XWL.com Exclusive: Long Live the Prince

Pictured Above: XWL Superstar Prince Devitt

A few weeks ago it was reported that the Chairman of the board Vince McMahon was eager to renegotiate a new contract with Prince Devitt. The reports coming from within the company is now that the Chairman of the Board has succeeded in his taks to resign the international superstar. The world traveler perhaps best known to his fans in Japan as "The Real Rock 'n' Rolla" has had a turbulent time since initially joining XWL due to Visa issues, however the continued faith by McMahon clearly shows the belief in Devitt's ability to deliver in the ring. To many of our fans the name Prince Devitt might not mean much, but to many who have witnessed this man's work they'll know exactly what Devitt is all about.


Pictured Above: Prince Devitt taking a knee in the middle of the ring, prior to a championship defense in Mexico for CMLL where he would successfully defend the NWA Historic Middleweight Championship against CMLL mainstay Averno

There's no denying that XWL is the biggest promotion in wrestling today, unmatched is the depth of the roster, quality of matches and production and with such a Global reach, XWL truly has it all. However on the otherside of the world in Japan, wrestling is very different. Just take XWL Superstar Shinsuke Nakamura is example, a man who like Devitt rose to stardom in top Japanese promotion New Japan Pro Wrestling(NJPW) and some of the hard hitting wars we've seen Nakamura compete in since coming to XWL are considered a thing of the norm in Japan. Using Martial Arts techniques, a range of strikings and submission wrestling the men who rise the ranks in Japan are without a doubt some of the toughest men in the business, and Devitt has both the battle scars and championships to prove it.


Pictured Above: The IWGP Junior Heavyweight championship, a title held by Prince Devitt on three occasions

Since his tenure in Japan began Devitt has held the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team championships a record six times, tied only with the legendary Jushin Liger, and the Junior Heavyweight championship on three separate occasions, holding the championship for an incredible combined total of 1,010 days only second again to Liger. The third reign also happened to be the longest championship reign in 19 years. His exploits aren't exclusive to Japan either, Devitt's ability has made him a success wherever he's done, be that in Mexico with CMLL, England or back in his Native Ireland, you can't deny his record more than speaks for itself.




Pictured Above: (top) Devitt crouching in the ring as the bell is rung at an Insane Championship Wrestling show in Glasgow, Scotland, where he also spent time training students how to wrestling. (bottom) Making his way to the ring at Wrestle Kingdom 8. The biggest event in the Japanese wrestling calendar.

If that wasn't enough to grab your attention Devitt's appearance has certainly turned more than a few heads, just go to Toyko and you'll understand what Prince Devitt's reach is. Billboard's, Poster's, Commercial's, you name it and Devitt's on it, including a lucrative sponsorship with Armani Exchange which just goes to show is appeal to the Japanese audience. Outside of the fashion world and inside the squared circle, Devitt would be easy to pick out of a crowd, often sporting elaborate body paint depicting comic book villians such as Venom, Carnage and Heath Ledger's Joker drawing from a tradition most commonly seen in Mexican Lucha Libre, Devitt clearly knows how to leave a lasting first impression, and in a world of stars like Tiger Mask, Hayabusa and Jushin Liger where standing out isn't the easiest thing to do, when he walks into a room Devitt makes sure all eyes are on him. And once he makes his return to XWL that's exactly what will happen.