▁ 1 9 9 6 ▁and ▁May ▁ 1 9 9 7 . ▁Houston ▁was ▁pra ised ▁by ▁wrest ler ▁M ick ▁F ole y ▁after ▁seeing ▁him ▁at ▁Kor ak uen ▁Hall ▁in ▁Tokyo ▁on ▁June ▁ 4 , ▁ 1 9 9 6 . ▁The ▁two ▁split ▁after ▁He ath ▁began ▁wrest ling ▁for ▁All ▁Japan ▁Pro ▁Wrestling ▁and ▁later ▁for ▁the ▁World ▁Wrestling ▁Federation ▁the ▁following ▁year . ▁On ▁December ▁ 2 7 , ▁ 1 9 9 7 , ▁Houston ▁himself ▁received ▁a ▁try out ▁match ▁for ▁the ▁W WF ▁facing ▁Tom ▁Brand i ▁on ▁Sh ot gun ▁Saturday ▁Night . ▁ ▁Br ief ly ▁returning ▁to ▁W C W , ▁Houston ▁competed ▁in ▁the ▁cru iser weight ▁division ▁against ▁La ▁Park a , ▁Super ▁Cal o , ▁El ▁D andy , ▁Norman ▁Sm iley ▁ ▁and ▁W C W ▁Cru iser weight ▁Champion ▁Chris ▁Jer ich o ▁ ▁before ▁again ▁training ▁under ▁D ory ▁F unk , ▁Jr . ▁at ▁the ▁W WF ▁Do jo ▁later ▁during ▁the ▁year . ▁On ▁October ▁ 2 4 , ▁ 1 9 9 8 , ▁Houston ▁appeared ▁at ▁the ▁N WA ▁ 5 0 th ▁An ni versary ▁show ▁in ▁Cher ry ▁Hill , ▁New ▁Jersey ▁particip ating ▁in ▁a ▁ 1 4 - man ▁battle ▁royal ▁along ▁with ▁other ▁students ▁of ▁the ▁W WF ▁Do jo ▁including ▁Dev on ▁Storm , ▁Steve ▁Cor ino , ▁Gi ant ▁Silva , ▁Christopher ▁Daniel s , ▁Bab u , ▁Ted dy ▁Hart ,