Report: WWE signs AJ Styles/Gallows/Anderson/Nakamura from New Japan

[Str8Shooter]

Story really starting to make the rounds online now. Meltzer supposedly confirmed those four names but it's behind a paywall.

This is a huge influx of talent of true. I don't know if/when we'll see any of them on the main roster. But with NXT announcing even more Live Events throughout the US in 2016, they ain't playing around.

[SortaCreative]

Yeah, I saw this. NXT isn't messing around.

Bow down to the king

[SlightlyJames]

April fools is still a few months away man.

Surely this can't be true. It would be fucking huge.

[Westcoastvibes]

Gallows and anderson seem iffy, they have not progressed much since their previous wwe runs

[War Daddy]

You have no idea how hard I just got reading that.

[chuway]

I guess it's free agent season!

[Str8Shooter]

Gallows and anderson seem iffy, they have not progressed much since their previous wwe runs

I don't believe Karl Anderson has ever had a WWE run to my knowledge.

Gallows is decent enough, he's certainly not the big acquisition from these four though.

[DBSoT]

AJ Styles, Nakamura, Gallows, Anderson, Balor, Itami, and Samoa Joe would make a cool stable.

[Westcoastvibes]

Gallows and anderson seem iffy, they have not progressed much since their previous wwe runs

I don't believe Karl Anderson has ever had a WWE run to my knowledge.

Gallows is decent enough, he's certainly not the big acquisition from these four though.

Haha, my bad.... I assumed Ken Anderson

[EmperorWu]

Good lord let this be true.

[VaderBomb]

Holy fucking fuck.

Just when I think I'm out, they pull me back in.

[SortaCreative]

There been any real confirmation? Reddit is melting down.

If all this is true... my body is not ready. 2016 could be great...

BUT this is WWE.

2016 could also be such a waste.

[PorkChop]

Holy fucking fuck.

Just when I think I'm out, they pull me back in.

Don't do it, man. Don't take the bait. You know 100% that these guys will be treated like shit.

[Str8Shooter]

As noted, WWE has reportedly signed top New Japan Pro Wrestling stars AJ Styles, Doc Gallows, Karl Anderson and current IWGP Intercontinental Champion Shinsuke Nakamura.

It was indicated on the latest episode of Wrestling Observer Radio that there are Royal Rumble main event surprises planned and some of these names could appear in the match.

It was also noted that Nakamura and Styles were apparently not signed to be on the NXT roster. They could always work NXT events or be sent down for a few shows but word is they were not signed for that brand, indicating main roster plans.

Regarding Nakamura, he is not coming in right away and is expected to drop his title and work a notice, unlike Alberto Del Rio with AAA.

Source: F4WOnline.com

[SlightlyJames]

If AJ isn't meant for NXT and he's going to be coming in sooner rather than Nakamura's later, I could really see him make a Rumble entrance. That would be unreal, even if he does stand no chance of winning it. Bring him in early and give him a good showing, maybe set up a feud for him surrounding his elimination.

[Hanley!]

[Str8Shooter]

WWE may have it's problems as we all know full well, but if I would have told you guys 5 years ago that in 2016 NXT would be it's own brand inside of WWE, with a weekly show and Live PPV's, and a roster that included Prince Devitt, Kenta, El Generico, and had Kevin Steen all featured prominently. That also had a roster of talented women wrestlers who had main evented shows, and just signed 4 stars from New Japan Pro Wrestling including a guy who was Mr.TNA in AJ Styles, you all would have said I was insane.

[Everlong]

AJ Styles in WWE???? It's about time!

[DBSoT]

I want to lose my shit over this because the Bullet Club is the best thing in wrestling, but I have to always add the caveat that this is WWE's writers. How they present this is very important. Ideally they would come in as a stable that isn't aligned with the Authority or with the faces. They could be this generations DX if done right. Bring in a mouth piece for them though. Someone has to be pulling the strings and signing them. I have one theory that is a bit unlikely, but would actually make a ton of sense. What if they were aligned with Shane McMahon. Since leaving WWE, Shane has been over in China running his You On brand as CEO. They could mention that he has been keeping a close eye on the talent in nearby Japan and the second he laid eyes on the Bullet Club he knew he had what he needed. So behind close doors, he signed them to WWE contracts and is using them to take out the Authority and reclaim what is rightfully his.

[Hanley!]

While the idea of them coming in as a stable sounds alluring, I think it's ultimately the wrong choice. I heard that a new heel stable was formed on Raw last night. That makes four heel stables on Raw currently. Another one, even with talented newcomers, would just be white noise.

I'm torn on Styles coming to WWE actually. I'd love to see him do well there, and I might watch him more regularly, so that's a positive. But I really worry about how he'd be treated. While he'd probably be awesome on NXT and I'd get to see loads of him there, that post seems beneath him now and it'd feel like he was better off staying in Japan, where he was a top guy. Whereas if he debuted on Raw (as he should), he'd probably be booked horribly, because everyone there is.

Regardless of that though, I'll still mark out for him if/when he turns up on either show. I'm a huge fan of Styles and would love to see him pop out as an entrant in the Rumble or at a Takeover show. But it is WWE after all, so there is that voice in the back of my head that they'll make the worst out of it. Just look how they handled Sting last year.