Following NJPW’s very successful Wrestle Kingdom 10 on Monday 4th January, news broke on social media that WWE were on the verge of signing AJ Styles, Karl Anderson, Doc Gallows & Shinsuke Nakamura. On 5th January, AJ was excommunicated from the Bullet Club and said goodbye to NJPW, WWE published a story on their website discussing the situation and on 7th January Nakamura announced he would be leaving NJPW at the end of the month for WWE. Quite a week in the world of wrestling!
The possibility of the above talent signing for the biggest wrestling company in the world is exciting stuff. For WWE and the men involved it’s a very lucrative deal indeed, for the fans it’s a chance to see feuds we only discussed and fantasised about. There is also the opportunity to see the formation of the best faction is professional wrestling, the Bullet Club. The fact that WWE openly acknowledge the breaking news and spoke about Finn Balor’s relationship with Karl Anderson & Doc Gallows speaks volumes. There is surely substance to the allegations that all of them are signing for WWE in the very near future.
For AJ Styles the move to WWE brings his career full circle, although he made his debut in 1999 Styles made his professional TV debut in WCW, now owned by WWE. At 39 years of age Styles is in the winter of his career, by coming to WWE he has the chance to become a legend within the industry before his bows out. However that’s not to say AJ is coming to WWE to wind down his career, since signing with NJPW in 2014 he has altered and adapted his ring style; he is arguably a better worker in 2015 than he was in TNA in 2013. Rumours are circulating that when Styles eventually signs he will make his debut in the Royal Rumble match itself. With the news on Raw this week that Roman is defending the WWE title in Rumble match, it makes the potential debut of Styles even more exciting. Apart from the Rumble the signing of AJ Styles offers endless possibilities, straight away his debut will offer fresh matches, scenarios, feuds and so much more. If and when WWE finally announce his signing it will be long overdue, Styles more than anyone in professional wrestling deserves the opportunity.
Karl Anderson & Doc ‘Luke’ Gallows, still currently members of the infamous NJPW faction the ‘Bullet Club’ Karl & Doc are also on the verge of signing contracts with WWE. Karl Anderson an American by birth found fame as a wrestler in Japan. Anderson spent time with the NWA, PWG and ROH before making his move to the east in 2008, after singles success he eventually formed a tag team with current NXT trainer Matt Bloom. The team were known as ‘Bad Intentions’ and they achieved great success in NJPW; in 2010 they captured the IWGP Tag Team titles and held them for a record 564 days. The team disbanded in 2012, Anderson them went onto form the Bullet Club and is an original member.
Doc Gallows as you probably know is the former WWE performer Luke Gallows, who was once a member of CM Punk’s ‘Straight Edge Society’. Gallows was released from his contract in 2010, he went on to compete for a few independent promotions before landing in TNA in 2011 and becoming a member of the ‘Aces & Eights’ faction led by Bully Ray. Upon his release from TNA he found a new home in NJPW, he made his debut with Karl Anderson in November 2013 as part of the Bullet Club. He continued to be a successful member of the stable and has captured the IWGP Tag Titles three times with Anderson. Like Anderson, Gallows has found great fame in Japan; he has basically turned his career around after WWE & TNA let him go. Finally he is getting the recognition he deserves.
At Wrestle Kingdom 10, Karl & Doc lost their IWGP Titles. It was then reported that before the event they had given their notice to New Japan officials, in the process they announced they were leaving for WWE. The potential for these two in WWE is massive, as a tag team they could offer something different to what we currently see. They are excellent workers who can mix it up with anyone; their matches in NJPW have been greeted with wide applause from critics and fans. It also marks how far especially Karl Anderson has come in his career, it must not have been easy to move across the world to make a name for yourself, but hopefully now he has earned the respect of his peers. And for Doc Gallows it marks a new start in WWE, a clean slate, I don’t think anyone will be thinking of Festus when he debuts. What is especially intriguing is when they do debut will it be as a part of the Balor Club? Watch this space!
Shinsuke Nakamura, the master of the Boma Ye and the current IWGP Intercontinental Champion is one of the very best in the world. He is arguably the measuring stick in NJPW, he is also someone who has bridge the gap in Japan between wrestling and entertainment, and he fits the WWE style perfectly. He is known in Japan as the ‘King of Strong Style’ for as you can imagine his rough, intimidating ring work. Using knees, fists and his patented finishing move, Nakamura has become a standout for the promotion. He is a former three times IWGP heavyweight champion, IWGP IC champion five times and a one-time IWGP Tag champion; at Wrestle Kingdom he successfully defended his current title against AJ Styles. If the rumours are to be believed Shinsuke also made known his intention to leave the company, in the time honoured tradition he will pass the torch and his title before vacating NJPW. On January 6th he personally announced to Tokyo Sports that he will be signing for WWE in the near future.
In the days since the news broke, Kenny Omega viciously attacked AJ Styles and took over as leader of the Bullet Club. Kenny also set up a feud with Nakamura after pinning him in a tag match on the 5th January, and both Anderson and Gallows have said they will honour their commitments before departing for WWE. Not since the days of the Monday Night Wars has a talent raid or acquisition been such big news, the fact that WWE openly acknowledge it on their website and social media only adds fuel to the fire.
With current superstars such as Seth Rollins, Randy Orton, Cesaro and as of Wednesday 6th John Cena set to miss Wrestlemania 32 because of injury there is no better time for and NJPW invasion. The Phenomenal One, The Bullet Club and The King of Strong Style are surely headed to the bright lights of Raw, the landscape in WWE is bound to change and WWE in 2016 seems like a very exciting place to be.
@Ciaran_1986
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