In a shocking move, WWE has reportedly signed IWGP Intercontinental Champion Shinsuke Nakamura, former IWGP Heavyweight Champion AJ Styles, Karl Anderson & Luke “Doc” Gallows away from New Japan Pro-Wrestling.
News broke earlier today when on Court Bauer‘s MLW Radio. Also, Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer further explained that situation on the latest episode of “Wrestling Observer Radio.”
According to reports, all four stars when to Gedo, the current booker of New Japan Pro-Wrestling, and revealed that they will be moving on from the promotion. It’s unknown when any of these four will start with WWE, but it was said that Nakamura would not be leaving quickly, as he is currently the IWGP Intercontinental Champion. Expect him to stay in NJPW longer than the others until he drops the title.
When it comes to contracts, New Japan Pro-Wrestling has a one year contract system that usually expires in January, so them giving notice coincides with that. Also, it’s not been reported that AJ Styles did not have a New Japan contract, which is why you can expect him to make the jump to WWE sooner than the others.
Nakamura, Anderson and Gallows are all expected to honor their Ring of Honor dates next month in Las Vegas. Meltzer also reported that AJ Styles was likely done with Ring of Honor going forward.
This is still a highly developing story, so for more on this, please follow us on Twitter @PWPNation.
