The WWE locker room is stacked with Superstars who have followed in their father’s footsteps to compete in the squared circle.
Being brought up around professional wrestling appears to install a desire to enter the industry and further enhance their family legacy.
Roman Reigns, Charlotte Flair, and Cody Rhodes are just three of the biggest names who have followed their father into WWE, and it now appears another could be on the way.
Funaki started out in WWE during the Attitude Era, but it was during Ruthless Aggression Era that the star became Cruiserweight Champion.
Meanwhile, the Tokyo-born high flyer has been working as a commentator for WWE since 2016, giving his expertise to Japanese viewers.
His son, Jaden Funkai, has now started his training at the Hybrid School of Wrestling and will be looking to work his way into WWE.
Alongside Jaden, another second-generation talent is also looking to build on her family name to succeed in wrestling. Jazzy Yang, daughter of Jimmy Wang Yang, who also gained success in the Cruiserweight Division, has already begun working matches including tagging with her father in 2021.
Ruthless WWE Career For Second-Generation Superstars
Whilst being the child of a WWE Superstar might seem on the outside as the ideal pathway for a career in the company, it can be a challenge to live up to a parent’s legacy.
Charlotte Flair has become one of the most decorated Superstars of all time and is chasing down the record for most WWE Championship reigns, held by her father The Nature Boy Ric Flair.
But whilst Charlotte has risen to the very top, many second or third-generation wrestlers can struggle to establish their own careers.
Curtis Axel is the son of Mr Perfect, Curt Hennig, and although spending 13 years employed by WWE and lifting both the Intercontinental and Raw Tag Team Championships, he struggled to establish his character to the level Mr Perfect had reached during the 1990s.
The American Nightmare Cody Rhodes has made it clear that his main goal for returning to WWE is to become the company’s main Champion, something he wants for himself and the Rhodes name.
After losing in the main event of WrestleMania 39 to Roman Reigns, Rhodes has his hands full before he can look to focus on his long-term goal.
Rhodes is set for his most physically demanding battle this Saturday as he faces off with Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania Backlash.