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One thing that catches the eye about New Japan Pro Wrestling is how its major roster is divided into a multitude of factions that are warring with one another but not necessarily dominating the show and storylines in the conventional sense.
In pro wrestling in America, since the establishment of the NWO, faction wars in wrestling have constituted one super group battling against a ragtag group of individuals loosely affiliated with one another; or factions have taken precedence in the undercard, building bouts for multiple Superstars and grooming young prospects for stardom.
While TNA/Impact Wrestling is generally known to use and abuse the trope established by New World Order on a constant basis, WWE prefers to either keep its factions as dominant upstarts challenging the establishment for a while, or corporate makeovers taking control of the show and pushing those they see fit, for their agendas.
In New Japan, some factions consist of rowdy outsiders, or management-backed wrestlers. If any Superstar wants to make it in Japan, they will have to quickly to decide whom to align with or they might just remain on the fringes of greatness forever.
Recent returnee Switchblade, for example, despite embodying the classic lone gunslinger (or is it Blade Runner?) decided rather than taking on the Bullet Club alone, he'd join the popular CHAOS stable.
When Cody Rhodes decided to make his foray into the dangerous pastures of the indie scene, he was lucky enough to find a friend in the Bullet Club, and what success he has had. As fans, we're always clamouring for the underused talents in the WWE to quit and head to the indies, just so that they may end up in New Japan.
So it got me thinking, what if by some miracle WWE's current top Superstars decided to jump ship to New Japan.
Would Roman Reigns really turn muscle again among the Club? Or could he take a spot under the wings of Tanahashi and Friends?
Is the laidback Dean a perfect fit for the Los Ingobernables de Japon? Or maybe he taps into that crazy side and joins Suzuki Gun?
(PS: Since it'd be a struggle to determine where each member of the WWE roster would go to, I've only done this fantasy booking for a few select top stars minus, of course, those who had already arrived from New Japan)
Roman Reigns goes to...
...the Bullet Club!
Starting big right off the bat with the 'Big Dog' Roman Reigns!
Imagine if Vince McMahon's golden boy decided to pack his bags and head east? I'll just say it, I'll miss Michael Cole calling his name as he makes his way to the ring. No, I'm just kidding.
If he were to head to New Japan, I'm sure Vince McMahon would love nothing more than to see his pet project not only join the pure babyface affiliate of Tanahashi and Friends but also eventually turn that into Roman Reigns and Friends. Of course, that's never happening and even then Reigns isn't going to be fully embraced by the crowd, the way Vince dreams.
So then Roman Reigns goes to the Bullet Club.
He's already got the SHIELD vest and the bad ass attitude to match. He'd fit right in with powerhouses like Tama Tonga and Bad Luck Fale or superstars such as Cody and Kenny Omega. While there is tension between Omega and Reigns, stemming from their company loyalties, this will fuel the fire for more competition within the Club to be the Alpha dog.
While I truly wish the SHIELD could reunite in New Japan and cause havoc, for now, Reigns sits pretty with his Bullet Club brothers for life!
Dean Ambrose goes to...
...it depends!
As a character, Dean Ambrose is one of the most fascinating in WWE. Seth Rollins' betrayal of the SHIELD unveiled a new side of Ambrose - a side that fans would refuse to boo especially since it was he who pursued the betrayal with true heartbreak, unlike partner Roman Reigns (possibly the reason why fans didn't latch onto Reigns as a mega babyface for).
Of course, since the WWE didn't see much in Dean, they turned his bitter and popular face character into a comedy act. His lunacy was turned into the hilarious antics of a laid back rebel, that while initially cheered the fans up has since become nauseating. No wonder, it's a boon than that he has been injured and can come back rejuvenated, and hopefully this time as a heel.
To anyone who has seen Dean's work in the hardcore indie promotion CZW or even his initial efforts in the SHIELD can attest to the fact that he'd make a fascinating psychopathic heel.
As such either version of Ambrose is a perfect fit for NJPW, depending on the faction he decides to join.
If he enters New Japan with his laid-back prankster persona, then he'd be a perfect fit for the anarchic and often disrespectful but beloved Los Ingobernables de Japon. If the original Mexican faction were to make their way to the WWE, Dean Ambrose would be the perfect leader.
As part of the New Japan version, he'd play off well against Tetsuya Naito and his boys as the first gaijin star to join them. Communication problems amongst them could be played off as comedy, just imagine when Mitch the plant meets Daryl Takahashi?
Yet when it comes to the ring, despite their disrespectful demeanour and unorthodox mind games, LiJ and Dean Ambrose can absolutely take the fight to anyone. It's a perfect fit.
But if Ambrose does decide to revert to his original psychotic heel persona, then there's only one place that would be willing to accept him - Suzuki Gun!
Dean's former persona, Jon Moxley, shares a lot in common with faction leader Minoru Suzuki, with their penchant for brutality, and winning by any means necessary. He'd be the perfect bit of madness that would possibly push Suzuki Gun to new heights in New Japan.
Seth Rollins goes to...
...CHAOS!
Since we've already begun with the first two members of the SHIELD, why not complete the whole set?
The great thing about the SHIELD as a faction was that each individual when brought together was able to mask the weaknesses of the other while allowing their strengths to flourish and add to the success of the group.
It is why at many points in their strong singles careers, each member of the SHIELD has been unable to capitalise and become top Superstars. The SHIELD as a faction was dynamite and has built three stars who can carry the company's future, but it also left them handicapped without one another.
If the SHIELD comes to New Japan, due to their differences, they will find themselves on different factions regardless of heel-face alignment. While the other three factions have found their perfect SHIELD member, CHAOS will go on the hunt for Seth Rollins.
Why?
Rollins might not have the strong style moves that CHAOS is known for, but he's got a mix of great wrestling moves, high flying theatrics and hard hitting impact shots that can hurt like hell (just ask the people he's sent to the injury list so far).
In his arrogant and slick best, Rollins would also embody the boss persona that makes CHAOS's leader Kazuchika Okada such a star. Even then, don't expect Rollins to last long at CHAOS as he'll be gunning for Okada's title and isn't averse to betraying those that trust him.
The Bar (Sheamus and Cesaro) go to...
...CHAOS!
Joining Seth Rollins, are his current rivals, the tag team of Sheamus and Cesaro. It makes sense that the two hard-hitting and wrestling savvy men would make it into CHAOS. Of course, the interesting thing to note is that if they hadn't become an unlikely tag team two years ago, Sheamus and Cesaro individually would also be a perfect fit for the strong style faction.
As a tag team, The Bar would be a perfect fit, simply because unlike the other warring factions in New Japan, CHAOS doesn't feature a particularly strong tag team and The Bar would shore up their ranks well.
Just imagine the battles they'd have with the equally vicious Guerillas of Destiny, or the sinister Killer Elite Squad?
The Bar would be the best thing to happen to the New Japan tag team ranks in a long time.
The Usos go to...
... the Bullet Club!
Joining their cousin, Roman Reigns, the Uso twins will head to New Japan to add to the heavy tag team ranks of the Bullet Club. In their current avatars as hard-hitting and fast-talking heels, the Usos would be a perfect match for the antics of the Bullet Club.
The only question that would remain is if the Usos can truly fit in, as Bullet Club already features a top class team in the form of the Guerillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa).
The best case scenario would be abandoning Tanga Loa, allowing the Usos to take the tag team spot for the Club, with Tama Tonga finally headed towards single stardom.
The Usos not only bring brilliant ring ethic and chemistry, but in the past year have proven to be quite the talkers. Very few tag teams can handle both sides on their own and so they'd be a perfect pick for any roster and tag team division, especially the Bullet Club faction.
Kevin Owens goes to...
...the Bullet Club!
Joining the Usos and Roman Reigns at the Bullet Club is none other than Kevin Owens. This one makes perfect sense since Owens has always shared a friendly relationship with Club mainstays, The Young Bucks.
In fact, at one point in the indies, The Young Bucks and Kevin Owens, along with Adam Cole, featured as the Mount Rushmore of Wrestling faction. Owens shares stellar chemistry with the boys and while he might butt heads with former rival, Reigns, and current leader, Kenny Omega, you can be sure he'd back it up for the team in the ring.
Owens's trash-talking style and in-ring prowess will allow him to mix it up with a whole host of rivals and he has the ability to reveal the chink in the armor of other factions, with his barbed words.
Kevin Owens would be a welcome fit in the Bullet Club, jumping from New Japan to even American shores as part of Ring of Honor. Plus, he and Omega can laugh over their shared mutual love for Jim Cornette.
Randy Orton goes to...
...Suzuki Gun
The best version of Randy Orton is the psychotic and ruthless heel he portrayed when he led the Legacy trio in WWE, from 2008-2009. That is the Orton that New Japan will get when they take him away from WWE.
As such, he'd be at his absolute best in this version if he were to join the equally crazy Suzuki Gun. The major question that remains is if Orton would be willing to follow orders?
It takes a strong persona like Triple H to reign in somebody like Randy Orton and even then he couldn't do it too easily. To see this version of Orton flourish under the leadership, there needs to be someone who can keep the occasional leash on him.
Unfortunately, Minoru Suzuki is not that guy. Though he'll command great loyalty from Orton, he will let him ruthlessly hunt as he sees fit. Suzuki will have to be just a tad bit careful then, to make sure The Viper doesn't strike him.
Sami Zayn joins...
...Tanahashi and Friends
He might be portraying an annoying and obnoxious heel in current WWE programming, but Zayn is best as a pure babyface. The fact that WWE wasted this potential really hurts, but I'm sure New Japan would know how to set this right.
New Japan's loose affiliate of good guys is always led by the reliable ace Hiroshi Tanahashi. The group features a good guy in the ever-improving Juice Robinson. While Juice finds it difficult to break into the singles rank, he could be placed into an exciting and lovable team alongside The Underdog from the Underground.
Sami Zayn and Juice would refresh the NJPW tag team division, with a face team that New Japan hasn't really had in quite a while. Meanwhile, his run-ins with the Bullet Club, especially friend/foe Kevin Owens would make for riveting contests.
Whether in New Japan or WWE, we know that the best thing for Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn is to fight forever!
Samoa Joe goes to...
...Nowhere!
Though I did predict that Jay 'Switchblade' White would take over Suzuki Gun this year, I truly feel that the New Zealander is the perfect character to portray a lone wolf in New Japan by refusing to align with any factions, whether good or bad.
Of course, Switchblade decided to trump my predictions by teaming up with CHAOS. Unlike White, Samoa Joe will do the smart thing. Joe is the perfect man to embody the unaffiliated hard man persona that New Japan needs, especially in its lower ranks.
Samoa Joe might not rise up to World Championship status in New Japan, but he will keep the mid-card, and especially the Openweight title on lockdown, with his brutal fighting style while making sure not to team with anybody.
In many ways, Samoa Joe has characteristics that will suit all four major factions in NJPW, so it makes sense he'd choose none of them and instead beat up whom he hates, which is pretty much everyone.
John Cena goes to...
John Cena, the staunch company man who refuses to look beyond the WWE would never in a million years go to New Japan.
Yet, we can still fantasize.
As such, it's hard to guess where Cena would go. Of course, he'd be right at home, going it alone while still keeping a good relationship with Hiroshi Tanahashi and friends. But wouldn't it be something else if he joined another faction?
Being a company favourite, it'd make sense that Cena sides with the management-backed CHAOS faction. Yet as a gaijin, his natural place would be in the Bullet Club.
Either way, if John Cena ever jumps ship to New Japan we can imagine the number of dream matches we'd have in store.
Cena vs. Tanahashi, Cena vs. Naito, Cena vs. Okada, Cena vs. Omega, Cena vs. Goto and the list goes on.
