The biggest story out of the wrestling world in the last 48 hours has nothing to do with Vince McMahon turning the Royal Rumble into a giant 30-superstar match.
No, it’s the news that AJ Styles, Shinsuke Nakamura, Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows are going to WWE. Who saw this coming?
This incredible story broke during Monday’s RAW broadcast. Although WWE have not yet made this official, they have posted a teaser on WWE.com pretty much confirming the signings.
Read the full statement below:
“The sports-entertainment world has been buzzing this week with speculation that WWE has signed four massive international Superstars.
Numerous media outlets reported Monday that AJ Styles, Shinsuke Nakamura, Karl Anderson and Luke “Doc” Gallows — most recently of New Japan Pro Wrestling — are in negotiations to compete under the WWE banner..
The office of WWE COO and EVP of Talent Relations Triple H declined to comment on the rumors for WWE.com.
Reports began circulating late Sunday that all four had reportedly given their notices to New Japan management. Fueling the rumors that Styles, Nakamura, Anderson and Gallows were WWE-bound was a series of tweets involving reigning NXT Champion Finn Bálor.”
Here are some of Balors tweets
pic.twitter.com/YgImZQpnPr
— Finn Bálor (@wwebalor) January 6, 2016
#BálorClub
#BálorClub
#BálorClub
#BálorClub pic.twitter.com/lC2YpU7jo9
— Finn Bálor (@wwebalor) January 5, 2016
This is obviously exciting times for him and fans all over the globe, sending the internet world buzzing. What a coup if WWE pull this off.
WWE.com continued…
Until recently, Styles, Gallows and Anderson were all part of New Japan’s Bullet Club faction, a stable formerly led by Bálor when he wrestled in Japan under the alias Prince Devitt. For months, Bálor has made it clear that he’s still tight with the Bullet Club members, even tweeting photos of them wearing his “Bálor Club” T-shirts.
On Monday, Bálor stirred the pot again, tweeting an image of Anderson sporting trunks that bore Finn’s “demon” design. Additionally, the official Twitter account for the Bullet Club tweeted the NXT Champion Monday, telling him to keep more Bálor Club shirts on hand in case they need them. That tweet has since been deleted.
The addition of Styles, Anderson, Nakamura and Gallows would represent one of the most significant bulk talent acquisitions in WWE history.
Nicknamed “The Phenomenal One,” Styles twice held New Japan’s IWGP Heavyweight Championship, the organization’s top title. He competed on the national scene in the United States for well over a decade, dating back to the latter days of WCW, and is universally hailed for his multi-tooled attack in the ring.
Though not a member of the Bullet Club, Nakamura remains one of the most popular wrestlers outside of WWE. Displaying a flamboyant charisma comparable to Freddie Mercury, but possessing the brutal strikes of an elite fighter, Nakamura roomed with Daniel Bryan years ago in California when both were early into their sports-entertainment careers.
During media tours for last year’s WrestleMania, Bryan even revealed he once proposed an inter-promotional match against Nakamura to WWE management.
Gallows and Anderson co-held New Japan’s tag team titles on three occasions. Additionally, Gallows competed in WWE from 2007 to 2010, while Anderson is a former tag team partner of WWE Performance Center Head Coach Matt Bloom.
Stick with WWE.com for more updates on this developing story as they become available.
WWE acquiring The Phenomenal One AJ Styles and Nakamura’s services is great for all parties involved. Both super talented wrestlers and two of the best performers in the world today with great history beyond WWE.
If the rumors are also to be believed, both Styles and Nakamura have been offered lucrative contracts which includes jumping straight into the main roster after one or two stints in NXT. I assume Luke Gallows would also go to the main roster as he has already worked for WWE in the past, once joining CM Punk’s former group ‘Straight Edge Society’.
The WWE statement above, led a whole bunch of fans speculating that another invasion angle could very well be in place. “A Bullet Club Invasion” The addition of Styles Anderson Nakamura and Gallows to re-join their friend Prince Devitt ‘AKA Finn Balor.
Obviously, it’s unlikely the WWE will use The Bullet Club name if this where to happen.
The group was formed by Prince Devitt/Finn Balor’ who turned on his partner Ryusuke Taguchi and came together with Karl Anderson and others to form a villainous stable of foreigners, which they named Bullet Club. Before the end of the year, the stable was also joined by three other members ‘The Young Bucks’ and Doc Gallows.
As this group was formed outside WWE grounds it is more likely Vince will not go with The Bullet Club, but rather another name Finn frequently uses “The Balor Club”.
This faction could potentially be a huge asset to WWE ticket sales merchandise and those rating’s they so badly need to return. Potentially creating another wrestling boom.
Also, not forgetting the fact that Finn Balor has yet to make his WWE RAW debut, if the WWE do decide to go with this scenario then this faction could be formed at NXT for it to be another Nexus style RAW invasion.
Say the WWE decide to go for a different option and have them debut separately, the acquisition of adding AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura to your roster is incredible, something for fans to get really excited about.
Either way this has got fans buzzing again and WWE for once look to be heading into the right direction with so many dream matches waiting to happen, 2016 is looking to be one of a kind and one for fans to remember.
Thanks for reading…
