[Emperor Smeat]

Originally Posted by Observer In a surprise move Monday, WWE have reportedly signed former IWGP and TNA Champion AJ Styles, former IWGP Champion Shinsuke Nakamura, Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson away from New Japan Pro Wrestling, discussed by Dave Meltzer on today’s Wrestling Observer Radio after news broke today on Court Bauer's MLW Radio. The story goes is that the four went to Gedo, the current booker of NJPW, at this morning’s WrestleKingdom 10 event and said that they would be finishing up. It’s not known when any of these four will start with WWE, but it was said that Nakamura would not be leaving quickly. He is currently the IWGP Intercontinental champion, and it’s said to be a scenario opposite of current WWE U.S. Champion Alberto del Rio where he’ll most likely drop the title before leaving. Anderson was also apparently close to coming to TNA, but the story goes is that once the WWE deal came, things changed. In terms of contract situations, New Japan has a one year contract system that usually expires in January, so them giving notice coincides with that. Styles did not have a New Japan contract. Nakamura, Anderson and Gallows are all expected to honor their Ring of Honor dates next month in Las Vegas. Dave also reported that AJ Styles was likely done with Ring of Honor going forward.

Nakamura likely won't show up till after Mania because of NXT's upcoming taping schedule and he's probably dropping the belt by March/April. AJ Styles has the best shot of showing up during the next set of tapings out of the group.