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WWE reportedly snatches 4 of NJPW?s biggest stars

WWE reportedly snatches 4 of NJPW?s biggest stars

Posted: Jan 5th 2016 By: Colin Vassallo

The big unconfirmed rumor today is that WWE has signed four of New Japan Pro Wrestling?s biggest stars ? A. J. Styles, Shinsuke Nakamura, Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson. All four participated at the WrestleKingdom 10 event over the weekend which is NJPW?s version of WrestleMania.

AJ Styles has been one of the hottest free agents in the United States ever since leaving TNA. The former TNA and IWGP champion also wrestles for Ring of Honor, something that will obviously stop if he really is signed to WWE.

Nakamura is currently the IWGP Intercontinental champion and the 35 year old wrestled AJ Styles at WrestleKingdom 10, defending his title. He spent his whole career with New Japan Pro Wrestling and is one of the most popular wrestlers in the country.

Doc Gallows is not new to the WWE as he previously worked there under the names of Festus and Luke Gallows. Although he wrestled for both WWE and later TNA for around two years, Gallows? popularity is more evident over in Japan where he has been wrestling since 2013 for NJPW. At WrestleKingdom 10, he and his tag team partner Karl Anderson lost the IWGP Tag Team titles. Gallows is also a big friend of CM Punk and the two worked together during the Straight Edge Society
days.

Karl Anderson has never wrestled for WWE or TNA but has featured for Ring of Honor, Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, and Global Force Wrestling as well. He made his NJPW debut in 2008 and has been wrestling there ever since, forming part of the Bullet Club with Styles and Gallows as well. Anderson
was also the tag team partner of Giant Bernard at NJPW, the man whose real name is Matt Bloom, the head trainer at WWE Performance Center.

If the rumors are true, WWE has managed to scoop up some of the hottest stars over in Japan and they would make a great addition to either the NXT or WWE main roster.

 

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Spotlight in History

  • 1979 Wahoo McDaniel def. The Spoiler for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
  • 1984 Magnum T. A. def. Mr. Wrestling II for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
  • 2006 Justin Lee def. Gary Gram for the NWA-U X Division Title
  • 2012 Les Mayne became the MSWA Oklahoma Champion
  • 2016 Terry Montana & Mighty Mouse def. Dynamic Shields (Justin Dynamic & Shawn Shields) for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
  • 2017 Sam Stackhouse def. Drake Gallows for the BCW Buzzsaw Title
  • 2017 Garrett Murphy def. Anarchy [2nd] for the NAW Lightweight Title
  • 2023 Lunchador def. Dr. Corvus for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
  • 2023 Rush Freeman became the WAH Heavyweight Champion
  • 2023 The Psychotic Messengers (Tank Bryson & Malachi) def. Dark Forces (San La Muerte & Reese) for the WAH Tag Team Titles

Week of Sun 05-10 to Sat: 05-16

  • 05-10 2008 Jerry Bostic became the 3DW Violent Division Champion
  • 05-10 2014 Billy Ray [1st] def. Running Wolf for the NAW Heavyweight Title
  • 05-10 2014 American Made def. Tim Rockwell for the UWE United States Title
  • 05-10 2019 Kody Lane def. Latrell Upton for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
  • 05-10 2023 Leo Fox def. The Wolf of War for the RDW Iron Man Title
  • 05-10 2025 Montego Seeka def. K. J. Gold for the RDW Iron Man Title
  • 05-10 2025 Sam Stackhouse def. Jack Talos for the EPW All-American Title
  • 05-10 2025 Sgt. Todd became the NAW Openweight Champion
  • 05-10 2025 Military Express (Sgt. Todd & Sgt. Hartman) became the NAW Openweight Champion
  • 05-11 1962 Alberto Torres & Ramon Torres def. Jan Madrid & Louie Tillet for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 05-11 1976 Karl Kox & Bob Sweetan def. Ted DiBiase & Dick Murdoch for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 05-11 1981 Ernie Ladd def. Kerry Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
  • 05-11 2008 The Midnite Rider def. Outlaw for the MSWA Oklahoma Title
  • 05-11 2008 Limited Edition (Les Mayne & Dane Griffin) def. The South Side Soul Assassins (Tyson Jaymes & 3rd Rail) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 05-11 2013 Billy Ray [1st] became the NAW Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-11 2013 The Trenchcoat Mafia (Ryan Reed & Billy Ray [1st]) def. Pretty In Pink (Mike Rose & Michael Duplanti) for the NAW Tag Team Titles
  • 05-11 2019 Drake Gallows became the KCW National Champion
  • 05-11 2024 Drake Gallows def. Ronnie Morton for the XDWF New GenX Title
  • 05-11 2024 J. R. Orullian def. Marlboro Slim for the NAW Heavyweight Title
  • 05-12 2002 Rocco Valentino became the OCW Oklahoma Television Champion
  • 05-12 2012 The New Era [2nd] (Richie Adams & Goldeneye) def. The Dramatic Athletes (Jake McCoy & X-Cal) for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
  • 05-12 2012 Venus became the IZW Queens Champion
  • 05-12 2013 The Canadian Red Devil def. Bobby Starr for the MSWA Oklahoma Title
  • 05-12 2013 Impact, Inc. (Jermaine Johnson & Jordan Jacobs) def. Shawn Sanders & Tyson Jaymes (substituting for Scott Sanders) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 05-12 2018 Garrett Murphy became the NAW Lightweight Champion
  • 05-12 2018 Big Smooth def. Dusty Gold for the NAW Heavyweight Title
  • 05-12 2018 Brayden def. Kareem Sadat for the BCW Independent Hardcore Title
  • 05-12 2018 Gavin Dixon def. Mikey [2nd] for the BCW Heavyweight Title
  • 05-12 2023 Ronnie Morton def. Red James for the RDW Brass Knucks Title
  • 05-13 1979 Wahoo McDaniel def. The Spoiler for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
  • 05-13 1984 Magnum T. A. def. Mr. Wrestling II for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
  • 05-13 2006 Justin Lee def. Gary Gram for the NWA-U X Division Title
  • 05-13 2012 Les Mayne became the MSWA Oklahoma Champion
  • 05-13 2016 Terry Montana & Mighty Mouse def. Dynamic Shields (Justin Dynamic & Shawn Shields) for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
  • 05-13 2017 Sam Stackhouse def. Drake Gallows for the BCW Buzzsaw Title
  • 05-13 2017 Garrett Murphy def. Anarchy [2nd] for the NAW Lightweight Title
  • 05-13 2023 Lunchador def. Dr. Corvus for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
  • 05-13 2023 Rush Freeman became the WAH Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-13 2023 The Psychotic Messengers (Tank Bryson & Malachi) def. Dark Forces (San La Muerte & Reese) for the WAH Tag Team Titles
  • 05-14 1975 John Tolos def. Al Madril for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
  • 05-14 1975 Danny Miller def. Skandor Akbar for the TSW North American Title
  • 05-14 2004 Butch Dalton def. Jon Davis for the TPW Heavyweight Title
  • 05-14 2004 Devon Monroe def. Mitch Carter for the TPW Light Heavyweight Title
  • 05-14 2005 John O'Malley became the IZW Hardcore Champion
  • 05-14 2005 Impact Inc. (John Zorthos & Bernie Donderwitz) became the IZW Tag Team Champions
  • 05-15 1959 Mike DiBiase def. Dory Funk for the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Title
  • 05-15 1962 Bull Curry def. Jack Dalton [1st] for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 05-15 1972 Dale Lewis def. Bill Watts for the TSW North American Title
  • 05-15 2010 X-Rated (Kevin James Sanchez & Bobby Star) def. Rick Russo for the SWCW Tag Team Titles
  • 05-15 2010 Jonathan Cross def. Anarchy [2nd] for the UWE Heavyweight Title
  • 05-15 2015 Charlie Haas def. Jerome Daniels for the NWA-TXO Heavyweight Title
  • 05-15 2021 Killbane def. The Canadian Red Devil for the NCWO Oklahoma Title
  • 05-16 1981 Eddie Gilbert & Ricky Morton def. Akbar Army (Jerry Brown & Ron McFarlane) for the TSW Tag Team Titles
  • 05-16 1983 Chris Adams def. Terry Gordy for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 05-16 2009 Impact, Inc. (Johnny Z & Bernie D) became the IZW Tag Team Champions
  • 05-16 2015 The K. C. Wolves (Graham Bell & Luke Langley) def. Team Bull (Aaron Neil & Bobby Starr) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 05-16 2015 Clint Cassidy def. Mr. Nasty for the UWE United States Title
  • 05-16 2015 Brett Stopp def. Fuel for the UWE Heavyweight Title
  • 05-16 2015 Anarchy [2nd] def. Brett Stopp for the UWE Heavyweight Title
  • 05-16 2025 K. J. Gold def. Montego Seeka for the RDW Iron Man Title
  • 05-16 2025 Drake Gallows & became the RDW Tag Team Champions
05-13
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