In June 1999, Yang signed with WCW, then made his WCW television debut in January 2000. He was put in a trio called the Jung Dragons along with Jamie-San (now WWE's Jamie Noble) and Kaz Hayashi. Yang and Hayashi defeated Evan Karagias and Jamie Knoble at WCW Sin in January 2001.
By the end of WCW, the WWF purchased Yang's WCW contract and assigned him to the company's developmental roster. With no plans to call him to the main roster, the WWF eventually released Yang, who then agreed to join All Japan Pro Wrestling. In September 2003, the WWE resigned him, this time to a three-year deal. Yang was renamed Akio and aligned himself with Japanese rookie Ryan Sakoda, forming the tag team Kyo Dai.