Your Guidebook To New Japan Pro-Wrestling Wrestle Kingdom 10 Edition

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Your Guidebook to New Japan Pro-Wrestling

Wrestle Kingdom 10 Edition
/u/EvanDeadlySins
This work is in no way affiliated with New Japan Pro-Wrestling or Bushiroad.
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Table of Contents
(3)The Show
(4) The Championships
(5) The Card
(6) The Factions
(7) The Wrestlers
(25)The Age Old Question: English Commentary?
(26)New Japan Pro-Wrestling Online
(27) Just How Popular is NJPW?
(28)Why Are There So Many Tag Matches?
(29)What Are Other Differences in Japanese Wrestling?
(30)What is the Young Lion System?
(31)How To Watch Wrestle Kingdom 10?
(32) Is NJPW on TV?
(33) After Wrestle Kingdom 10, What’s Next?
(34)What are NJPW’s Working Relationships?
(35)Who Are the NJPW Staff?
(36) How Can I Learn More About NJPW’s History?
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The Show
If you look back at the history of the Tokyo Dome, the list of Americans, some Cana-
dians, or “gaijin” that wrestled in that facility reads like a who’s who. You could start
a territory, major wrestling company, a hall of fame, with the foreigners that have
wrestled there. Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, Bruiser Brody, Stan Hansen, Andre the Giant,
Sting. A better question: who hasn’t wrestled in the Tokyo Dome that’s a big star? If
you are a big star in America, at some point in your career, you either did, or you
wanted to, compete in the Tokyo Dome. It’s that prestigious.
- Jim Ross
Wrestle Kingdom 10 in Tokyo Dome

Monday, January 4th, 2016
5:00 PM Japanese Standard Time (4:00 PM Preshow)
3:00 AM Eastern Standard Time (2:00 AM Preshow)
12:00 AM Pacific Standard Time (11:00 PM Preshow)
8:00 AM Greenwich Mean Time (7:00 AM Preshow)
NJPW Tokyo Dome Shows are notoriously long.
Expect the main show itself to last at least four hours.
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The Factions
Many wrestlers in NJPW are members of stables, or factions. Most factions in Japan work differently in
Japan in comparison to the United States, for they are more akin to MMA training camps than gangs.
They will work in tag matches together, but they will usually not come to each other’s aid otherwise, and
will rarely interview as a group. They also tend to stick together for years, usually much longer than nec-
essary. For the purposes of knowledge, wrestlers who are members of factions will have their profiles
labeled with the logo of the faction they represent. Unaffiliated wrestlers will not have any logo.
CHAOS
Originally a heel faction whose goal was to bring Strong
Style (basically martial-arts influenced pro-wrestling) back
from the brink of extinction. Now a tweener faction who
don’t have a goal, but are still together because their mer-
chandise sells really well. Formed in April 2009. Led by
Shinsuke Nakamura.
Bullet Club
A heel faction of mostly foreigners. Formed in May 2013 by
Prince Devitt. They operate in a manner uncharacteristic to
typical factions, using interference and other Americanized
tactics, which are utilized to a certain amount of success to
gain heat from the Japanese audience. They function in an
Americanized style, generally traveling in packs, and doing
mass interviews together. Led by A.J. Styles.
Los Ingobernables de Japón

“The Ungovernables.” The newest heel faction. An offshoot
from the “Los Ingobernables” faction in CMLL. Without a
known purpose at this point, with exception to just general
rebellion. Formed in October 2015. Led by Tetsuya Naito.
Great Bash Heel (G.B.H.)

A “Japanization” of the phrase “Grievous Body Harm.” The
top heel group in NJPW from 2006 to 2009. Now down to a
measly two members, Togi Makabe and Tomoaki Honma,
basically a tag team with no signs of expanding.
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The Championships
IWGP Heavyweight Championship IWGP Intercontinental Championship NEVER Openweight Championship

The preeminent championship in NJPW. Upper midcard or secondary main event Can by won by a wrestler of any weight
Main events all of the largest PPVs. championship. Often main events class. Originally was a championship for
secondary PPVs. NJPW’s developmental program
Current Champion: Kazuchika Okada
“NEVER” which is now defunct.
(CHAOS) Current Champion: Shinsuke Nakamura
(CHAOS) Current Champion: Tomohiro Ishii
(CHAOS)
IWGP Junior Heavyweight IWGP Tag Team Championship IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team
Championship Championship
Tag Team Championship for
Singles championship for junior heavyweights. Tag Team Championship for junior
heavyweights, who are under 100kg heavyweights.
Current Champions: Karl Anderson &
(220 lbs.). Doc Gallows (Bullet Club) Current Champions: reDRagon (Kyle
Current Champion: Kenny Omega O’Reilly and Bobby Fish)
(Bullet Club)
NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Championship
Trios’ championship. Can be won by a combination of
wrestlers of any weight class.
Current Champions: None. Inaugural champions to be
determined at Wrestle Kingdom 10.
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The Card
Pre-Show New Japan Rumble

Confirmed (But Not All) Participants: Jushin Thunder Liger, Tiger Mask IV, Jado, Yuji Nagata, Satoshi
Kojima, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Manabu Nakanishi, Ryusuke Taguchi
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship
reDRagon © vs. The Young Bucks vs. Matt Sydal & Ricochet vs. Roppongi Vice
Inaugural Match for NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Championship
Toru Yano & The Briscoes vs. Bullet Club (Bad Luck Fale, Yujiro Takahashi & Tama Tonga)
ROH World Championship
Jay Lethal © vs. Michael Elgin
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship
Kenny Omega © vs. KUSHIDA
IWGP Tag Team Championship
Bullet Club (Karl Anderson & Doc Gallows) vs. GBH (Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma)
Special Singles Match
Hirooki Goto vs. Tetsuya Naito
NEVER Openweight Championship
Tomohiro Ishii © vs. Katsuyori Shibata
IWGP Intercontinental Championship
Shinsuke Nakamura © vs. A.J. Styles
IWGP Heavyweight Championship
Kazuchika Okada © vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi
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“The Ace of the Universe”

Hiroshi Tanahashi
@tanahashi1_100
Age:39
Height: 5’11”(181cm)
Weight: 227 lbs.(103kg)
Finishers: High Fly Flow (Frog splash), Texas Cloverleaf
Greatest Accolades: Seven-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion, main evented nine Tokyo Dome shows
It’s somewhat bothersome to me when people say that Tanahashi is Japan’s answer to John Cena, but if
someone has to bear that designation, it would have to be him. This man has been the top star of New
Japan for the better part of a decade, and with the fan-given nickname “Mr. Tokyo Dome,” he has become
synonymous with victory at Wrestle Kingdom. But with a bad back and bad knees, his time at the tip-top
of the card is coming to an end. However, he has served the NJPW fans faithfully as their Ace with pride,
and he will not step into the twilight of his career without a fight. While an unabashed good guy, he is
not without a sizeable ego, referring to himself as “Itsuzai,” meaning “The Once in a Century Talent.”
Trivia: His favorite wrestler of all time is Shawn Micheals, who is the inspiration for his in-ring style.
After winning a main event match, he will cap off his post-match promos with the phrase “Aishitemasu!”
which means, “I love you!” His max bench press is 190kg (419 lbs.). John Cena weighs 251 lbs. and has a
max bench of 465 lbs. 419/227 = 1.85. 465/251 = 1.85. Illuminati confirmed.
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“The Rainmaker”
Kazuchika Okada
@rainmaker_chaos
Age:28
Finishers: Rainmaker (Wrist-clutch short-arm lariat)
Greatest Accolades: 3-time, current IWGP Heavyweight Champion, youngest G1 Climax winner (at 24)
He’s on another level. At least that’s what his CHAOS stable-mate, manager, and mouthpiece, Gedo, has
to say. Okada returned from his excursion at Wrestle Kingdom 6 a new man. With bleached hair,
luxurious and colorful robes, and no shortage of bling, Okada wished to proclaim to the world that he
was the man, the Ace of the New Era for NJPW. To be the man, you gotta beat the man, so he challenged
the man, Tanahashi, on his first night back, and became the IWGP Heavyweight Champion in their first
encounter a month later. Okada has beaten Tanahashi multiple times, and their match has main-evented
Wrestle Kingdom twice, with the victory going to Tanahashi on both occasions. But Okada will assure
you, that on January 4th, he will be the victor, money will rain from the sky, and it will be his time.
Trivia: Cancer runs in Okada’s family, and Okada has set up The Rainmaker Foundation. Every time he
wins with the Rainmaker, he donates 30,000¥ to children’s cancer research. So when you defeat Okada,
you are literally taking money away from children with cancer. Shameful.
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“The King of Strong Style”

Shinsuke Nakamura
@ShinsukeN
Age:35
Finisher: Boma Ye (Single leg knee strike to the head of an opponent), Cross Armbreaker
Greatest Accolades: Youngest IWGP Heavyweight Champion (at 23), five-time and current IWGP
Intercontinental Champion
Energetic and slightly unhinged, the enigmatic Shinsuke Nakamura is always a fan favorite, both abroad
and with Japanese fans. The founder and leader of CHAOS, this wrestler maintains an aura of arrogance,
confidence enough to respond to any challenge with his signature phrase, “YeaOh!” Apt to use his long
legs for heavily knee-based offense, the former MMA-fighter and amateur wrestler spent much of his
early career as a stoic fighter, receiving a meteoric push to the top, but never quite being over to the
level of that push. But, in the last few years, he has morphed into a marvel of showmanship and flair,
enthralling crowds with his crazed facial expressions and creative outfits. Look for him to make a grand
entrance at Wrestle Kingdom. He always does.
Trivia: He spends much of his free time surfing at beaches, judging by his Instagram. Also, “Boma Ye”
translates in Lingala to “Kill him.”
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“The Phenomenal One”

A.J. Styles
@AJStylesOrg
Age: 38
Height: 5’11” (180cm)
Weight: 216 lbs. (98kg)
Finishers: Styles Clash (Belly-to-back inverted mat slam), Calf Killer (Calf slicer)
Greatest Accomplishments: Two-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion, first gaijin IWGP Heavyweight
Champion since Brock Lesnar in 2006
What else needs to be said about A.J. Styles? After the departure of Prince Devitt, Bullet Club were down
a member, and Styles needed a new company to call home. The biggest weapon of the Bullet Club and
the most successful foreigner in NJPW in years, and in an incredibly short period of time, given that he
has only spent less than two years in New Japan, this man is always a major threat, no matter the oppo-
sition, no matter the situation. He is also owner of the deadliest finisher in New Japan, the infamous
Styles Clash. Having resulted in multiple men’s broken necks, even an attempt to set the move up sets
the audience into a chorus of gasps, and as he hits it, stunned silence, because they know that the match
is over.
Trivia: Styles is a devout Christian, and all of his children’s names start with “A”: Ajay, Avery, Albey, and
Anney. Their dates of birth are tattooed on the side of his abdomen.
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“The Stone Pitbull”

Tomohiro Ishii
Age: 40
Height: 5’7” (170cm)
Finisher: Vertical Brainbuster
Greatest accolades: Three-time and current NEVER

Openweight Champion
Far-flung from the charismatic showmen that make

up most of NJPW’s elite echelon, this stout and per-
petually grouchy brawler trades looks for un-
matched power and pain tolerance. Headbutts, lar-
iats, and suplexes are Ishii’s bread and butter. He’ll
often verbally taunt his opponents during matches,
coercing them to hit him even harder because he’s
not feeling any pain.
Trivia: Ishii only wears underpants manufactured

by Armani Exchange or Dolce & Gabbana. He also
prefers highly buxom women.
“The Wrestler”
Katsuyori Shibata
Age: 36
Finisher: Penalty Kick (Soccer kick to the chest of a
seated opponent), Sleeper Hold
This former nationally-ranked amateur grappler

returned to NJPW in 2012 after a career in MMA
and since then has punctuated every one of his
matches with his signature “kick you until you die”
fighting style and intimidating presence. There’s
always an electricity in the air as Shibata marches
down the aisle, a little something about him that
makes his matches feel a little more real, and en-
sures that all his big singles matches are must-see.
Trivia: Shibata will have a voice acting role in the

Japanese version of Anisava, an “adult animal love
comedy” animated TV show. His MMA record is 4
wins-10 losses.
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“El Ingobernable”
Tetsuya Naito
@s_d_naito
Age: 33
Height: 5’11” (180cm)
Finisher: Destino (Standing shiranui)
Tired of being viewed as a very good wrestler with

an upper midcard ceiling, Tetsuya Naito traveled to
Mexico in the spring of 2015 and discovered his
rebellious side. Returning with shaggier hair, a
goatee, and darker garb, he began amassing a gang
of anarchistic rebels known as “Los Ingobernables
de Japón.” Winning by any means necessary, who
knows what he can accomplish with this new atti-
tude? Out of control. Hard to regulate. Anything
goes. LOS INGOBERNABLES.
Trivia: Naito’s taunt where he holds his eye open

was borne out of insults from the Mexican crowds.
“Hey Chino, are your eyes open? Can you see?”
“The Fierce Warrior”

Hirooki Goto
@510njpw
Age: 36
Finisher: Shouten Kai (Vertical suplex sitout side-
slam), Goto Shiki (Rolling cross-legged cradle)
What you see is what you get with Hirooki Goto. No

frills, no gimmicks, just a top-tier athlete with a
thirst for gold, no shortage of intensity, but also a
strong sense of honor. His stoicism outside of the
ring is matched only by his ferocity within it,
though he often finds himself unable to break into
NJPW’s elite echelon, much to his frustration. One
can often find him alongside his childhood friend
and classmate, Katsuyori Shibata, with whom he
has also had some of his most intense wars.
Trivia: He once drank Tanahashi’s Red Bull with no

regrets. He wasn’t in the middle of a push anyway.
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“The Unchained Gorilla”

Togi Makabe
@GBH_makabe
Age: 43
Height: 5’11” (181cm)
Finisher: King Kong Knee Drop (Diving knee drop)
A former IWGP Heavyweight Champion and G1 Cli-

max winner, this Bruiser Brody-esque big man is a
match for any opponent. When not cackling mania-
cally or cursing in extremely audible English, Maka-
be punishes his opponents with lariats, power-
bombs, chain-clad fists, and surprisingly deft su-
plexes. Don’t ask him to show you an armbar, or
sell something that’s not tickets, but request an en-
tertaining beatdown and you shall receive.
Trivia: Makabe hosts a segment on daytime televi-

sion where he taste-tests various sweets eateries in
Tokyo, making him probably the most famous in
the mainstream of all the NJPW wrestlers.
“Everyone’s Kokeshi”
Tomoaki Honma
Age: 39
Height: 5’11” (181cm)
Finisher: Kokeshi (Diving headbutt)
Possibly one of the most convincing underdogs in

all of wrestling, Honma wrestled for years in NJPW
without winning one singles match, all the while
making the New Japan fans believe that tonight was
indeed the night. Eventually, that night happened,
and with more momentum than ever before,
Honma looks to drop the big head on the opposi-
tion, win his first NJPW championship, and make
Honmania run wild once more in the Tokyo Dome.
Trivia: Honma left Higashine, a small farming town,

for Tokyo, and worked at a gas station to finance
his in-ring training. Despite working death-matches
for years, his croaky voice is actually the byproduct
of a botched lariat, which crushed his vocal chords.
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“The Machine Gun”

Karl Anderson
@machinegunka
Age: 35
Finisher: Gun Stun (Jumping cutter)
Though a strong singles wrestler, Anderson has

spent the majority of his tenure as a tag team wres-
tler, with a wide variety of partners, including Doc
Gallows in Bullet Club, as “Bad Intentions” with the
artist formerly known as Giant Bernard (Jason Al-
bert), and as “Guns and Swords” with Hirooki Goto.
As such, the loudest mouth in the Bullet Club is the
third-most prolific IWGP Tag Team Champion in
history. This Machine Gun never needs to reload.
Trivia: As his Twitter will not hesitate to inform

you, Anderson is married to a #HotAsianWife and
has two sons. He was also a kayfabe member of The
Andersons for quite some time on the indies.
“The Outlaw”
Doc Gallows
@ImpactDOC
Age: 31
Finisher: Gallows Pole (Two-handed chokebomb)
Festus? Luke Gallows? D.O.C? Imposter Kane? Who

is this man? Well, we know that, although facing
stiff competition, this man is consistently the most
vulgar member of the Bullet Club. Though not hav-
ing much mettle as a singles worker, he has a great
penchant for both terrorizing referees and winning
tag team championships, winning the World Tag
League and the IWGP Tag Team Championship
with Karl Anderson on his first try. This Bullet Club
big man is not to be messed with.
Trivia: Check him and the rest of the Biz’ Cliz’ out
on Talk’n Shop, their simultaneously terrible and
amazing podcast!
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“The Cleaner”
Kenny Omega
@KennyOmegamanX
Age: 32
Finisher: One-Winged Angel (One-handed electric
chair driver)
Ever since Omega joined the Bullet Club in late

2014, all of his adversaries expected to fight a mad-
man, but instead found a “God.” Omega has been
mostly dominant in his quest to “clean up” the Jun-
ior Heavyweight Division, defeating Motor City gar-
bage, #Reborn garbage, and Mexican garbage in his
destructive IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion-
ship reign.
Trivia: As his Twitter handle would suggest, Omega

is an avid fan of classic video games and anime, to
the point where he learned Japanese in order to
better understand the content he was consuming.
“The Time Splitter”

KUSHIDA
@KUSHIDA_CANADA
Age: 32
Finisher: Hoverboard Lock (Kimura lock), Midnight
Express (Corkscrew moonsault)
Using a combination of high flying, martial arts, and

submission-style wrestling , KUSHIDA wows audi-
ences on every outing, as he embarks on his quest
to become the new Ace of the Junior Heavyweight
division. An avid fan of Back to the Future, he aims
to prove that his time as the symbol of the Super
Juniors to the fans is just beginning.
Trivia: As a child, KUSHIDA was apt to practice the

wrestling moves that he saw on television, and he
made a set of home videos to document his recrea-
tion of every wrestling move, performed on a
stuffed bear.
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“TheGreatest1stGenerationWrestler”
Jay Lethal
@TheLethalJay
Age: 30
Height: 5’10” (178cm)
Finisher: Lethal Injection (Handspring cutter)
Through perseverance, raw talent, and the genius

(and deceit) of Truth Martini and The House of
Truth, Jay Lethal made it to the very top of the Ring
of Honor food chain in 2015. With an ego that runs
as deep as his Black Machismo voice, Jay Lethal
aims to prove the same greatness that won him the
ROH World Championship on the largest stage of
his career, the Tokyo Dome.
Trivia: Despite having no shortage of in-ring acu-

men, Lethal has the unfortunate dishonor of partic-
ipating in WON’s Worst Worked Match of 2006, the
TNA Reverse Battle Royal. But it was TNA, so per-
haps it’s not his fault.
“Unbreakable”
Michael Elgin
@MichaelElgin25
Age: 29
Height: 5’11” (180cm)
Finisher: Revolution Elgin Bomb (Spinning sitout
powerbomb)
Half-man, half-boulder, Michael Elgin is a power-

house, through and through, though with uncharac-
teristic agility. With a NJPW debut in the 25th G1
Climax to a lack of fanfare, he immediately changed
many people’s minds and awed Japanese crowds,
reminding them of many monster gaijin of decades
past. With his victory at ROH Survival of the Fittest
2015, Elgin is on the fast track to walking out of
Wrestle Kingdom 10 a champion.
Trivia: In past years, Elgin worked in the construc-

tion business, but not for long, as taking time off to
work indies did not go over well with management.
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“Y! T! R!”
Toru Yano
@YTR_CHAOS
Age: 37
Finisher: Inside cradle, other flash-pin variations
Yano is an odd one. Overweight, slow, and not

physically robust whatsoever, he relies heavily on
deception, trickery, and his trusty red steel chair to
help him win matches. Never count him out com-
pletely, because he has multiple pinfall victories
over the company’s top stars. Most of the time,
though, it’s more his style to stay behind the tough-
er members of CHAOS, and sling his DVDs.
Yano! To! Ru! ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Trivia: His entrance includes spitting Sake in a Tri-

ple H-esque fashion, and all of his moves are named
after Sake beverages. He also owns a sports bar in
Tokyo, called “Ebreitas” (“drunkenness” in Latin).
Jay and Mark Briscoe

The Briscoe Brothers
@JayBriscoe84
Age: 31 (Jay) and 30 (Mark)
Height: 6’1” (184cm) (Jay) and 6’0” (183cm)
(Mark)
Weight: 463 lbs. (210kg) combined
Finisher: Springboard Doomsday Device
They’re the baddest tag team on the planet, mang!

The game-shooting, tobacco-spitting brothers,
Mark and Jay, are the most decorated tag team in
Ring of Honor history, with no small thanks to Jay’s
brutality and Mark’s insanity. Bullet Club has in-
trigued them greatly, due to their name, though the
relationship that the Bullet Club has with actual
bullets has resulted in their confusion. They don’t
need to join the Club, because they got real bullets.
They’re just tryin’ to get to the Tokyo Dome!
Trivia: Mark and Jay live the gimmick, mang, and

own a chicken farm in Delaware.
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“The Underboss”
Bad Luck Fale
@TOKSFALE
Age: 33
Finisher: Bad Luck Fall (Throwing crucifix power-
bomb), Grenade (Chokeslam thumb thrust)
Bullet Club’s heavy, Fale, is a walking source of de-

struction in the ring, when he’s not too busy carry-
ing junior heavyweights on his shoulders.
Trivia: He’s a badass ukulele player as well.
“Mr. Rated R”
Yujiro Takahashi
@YujiroTakahashi
Age: 34
Height: 5’10” (178cm)
Finisher: Miami Shine (Modified Death Valley
bomb)
One could argue that Yujiro’s a better ladies’ man

than a wrestler, not winning much in the way of
gold, but always found with a dime piece on his
arm, usually a go-go dancer named Mao.
Trivia: The little English he speaks is all expletives.
“The Bad Boy”

Tama Tonga
@Tama_Tonga
Age: 33
Finisher: Headshrinker (Jumping double under-
hook DDT)
Tama Tonga uses his creepy face paint and man-

nerisms to intimidate his opponents, and his explo-
sive agility to defeat them. The son of the legendary
Meng/Haku, he’s got a major pedigree to live up to.
Trivia: Tonga spent six years in the U.S. Air Force.

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Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson

The Young Bucks
@MattJackson13 and @NickJacksonYB
Age: 30 (Matt) and 26 (Nick)
Height: 5’10” (178cm) each
Weight: 351lbs. (153kg) combined
Finisher: Indytaker (Springboard spike kneeling
reverse piledriver), Stereo Superkicks
You know ‘em, you love ‘em (or hate ‘em, not much
in-between, really), they’re psychopathic rock
stars. The Young Bucks use their uncanny athleti-
cism and their brotherly instincts to execute seem-
ingly impossible tag team moves against their op-
ponents. Members of the Bullet Club, and only in
NJPW for less than three years, they already have
multiple IWGP Tag Team Championships to their
name, and plan to add one more at Wrestle King-
dom 10… and then head back to the Tokyo Dome
Hotel to sell their t-shirts to the locals.
Trivia: They have an unhealthy obsession with

Dave Meltzer. He’s a fan, though.
Bobby Fish and Kyle O’Reilly

reDRagon
@theBobbyFish and @KORcombat
Age: 39 (Fish) and 28 (O’Reilly)
Height: 5’11” (180cm) each
Weight: 408 lbs. (185kg) combined
Finisher: Chasing the Dragon (Roundhouse kick &
vertical brainbuster combination)
With an offense consisting of more martial arts and

ground attacks than that which is typical of junior
heavyweight tag teams these days, reDRagon are
the current and two-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight
Tag Team Champions. This approach has worked
favorably for them, as they were undefeated in sin-
gles competition for over a year. Kyle O’Reilly in
particular has also had a significant amount of sin-
gles success, making it to the finals of Best of the
Super Juniors XXIII in 2015.
Trivia: Kyle O’Reilly lives with Davey Richards,

whose name inspired the capitalized “DR” of
reDRagon.
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Rocky Romero and Beretta

Roppongi Vice
@azucarRoc and @trentylocks
Age: 33 (Rocky) and 28 (Beretta)
Height: 5’7” (Rocky) and 6’2” (Beretta)
Finisher: Strong Zero (Cradle back-to-belly
piledriver and diving double foot stomp combo)
Roppongi Vice! Roppongi Lights! This team of

would-be partying playboys formed in early 2015
after the unfortunate sabbatical of Romero’s prior
tag partner, Alex Koslov. The man often known as
“Trent?” made his NJPW debut and they’ve been
inseparable ever since. The junior heavyweight tag
team of CHAOS, they have already enjoyed moder-
ate success with a single but short-lived IWGP Jun-
ior tag title reign, but they plan on winning again,
and then celebrating with McGriddles at Japanese
McDonalds, super early in the morning. FOREVER!
Trivia: Upon listening you’ll realize that these two

provide the complete vocals for their theme song.
“#Reborn” Formerly known as Evan Bourne

in WWE, Sydal made his debut for
Matt Sydal NJPW in late 2015, as a product of
their working relationship with
@FindEvan
ROH, but quickly made an impact,
Age: 32
winning the Super Junior Tag
Tournament alongside Ricochet
to challenge for the IWGP Junior
Finisher: Shooting Star Press
Tag Titles.
Trivia: Namaste! Sydal is a proud

yogi, albeit a dangerous one.
Gaining worldwide acclaim for

“The Future of Flight” his extraordinary high-flying,
Ricochet Ricochet has been setting multi-
ple continents ablaze for years,
@KingRicochet
winning titles in North America,
Age: 27
Europe, and Japan, though he has
not yet enjoyed the success of
winning a championship in NJPW.
Finisher: Shooting Star Press,
630 Senton
Trivia: He wrestles very similarly
to Prince Puma, and they have
identical body types. Weird.
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Gedo and Jado

The World Class Tag Team
@REAL_JADO
Age: 46 (Gedo) and 47 (Jado)
Height: 5’8” (172cm) (Gedo), 5’10”(178cm) (Jado)
Finisher: Complete Shot (Reverse STO), Crossface
of Jado (Crossface)
One of the most accomplished tag teams in the his-

tory of Japan, these two men have won titles in
multiple decades, though these days, they typically
reserve themselves to undercard tag matches,
though Jado recently has gotten himself into some
arguments with an group of singers called Momo-
clo, and Gedo continues to spend most of his days
managing Kazuchika Okada, screaming support for
him from the ringside area, cutting his promos in
his thug-like growl, and modeling all his merchan-
dise, including his signature Rainmaker bandanna.
Trivia: Despite being the co-head bookers of NJPW,

they basically never win. Selflessness right there.
“The Funky Weapon”

Ryusuke Taguchi
@taguchiryusuke
Age: 36
Height: 5’11” (180cm)
Finisher: Dodon (Chickenwing facebuster), Sliding
hip attack
Taguchi, possibly the weirdest member of the

NJPW roster. On the surface, a junior heavyweight
Eddie Guerrero tribute act, wearing green tights,
gold boots, and often using the Three Amigos. The
former partner of Prince Devitt in a tag team
known as Apollo 55, he has seemingly become stir-
crazy since his teammate’s departure. Now, he’s a
rear-end-obsessed, opponent-imitating, gyrating
wrestler who’s more comedy than competition But
this former Junior Heavyweight Champion can still
be a formidable opponent. Oh My and Garfunkel!
Trivia: Despite being an undercarder, his merchan-

dise still ranks as some of the best selling in NJPW.
21
1
Jushin Thunder Liger

Age: 51
Finisher: Brainbuster, Liger Bomb (Sitout power-
bomb), Liger Suplex (Bridging wrist-clutch leg hook
belly-to-back suplex)
A man who needs no introduction, Jushin Thunder

Liger is arguably the most influential junior heavy-
weight wrestler of all time. With a career that spans
three decades and more championships than one
can shake a stick at, Liger is continually revered
and cheered by the fans, despite his lack of promi-
nence on NJPW events these days. Even in his ad-
vanced age, he can still produce great matches with
the right opponent, even if he isn’t utilizing the
shooting star press that he innovated anymore.
Trivia: Liger, as a young lion, was forced to live in

the NJPW Dojo, and to this day, he lives there,
spending much of his free time constructing figures
and statues of Godzilla.
Tiger Mask IV
Age: 45
Finisher: Tiger Suplex, Scissored Armbar
A long-time veteran of the Junior Heavyweight divi-

son, Tiger Mask IV is, as his namesake would sug-
gest, the fourth wrestler to hold the lineage of the
name Tiger Mask, a popular character in Japanese
popular culture. He was trained and personally en-
dorsed by the original Tiger Mask, Satoru Sayama.
Also, he’s been embroiled recently in a long-term
rivalry with Jushin Thunder Liger, though they are
also frequent tag team partners. They recently had
a title match for Tiger Mask’s NWA World Junior
Heavyweight Championship, which Tiger retained.
Trivia: In 1998, Tiger Mask appeared on Sasuke, a

TV show that functions like an obstacle course ath-
letic competition. He failed to make it past the first
obstacle of the first stage.
22
1
“Blue Justice”
Yuji Nagata
@nagata769
Age: 47
Finisher: Backdrop Hold (Bridging belly-to-back
suplex), Various crossface variations
Nagata is often referred to as “The Anti-Aging

Man,” and with good reason. Despite his advanced,
age Nagata can still be called upon to perform at a
high level occasionally, thanks to his increasingly
mat-based style. A signature move of his is his
“white-eyes” armbar, a seated armbar where he
faces the camera and rolls his eyes back, similar to
that of The Undertaker. This is his second year in
the New Japan Rumble, despite his lamentation
that he is better than the pre-show.
Trivia: Nagata has two MMA bouts to his name,

against Fedor and Cro Cop. He lost both in one-
sided fashion, but is there any real shame in that?
“The Japanese Hercules”

Manabu Nakanishi
@nobitokun
Age: 48
Finisher: Argentine Backbreaker Rack, Diving Over-
head Chop
Nakanishi’s considerable bulk, prodigious strength,

and lack of mobility make him very much an act of
novelty on NJPW shows, where he now typically
works as an undercard act, tag teaming with Yuji
Nagata. A former Olympic freestyle amateur wres-
tler, his legitimate credentials were enough to earn
him some level of acclaim during his physical
prime, resulting in a G1 Climax victory and a reign
with the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, but his
heydays are far behind him.
Trivia: An easy way to gain food envy is to follow

Nakanishi’s Twitter, as he frequently Tweets pic-
tures of the gargantuan meals he consumes.
23
1
“Strong Arm”
Satoshi Kojima
@cozy_lariat
Age: 45
Weight: 247lbs. (112kg)
Finisher: Lariat, Cozy Cozy Cutter (Cutter, some-
times from the top rope)
Highly respected by the Japanese fans, Kojima is a

former IWGP Heavyweight Champion, AJPW Triple
Crown Champion, and all-around legend. Still very
athletic for his age, his moveset is presently very
strike-based, using such moves as a series of rapid-
fire chops in the corner of the ring, a staple of his
matches. Many are considering him the odds-on
favorite to win this year’s pre-show New Japan
Rumble.
Trivia: Before attempting his diving elbow drop, he

will utter the phrase “Icchauzo bakayaro!” which
translates to “I’m coming for you, you bastard!”
“The Raging Bull”

Hiroyoshi Tenzan
@TENZAN323
Age: 44
Finisher: Anaconda Vice (innovated) and variations
thereof, Diving headbutt
Tenzan is the most prolific IWGP Tag Team Cham-

pion in history, holding the title for nearly two
thousand days over eleven reigns with three differ-
ent partners, one of them being his partner in
“TenCozy,” Satoshi Kojima. Though clearly past his
prime, and nearly immobile due to his chainsmok-
ing habits, Tenzan, his dyed mullet, and his signa-
ture move, the Mongolian chop, remain perpetually
over among the NJPW fans, though even they are
aware that he ought to hang up the boots soon.
Trivia: During his tenure as the leader of Great

Bash Heel, it was often referred to jokingly by fans
as “Great Big Head,” due to his cranial girth.
24
1
The Age Old Question: English Commentary?

New Japan Pro-Wrestling made its first foray into the English-speaking world last year, with Wrestle
Kingdom 9 receiving English commentary by way of the Matt Striker and the illustrious Jim Ross. Their
performance was generally praised by newcomers to the product, despite the fact that Ross claimed
they received no assistance from the production staff. Though many long-time fans stated that New
Japan did not need English commentary. They felt that the enthusiasm and energy of the Japanese-
speaking announce team was too entertaining to give up. Striker would return alongside ROH
commentator Kevin Kelly to commentate King of Pro-Wrestling 2015, and that duo will do so again for
Wrestle Kingdom 10, accompanied by the artist formerly known as YOSHITATSU, who will provide on-
the-spot translations for Japanese promos.
I was an individual who felt that I would be highly deterred by the lack of English commentary when I
got into Japanese wrestling (puroresu), but as I continued to watch the product I became engrossed in
the matches, possibly to an even greater extent because I no longer had to think about the quality of the
commentary. Additionally, the storytelling of the product is rooted on what happens between the ropes,
which people from any walk of life can understand. Promos are few and far between, and stories are
simple and rooted in the competition, most of the time. The passion of the commentary transcends
language and today I usually watch NJPW with Japanese commentary, even on the occasions that English
commentary is available. So, for those who are skeptical, or who might not be comfortable continuing to
watch puroresu when English commentary is not available: give it a try. You may just love it.
25
1
New Japan Pro-Wrestling Online
Official Website: http://www.njpw.co.jp/english/

NJPW World: http://njpwworld.com/
YouTube: http://youtube.com/njpw
Twitter: https://twitter.com/njpw1972
Facebook: https://facebook.com/newjapanprowrestling
Instagram: http://instagram.com/njpw1972
Reddit: /r/njpw and /r/PuroresuRevolution
ProWrestlingTees: http://www.prowrestlingtees.com/promotion-tshirts/new-japan.html
Informative Podcasts
Voices of Wrestling
New Japan Purocast
J-Shoot
Japanese Audio Wrestling
The Eastern Lariat Podcast
Twitter Accounts to Follow

@e_key_oide—Follow to receive translations of important talking points from commen-
tary, the rare wrestler’s promo, and other NJPW trivia.
@reasonjp—Follow to receive translations of NJPW’s podcasts (e.g. Tanahashi, KUSHI-
DA) and other commentary points.
@enuhito_eng—A bilingual blogger who provides information on the backstage happen-
ings in Japanese professional wrestling.
26
1
Just how popular is NJPW?
It’s an interesting question with no simple answer. If you were to compare its popularity
in Japan, its native country, to companies’ popularities in the United States, it’s some-
where to be found in the massive gap between current WWE and peak TNA. Those who
say that NJPW is more mainstream in Japan than WWE is in the U.S. are incorrect.
At the peak of New Japan’s popularity, it would not be a surprise for “Tokyo Dome” to be
listed multiple times on their schedule for the year. This was the case in the 1980’s and
‘90s, the relative peaks of pro-wrestling’s popularity in Japan. These days, NJPW only runs
the Tokyo Dome once a year, and only for the sake of adherence to tradition, whose value
is demonstrated in many facets of Japanese culture. And when they do, they do not sell it
out, not even close. And NJPW’s average attendance per show these days hovers in the
2,500-range. Their yearly revenue measures between $20-25 million. NJPW aims to be-
come a publicly-traded company in the Japanese stock market within 3-5 years.
As far as TV is concerned, NJPW’s main show, “World Pro-Wrestling Returns” is broadcast
on a major network, TV-Asahi, for thirty minutes at 3:00 a.m. on Saturdays, disadvanta-
geous compared to the hour-long prime-time Friday spot they occupied at their peak.
It also must be noted that NJPW is substantially more popular in the Kanto and Kansai re-
gions (which include the major cities Tokyo and Osaka) than in the rest of Japan. As such,
most of NJPW’s major events are confined to these two regions.
To conclude, NJPW is substantially more popular than at its lowest point in company his-
tory, the mid-2000’s, but still way off from their peak, or being considered “mainstream.”
27
1
Why Are There So Many Tag Matches?
Watch a NJPW show that isn’t major, and you will quickly notice that most of the show is
populated with tag matches, that can be of any variety, from two-versus-two, to five-
versus-five, and everywhere in between. You may wonder why, when even on the lowliest
of house shows, John Cena’s working a tables match with “The Demon” Kane.
It’s an unfortunate reality of the physically grueling, stiffer style that is common in Japa-
nese wrestling. Watch an Ishii or Shibata singles match and the fact that very few people
in mainstream American wrestling work to this level of stiffness will quickly become
clear. Even those who work softer and more Americanized styles, for NJPW standards,
like Okada or Tanahashi, endure more physical punishment than they would in other
wrestling companies. By running tag matches, the bumping can be spread among more
wrestlers, preventing them from being overloaded with wear and tear. As such, it is a
physical necessity that singles matches are kept to a relative minimum on smaller shows,
in order to preserve the wrestlers to perform at their best when it matters the most.
28
1
What Are Other Differences in Japanese Wrestling?
One of the biggest culture shocks that people receive when watching puroresu is the
crowd. They are well-behaved, they have no signs, they are not chanting the names of the
announcers. There’s a certain appreciation for wrestling that Japanese fans have, that re-
sults in their being relatively quiet when they have no reason to make noise, though that
does not mean that Japanese crowds are dead. When they are into shows, they are some
of the most responsive crowds that you will find anywhere. Osaka fans, in particular, are
rowdy. Consider them the Japanese equivalent of a Chicago crowd.
The importance of “fighting spirit” or “Toukon” must also be emphasized. Kayfabe was
never completely broken in Japan, and even if fans are aware that the matches are
worked, they still greatly enjoy when a wrestler displays heart, toughness, and the will to
win even when the odds are not in their favor. This is how Tomoaki Honma and Tomohiro
Ishii rose to popularity, even when they were booked as afterthoughts: the way that they
conducted themselves got them over. This means that the heel/face divide isn’t as im-
portant as in western wrestling, though there are exceptions (e.g. Bullet Club).
Also, in the more sport-like presentation of most Japanese pro-wrestling, most matches
end with clean finishes. Matches with “hardcore” stipulations are rare, though referees
are more lenient about a few weapon shots here or there, so disqualification decisions are
uncommon. In NJPW in particular, count-outs are decided by a twenty-count at a faster
cadence, as opposed to a slow ten-count. Championships can be lost via count-out. Match-
es such as three-ways and four-ways are usually kept to the undercard, because they are
not demonstrative of the manner in which true combat sports are conducted.
29
1
What is the Young Lion System?
You may come across people speaking about “Young Lions.” One of the unique concepts to
Japanese pro-wrestling is the Young Lion System. Many large pro-wrestling federations in
Japan utilize this concept. Young Lions are wrestlers-in-training, denoted by their plain
gear, trunks and boots that are usually black, or another solid color. They can be differen-
tiated also due to the fact that they always lose. Usually, they participate either alongside
each other or on opposing sides in matches with more experienced wrestlers, to glean
knowledge and skills off of more tenured workers. Other times, they will wrestle each
other in singles matches in the show-opening match. When not wrestling, they can usual-
ly be found either watching the matches from the ringside area, or performing duties
such as testing the ropes and icing down other wrestlers post-match.
NJPW’s young lions live in the NJPW Dojo in Tokyo 24/7/365, usually either training,
cleaning the Dojo, or cooking and doing laundry for other wrestlers. The combination of
intense training for hours and menial tasks helps to instill discipline and work ethic into
the wrestlers, as well as improve their bodies and minds for the hard life that is wrestling.
After doing this for a year or two, the young lions will usually leave to other countries,
usually either England, the United States, or Mexico, to learn other styles of in-ring work,
and to become accustomed to working with many different types of opponents. This as-
pect is somewhat unique to NJPW these days, as most other companies can not afford to
do this. After that, they will return to NJPW as full-fledged roster members, with distinct
personas, customized appearances, and unique movesets.
30
1
How Can I Watch Wrestle Kingdom 10?
NJPW World, launched on December 1st, 2014, is NJPW’s over-the-top streaming service. Their version
of the WWE Network, if you will. Its cost is 999 Yen per month, which equates to roughly $8.31 or £5.60
at the time of this writing. One can pay month-to-month, as no commitment is required. The only means
by which it can be purchased outside of Japan is through a valid credit card. Also, no matter when the
service is purchased, it will charge the credit card on the day of purchase and every subsequent first day
of the month. As such, if you are purchasing it for Wrestle Kingdom 10, wait to do so until January 1st.
Last year, NJPW World hosted Wrestle Kingdom 9, but only the Japanese-commentary version. If one
wanted to listen to the sweet sounds of Matt Striker and Jim Ross, they were required to pay multiple
times as much for the pay-per-view version. This year, the only way to view the show is on NJPW World.
Both the English commentary version and the Japanese commentary version will be streamed live on
NJPW World. Viewers will be able to switch between the two versions at will.
Later on, the show will be archived to view on-demand, along with tons of shows and matches going
back to 1973, shortly after NJPW’s inception. Every subsequent PPV is also available to be viewed live.
The service currently has over 30,000 subscribers.
There is no official English portal available, but the built-in translation using Google Translate usually
works effectively enough that you will be able to find what you are looking for. Also, NJPW has an An-
droid app on the Google Play Store called “NJPW World Player” and now supports ChromeCast, so if you
own one, download their ChromeCast app as well! No PS3/PS4/Roku apps yet, though.
An external guide that demonstrates how to register and cancel your NJPW World subscription.
SenorLARIATO’s Recommended Viewing List from NJPW World: 725+ Matches With Links!
31
1
Is NJPW on TV?
NJPW has a television show of sorts on AXS TV. It is available only in the United States for
the following providers:
DirecTV: 340 (HD) and 1340 (VOD)

Dish: 167
AT&T U-Verse: 1106
Their show is not a typical episodic format like Raw or Impact. Instead, NJPW on AXS is a
compilation of NJPW’s major matches, presented in a chronological order. They are cur-
rently between seasons, but the show was launched in January of 2015, and aimed to
catch up from January 2013 of the NJPW product to the present. Currently, they are in
March of 2015, and aim to catch up to only several months behind the current product
over the course of the year.
Also, this show features English commentary by Mauro Ranallo and Josh Barnett, though
Ranallo was just signed by WWE, apparently for him to be a new commentator for Smack-
Down, which means that after the episodes which have already been recorded, which will
likely last through February, Josh Barnett will either be commentating on his own, or will
gain a new co-commentator. Those who have watched them have praised their commen-
tary for calling the moves, providing realistic analysis, and making a good effort to pro-
vide relevant historical information regarding the NJPW product. This is due to a number
of factors, including Ranallo’s experience calling legitimate fighting products such as box-
ing and mixed-martial-arts, and Josh Barnett’s work as a professional wrestler in NJPW.
The show is also bookended by interviews of the wrestlers involved, which are augment-
ed with English subtitles, and are usually very insightful.
32
1
After Wrestle Kingdom 10, What’s Next?
For those who have the constitution for another late night, NJPW always runs a “Raw after ‘Mania”-
esque show (referred to as New Year’s Dash) in the historic Korakuen Hall, a much smaller but very pop-
ular venue, on Tuesday, January 5, which will be at 6:30 PM JST (4:30 AM EST, 1:30 AM JST, 9:30 GMT).
Following that, it should be noted that NJPW’s schedule consists of multiple types of events: full-blown
PPVs and “Road to…” shows, which are akin to house shows, and tournaments/leagues. NJPW has no
weekly episodic TV show. Their schedule is as follows. Bolded implies that this event is must-see.
Tournament: Single Elimination Tournament over multiple shows, akin to a King of The Ring.
League: Pool of wrestlers is split up into two blocks. Everyone in each block faces each other, receives 2
points for a win, 1 point for a draw, 0 points for a loss. The wrestler in each block with the most accumu-
lated points is the winner of their respective block, and then they face each other to determine the win-
ner of the tournament. Takes place over multiple weeks.
January: Wrestle Kingdom (4th), New Year’s Dash (5th), FantasticaMania (A series of shows with
NJPW and CMLL talent)
February: The New Beginning (Secondary PPV, usually split up into two PPV’s.)
March: New Japan Cup (Heavyweight Tournament, For Winner’s Choice of Hvt./IC./NEVER title at Inva-
sion Attack)
April: Invasion Attack (Major PPV)
May: Wrestling Dontaku (Secondary PPV)
June: Best of the Super Juniors (Junior Heavyweight League: For Jr. Heavyweight Title shot at Dominion)
July: Dominion (Major PPV)
July/August: G1 Climax (MAJOR Heavyweight League: For IWGP Heavyweight Title Shot at Wrestle
Kingdom)
September: Destruction (Secondary PPV, usually split up into two PPV’s.)
October: King of Pro-Wrestling (Major PPV)
November: Power Struggle (Secondary PPV)
December: World Tag League (Heavyweight Tag Team League for IWGP Tag Team Title Shot at Wrestle
Kingdom)
33
1
What are NJPW’s Working Relationships?
At the G1 Climax 25 press conference in July 2015, NJPW announced their “New IWGP Conception.”
IWGP stands for “International Wrestling Grand Prix,” which originally was just a faux governing body
for NJPW, to give it more of a legitimate sports feel, but based on their announcements, that concept is
becoming more and more of a reality. NJPW stated that the companies that they were in working rela-
tionships were as follows: Ring of Honor, Global Force Wrestling, and National Wrestling Alliance in the
United States, Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre in Mexico, Revolution Pro Wrestling in Britain, and
Westside Xtreme Wrestling in Germany.
ROH: Joint shows have been run featuring talent from both companies both teaming together and
against each other, titled ROH/NJPW Global Wars and War of the Worlds in 2014 and 2015. In February
2015, Ring of Honor plans on running joint shows in Tokyo, Japan, entitled “Honor Rising: Japan.” They
have an extensive talent exchange program, and the Ring of Honor World Championship will be defend-
ed at Wrestle Kingdom 10. One of NJPW’s young lions, Takaaki Watanabe, also spent part of his interna-
tional learning excursion in Ring of Honor, and it is possible that more of NJPW’s trainees will be visiting
ROH to gain experience in the future.
CMLL: NJPW and CMLL run their annual series of supercards, entitled “FantasticaMania” in January of
every year, several weeks after Wrestle Kingdom. They also have a talent exchange program, and NJPW
has stated that there is the chance of a tour of Mexico in 2016.
NWA: NWA championships and wrestlers have been featured on NJPW events.
GFW: NJPW-contracted talent have been in matches on GFW events.
RPW: RPW and NJPW ran their first supercards, Uprising 2015 and Global Wars UK, in 2015.
wXw: Nothing has come of this working relationship yet.
34
1
Who Are the NJPW Staff?
Makoto Abe Kimihiko Ozaki Takaaki Kidani Naoki Sugabayashi

Ring Announcer Head Ring Announcer @kidanit @NJPWSUGABAYASHI
President of Bushiroad Chairman of NJPW
(NJPW’s Parent Co.)
Yonosuke Kitamura Hiroyuki “Red Shoes” Unno Masao “Tiger” Hattori Marty Asami
@RMLabel_yk @5742ytsh @TigerHattoriNY Junior Referee
Composer Head Referee Senior Referee
Shinpei Nogami Kazuo Yamazaki Milano Collection A.T. Baron Yamazaki

Play-By-Play Play-By-Play @milano_c_at @baron_yamazaki
Color Commentator Video Narrator
35
1
How Can I Learn More About NJPW’s History?
“Lion’s Pride: The Turbulent History of New Japan Pro Wrestling” is a book written
by Chris Charlton, a pro-wrestling fan and podcaster living in Yokohama, Japan, which de-
tails NJPW’s illustrious history, rise to prominence, fall from grace, and slow rise again. I
have read it, it is an excellent read at over two hundred pages, and I would recommend it
for any NJPW fan. I am not being paid to endorse it, but I was one of the original benefac-
tors that helped to crowd-fund this book, and I am so glad that I made that decision.
100% brilliant book. You can purchase it from Amazon.com here.
36

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Your Guidebook to New Japan Pro-Wrestling

This work is in no way affiliated with New Japan Pro-Wrestling or Bushiroad.

Wrestle Kingdom 10 in Tokyo Dome

Los Ingobernables de Japón

Great Bash Heel (G.B.H.)

IWGP Heavyweight Championship IWGP Intercontinental Championship NEVER Openweight Championship

Pre-Show New Japan Rumble

“The Ace of the Universe”

“The King of Strong Style”

“The Phenomenal One”

“The Stone Pitbull”

Greatest accolades: Three-time and current NEVER

Far-flung from the charismatic showmen that make

Trivia: Ishii only wears underpants manufactured

This former nationally-ranked amateur grappler

Trivia: Shibata will have a voice acting role in the

Tired of being viewed as a very good wrestler with

Trivia: Naito’s taunt where he holds his eye open

“The Fierce Warrior”

What you see is what you get with Hirooki Goto. No

Trivia: He once drank Tanahashi’s Red Bull with no

“The Unchained Gorilla”

A former IWGP Heavyweight Champion and G1 Cli-

Trivia: Makabe hosts a segment on daytime televi-

Possibly one of the most convincing underdogs in

Trivia: Honma left Higashine, a small farming town,

“The Machine Gun”

Though a strong singles wrestler, Anderson has

Trivia: As his Twitter will not hesitate to inform

Festus? Luke Gallows? D.O.C? Imposter Kane? Who

Ever since Omega joined the Bullet Club in late

Trivia: As his Twitter handle would suggest, Omega

“The Time Splitter”

Using a combination of high flying, martial arts, and

Trivia: As a child, KUSHIDA was apt to practice the

Through perseverance, raw talent, and the genius

Trivia: Despite having no shortage of in-ring acu-

Half-man, half-boulder, Michael Elgin is a power-

Trivia: In past years, Elgin worked in the construc-

Yano is an odd one. Overweight, slow, and not

Trivia: His entrance includes spitting Sake in a Tri-

Jay and Mark Briscoe

They’re the baddest tag team on the planet, mang!

Trivia: Mark and Jay live the gimmick, mang, and

Bullet Club’s heavy, Fale, is a walking source of de-

Trivia: He’s a badass ukulele player as well.

One could argue that Yujiro’s a better ladies’ man

Trivia: The little English he speaks is all expletives.

“The Bad Boy”

Tama Tonga uses his creepy face paint and man-

Trivia: Tonga spent six years in the U.S. Air Force.

Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson

Trivia: They have an unhealthy obsession with

Bobby Fish and Kyle O’Reilly

With an offense consisting of more martial arts and

Trivia: Kyle O’Reilly lives with Davey Richards,

Rocky Romero and Beretta