In 1996, Howard returned to the United States to compete in Antonio Inoki's World Wrestling Peace Festival in Los Angeles.

While in Los Angeles, Howard took a break from wrestling to train in Sambo with Gokor Chivichyan & Gene Lebell for No Holds Barred competition.

Tom's former students include World Wrestling Entertainment wrestlers such as John Cena, Victoria, Chris Masters, Aaron Aguilera, Luther Reigns, Sakoda, Heidenreich, Nathan Jones and Sylvester Terkay.

Howard competed against Shinya Hashimoto for a Pro Wrestling Zero-One Fighting Athletes PPV – Shingeki I in Japan and was signed to a contract with the company.

Then on July 7 Howard & Nathan Jones defeated Steve Corino & Rapid Fire Maldon at Sumo Hall in Japan on a Zero-One pay-per-view.

On December 15, Howard & Matt Ghaffari beat Shinya Hashimoto & Naoya Ogawa to win the NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Championship on a Zero One PPV.

On July 31, Shinya Hashimoto, Kazuhiko Ogasawara and Ryouji Sai defeated Tom Howard, The Predator and Samoa Joe.

On March 2, 2003 Zero-One True Century Creation II, Tom Howard & Samoa Joe defeated Gary Steele & Steve Corino.

October 22 Howard defeated Adam Pearce to regain the UPW Heavyweight Championship title in Santa Ana, California.

On January 4, 2004 in HUSTLE, Mil Máscaras & Dos Caras & Sicodelico Jr. defeated Howard & Steve Corino & Dusty Rhodes.

When asked about making the transition from Japanese Puroresu (Pro Wrestling) to K1 MMA and Kickboxing Howard was quoted in Maxfighting.com as saying: "Jumping into this sport so late, I have been playing the catch up game since I started.

At the end of one of my annual contracts I received word from my manager and friend Rick Bassman that K1 was interested in signing me to a multi year/fight deal and everything just worked out from there.

This fight ended when Williams threw a fury of punches on the ground causing cuts that required Howard to receive a total of 36 stitches.

This fight was featured in K1's Best Knockouts as Choi caught Howard with a knee to the Head causing a 6" cut up his forehead and knocking him halfway across the ring.

In February 2007, Howard competed in the Cage Rage Championships at Wembley Arena in London, England against Wolfslaire fighter Tom Blackledge.

In December 2007, Howard fought Eric "Butterbean" Esch in the main event of the World Cage Championship in Jasper, Alabama.