F4WOnline is reporting that New Japan Pro Wrestling stars AJ Styles, Shinsuke Nakamura, Karl Anderson, and Doc Gallows have all left the promotion and have signed with WWE. This news broke within 24 hours of the conclusion NJPW's Wrestle Kingdom 10, the company's version of WrestleMania, where Nakamura successfully defended IWGP Intercontinental Championship against Styles, and Anderson & Gallows dropped the IWGP Tag Team Championships to the Great Bash Heel (Togi Makabe and Tomoaki Honma). It was reported in the article by Bryan Rose that the four approached NJPW booker Gedo and told him they would be leaving. Nakamura, who is still the IWGP Intercontinental Champion, will most likely drop the title before leaving.
This would come as a huge blow to NJPW, as the four are major stars in the promotion. Nakamura is currently in his 5th reign as Intercontinental Champion, and is a 3-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion, and a former IWGP Tag Team Champion. Styles is a 2-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion, and has widely been considered the best wrestler in the world for the past two years. Gallows and Anderson together have been IWGP Tag Team Champions on three occasions, and Anderson has an additional reign with Giant Bernard (aka A-Train, Albert, Tensai and current NXT head trainer Matt Bloom).
Styles, Gallows, and Anderson are also members of the Bullet Club, the top heel stable in Japan. Styles was the leader, and Gallows and Anderson were key members of the group, winning all three of their tag team championships as part of the group. Styles was (literally) kicked from the group, with Kenny Omega becoming the new leader, but as of now, Gallows and Anderson are still members.
Gallows and Styles both have made previous appearances in WWE. Styles sole televised appearance in WWE was on a WWF Metal taping, where he lost to The Hurricane. Gallows wrestled in WWE from 2005 to 2010, portraying several different characters including the impostor Kane, Festus, and Luke Gallows. It is unknown when the four will be reporting to WWE, as Nakamura is still IWGP Intercontinental Champion, and he, Gallows, and Anderson all have Ring of Honor dates to honor.
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