In 1997, he participated on New Japan Pro-Wrestling's Best of the Super Juniors tournament, defeating Jushin Thunder Liger.

The duo were the subject of a BBC2 video diary that captured matches, backstage footage, and details about life on the road.

[2] In 1997, Dean attended the Best of the Super Juniors tournament for New Japan Pro-Wrestling, during which he defeated Jushin Thunder Liger and Chavo Guerrero Jr.[2] He met Chris Jericho in Japan, who later recounted their time together in his autobiography A Lion's Tale: Around the World in Spandex.

[2][5] Dean worked for WCW until July 1998, when he decided to retire from wrestling due to injuries.

[2][1] After his death, Klondyke Kate opened a fundraising page to raise money to send Dean's body across the Atlantic to be buried in his hometown of Liverpool.