gets to perform in front of big crowds, and he’s well remunerated. Moreover, he’s not a guy who has ever dreamed of living large as a “superstar”; he's a laid back, down-to-earth kind of guy. One of the best examples of such, indeed, in the entire business.

Hard Work Pays Off
Devitt comes from a modest background in Bray, Co. Wicklow, in the Republic of Ireland. Whilst he, like a lot of Irish kids, grew up playing Gaelic football and soccer, through his grandfather he also developed a great fondness for pro wrestling. Initially a fan of World Of Sport wrestling, with the an interest in the WWF coming shortly thereafter, Devitt broadened his horizons to Japan in his teenage years. He discovered the tape trading culture early on, and spent many an hour watching Michinoku Pro, and fittingly, the New Japan junior-heavyweights, who were at a technical peak in the mid-to-late-1990s, showcasing not just jaw-dropping high-flying, but excellent submission work, too.

Devitt crossed the Irish Sea to receive the majority of his training under the late Andre Baker at NWA Hammerlock - a school that placed emphasis on hold-for-hold wrestling. That training can is clearly visible in his performances today.

“I remember Fergal turning up with Paul Tracey for his first day,” Johnny Moss, a senior figure to Devitt at that time, told FSM. “He was very polite and reserved - unlike the bright orange Taz t-shirt he was sporting! I think the style of training we did with Fergal was a great foundation for him. At Hammerlock we were all encouraged to get on the mats and roll round - to shoot with each other, really. There were some good catch wrestlers there, like Andre Baker, John Hall and Jon Ritchie, and they would show us how they were taught, and how hard it was. They would show us techniques, and then we would wrestle on the mats for hours trying to catch a submission. It was the perfect way to prepare for Japan.”

Devitt and Tracey came back to Ireland and became head trainers for the new NWA Ireland promotion in the mid-2000s, and the once omnipotent gaggle of promoters gave Devitt his big break when he competed on an NWA Anniversary show in the U.S in 2004. On a card full of big names, he and his Irish pals stole the show. More American bookings came as a result of this, and he eventually received an invite to New Japan’s official American training centre in Los Angeles, which had previously housed Lyoto Machida, Bryan Danielson, Samoa Joe, Shinsuke Nakamura, and many more. He didn’t last long there, however; impressed by his talent and work ethic, he was offered the chance to train in Japan, beginning in 2006. Nothing was guaranteed, and despite his experience and ability, he was going to be treated no differently to the other “young boys” who also hoped to earn their stripes. Devitt grabbed the opportunity with both hands.

“I could see he was destined for great things” said Moss. “When he first went to L.A, I remember saying, ‘He won’t be back.’”

Zack Sabre Jr. started his training in Hammerlock at a similar time, and he echoed Moss’ sentiment.

“Even as a 14-year-old, I was able to see the star quality in Fergal when we first met. When he said that he had been invited to the L.A dojo, we all knew it was only be a matter of time until the he was brought to Japan. He was a big influence on me starting out, and he instantly became my goal of the level I wanted to get at, especially as we shared dreams of wrestling in the Orient.”

Prince Of Japan
Given the “Prince” moniker due to concerns that the Japanese might have trouble with his first name, our subject started out in preliminary matches, to little fanfare. He was given his first chance to break out with a spot as a CTU member in training - CTU being the junior division’s heel stable - thereby associating with legends like Jushin “Thunder” Liger. Devitt showed great personality in this role, and the fans started to warm to the mysterious gaijin.
Unfortunately, however, it was shortly into this run that he began to encounter a major problem - injury. One setback after another, each coming at a more inopportune time than the last, was becoming an issue that was career-threatening, at least in terms of getting a steady foot in New Japan. Encouragingly, however, the company remained supportive of him, and when he did get back on track, he found himself at the forefront of a promotional push. Paired with Minoru after the breakup of CTU, the two won the IWGP junior-heavyweight tag team titles, and with that, Devitt had graduated into a big-time player.

Minoru’s departure from New Japan spelled the end of the team, but Devitt landed on his feet in combining up with Ryusuke Taguchi. At first it did not seem like a natural pairing; Taguchi, nicknamed “The Funky Weapon”, would often be found dancing during bouts, which was not exactly Devitt’s style. However, the pair made the most of what they had, adorning matching gear and coming up with the name “Apollo 55” (pronounced “Apollo Go-Go”). The fans who were already supportive of Devitt began to take to him even more as a part of this team.

Paired up with Milano Collection AT and Taichi, and TNA’s Motor City Machine Guns, the tandem produced some fantastic matches, with Devitt in particular standing out. His combination of high-flying and smooth chain wrestling was consistently a joy to watch. He began to add more high-impact offence to his arsenal, and became a master of producing exciting finishing stretches.

“I love the precision of Fergal’s offence,” Sabre Jr. noted. “Even though he has quite a spectacular junior-heavyweight style, there’s no wasted motion or unnecessary set-ups for anything. He’s going to either kick you in the chops, drop you on your head, or jump at you from the top. Everything he does has the perfect balance of aggression and elegance.”
This style led Devitt to much singles success in the ensuing years, but Apollo 55 was by no means cast aside in that period. Rather, they made the junior tag titles their own, and solidified themselves as one of New Japan’s greatest ever teams in that division.

Solo Success
“I wasn’t surprised that the fans took to him.” New Japan’s Rocky Romero told FSM. “But the level that it's reached is pretty amazing. Ferg’s a hard worker, and it shows. The Japanese fans respect that.”

The company knew they had something special in Devitt by the time the 2009 Best Of The Super Juniors rolled around, and it was in this edition of the prestigious tournament that he was let loose as a singles competitor. Devitt made it to the final of an incredible competition, where he fell to the legendary Koji Kanemoto - one of the men he had watched on the VHS tapes of his youth. As is typical of Japan, Devitt gained more in a tough losing effort than if he'd actually had his hand raised.

Following this outing, Devitt was a made man. A year later, and after having one Match of the Year candidate after another, he was primed to lift the trophy. He was the crowd favourite from the start, and when he stood opposite Kota Ibushi in the final, the atmosphere was electric. The two tore the house down in a classic bout that saw Devitt emerge victorious. Ibushi suffered a bad shoulder injury towards the end of the bout, but the two talents’ paths would cross again multiple times in what has been a fantastic rivalry.

A week after the win, Devitt took his first singles title in New Japan, bringing home the junior-heavyweight gold that had been held by NOAH’s Naomichi Marufuji. Devitt kept the title for a full year, racking up a series of great defences, including his first Tokyo Dome singles match, where he and Ibushi had one of the main matches on the biggest show of the year. The master of the brainbuster even enjoyed mixing it up with the heavyweights in the 2010 G1 Climax tournament, and was close to a spot in the finals.

THE $64,000 QUESTION
This move up the weight-classes then begs the question: has Prince Devitt done all he can in New Japan? Furthermore, would a run in WWE be in his best interests?

“It’s hard to tell how anyone would do in WWE,” noted Rocky Romero. “But I think the Ferg is one of the most gifted wrestlers on the planet, and it would be hard for WWE fans not to take notice of him. His biggest strengths are his incredible connection with his crowd, and his ability to have the highest quality of matches through great storytelling and action. The guy is amazing at what he does.”

“On a personal level, he is the most honest, ordinary bloke I know,” said Johnny Moss of another factor that would surely work to Devitt’s favour. “I have never met someone who has had so much success and critical acclaim from peers and fans alike just brush it off like it's nothing. This is the reason he is so successful; his feet are firmly on the ground.”

“Fergal’s one of the most humble men you could wish to meet,” backed up Sabre Jr. “He’s one of the most dedicated athletes I have met, and he never loses focus or gives less than give 110 percent.”

From experiencing his matches and talking to his peers, there’s no question that Fergal “Prince” Devitt could be one of WWE's next generation of stars. Right now, however, the man himself is in no rush.

“[Going to WWE] interests me very much,” he said in an interview with The Indy Corner. “I'm sure a time will come where I want to try new things and new challenges, and if the time was right, I would absolutely be open to it.”

Becoming a superstar has never been a priority for Fergal Devitt. On the flip side, however, WWE should consider him a signing of paramount importance.