Pat Tanaka has been dropped by KWK Brand Talent Management following a series of missed appearances and concerns over his reliability and communication.

The former WWF and AWA wrestler will no longer be represented by the company for bookings or appearances. KWK confirmed it will still honour its existing action figure commitments.

The decision followed Tanaka’s absence from Bobby Fulton’s World Classic Professional Big Time Wrestling event in Ohio this past weekend. According to KWK, Tanaka arrived in the state on Wednesday but did not follow his planned accommodation arrangements and failed to attend the show.

The company released the following statement:

“Effective immediately, KWK Brand Talent Management will be ending its talent representation relationship with Pat Tanaka. We will continue to honor our existing commitments regarding his action figures, but we will no longer represent him for bookings or appearances.

“This decision follows multiple missed events and ongoing concerns regarding his reliability and communication. Most recently, despite arriving in Ohio on Wednesday, Pat did not follow the original arrangements made for his stay and subsequently failed to appear at Bobby Fulton’s event. As of this statement, we have received no explanation from him regarding his absence.

“Over the past six months, KWK Brand has also provided financial support to Pat through advances associated with his action figure projects. His current action figure agreement is intended, in part, to help repay the money previously advanced to him. We have made these commitments in good faith, with the expectation that our professional relationship would be built on mutual responsibility and respect.

“Unfortunately, these repeated incidents have consequences beyond the individual events. They damage the business relationships KWK Brand has worked hard to establish with our partners, promoters, and collaborators. They also create financial consequences for others involved, including the loss of potential profits and opportunities for Paul Diamond.

“KWK Brand takes its commitments to our partners seriously. We cannot continue putting our reputation and business relationships at risk when the talent we represent repeatedly fails to fulfill their commitments.

“We regret that this situation has reached this point, but we believe this decision is necessary to protect KWK Brand, our partners, and the integrity of our business.

“We will continue to honor our existing action figure commitments in accordance with the applicable agreement. However, KWK Brand Talent Management will no longer handle Pat Tanaka’s talent representation or future bookings.

“Thank you to everyone who has supported KWK Brand and the partners who continue to place their trust in us.”

Tanaka also missed a seminar and show for Cleveland’s Absolute Intense Wrestling last month. According to AIW, his explanations included a reported car accident and a replacement flight that he claimed would depart and arrive at 7 p.m. The promotion said communication eventually stopped and Tanaka did not appear.

AIW addressed the situation with a tongue-in-cheek post:

“We love to gamble on these wild card old timers so I’m sure we will be in this situation again with one of these guys down the road,” AIW wrote. “As for Pat’s flight and when it is landing that is to be continued but he’s allegedly been up in the air for quite some time at this point……….he is a very nice guy on the telephone though when he does answer and we wish him the best.”

Tanaka is best remembered for teaming with Paul Diamond, also known as Kato, in The Orient Express in WWF and Badd Company in the AWA. His career also included appearances in CWA, ECW and WCW.