5 Possible ways NJPW could mark the return of AJ Styles

Just over a week ago, AJ Styles' legendary 371-day reign as WWE Champion finally came to an end when 'The Phenomenal One' was defeated for the title by new and now four-time champion, Daniel Bryan. Within a few hours after Styles' shocking defeat to Bryan on SmackDown Live, several reports flooded the internet suggesting that two-time WWE Champion AJ Styles is seemingly negotiating a new deal with WWE.

As reported earlier by us, Styles is apparently looking to sign a new 3-year deal with the WWE and is looking to get a similar treatment like 13-time World Champion Randy Orton, allowing him to appear on WWE TV and on a limited amount of WWE House Shows.

This would not only allow Styles to make a limited amount of appearance at Live Events but will also make sure that 'The Phenomenal One' gets to spend some more time with his family instead of being on the road for the majority of the year.

Addition reports have also claimed that Styles' former promotion New Japan Pro Wrestling has been scouting for new talents and as per SEScoops, NJPW has also reached out to their former stars Shinsuke Nakamura, Karl Anderson, and Luke Gallows, who are not only Styles good friends in real life but also signed at the same time with 'The Phenomenal One' in 2016 as well.

Given that New Japan Pro Wrestling is indeed willing to bring back some of their old talents, there is a very strong possibility of them potentially offering a deal to AJ Styles as well, after all, the man is a former two-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion and is in the good graces of the Japanese promotion as well.

During his time with NJPW, Styles was not only one of the top stars in the promotion but was also the frontrunner of the legendary Bullet Club faction, after his current WWE colleague Finn Balor had departed from NJPW and signed with the WWE under NXT.

This being said, if AJ Styles is to indeed make his shocking or rather I say a grand return to NJPW in 2019, the Japanese promotion would have to make sure that they book Styles' return with perfection and in this article we'll take a look at 5 potential ways NJPW could book a historic return for AJ Styles.

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#5. Bullet Club frontrunner

Good Ol' days to be a Bullet Club fan

Starting with the most obvious one of the lot, the initial reason why AJ Styles became such a household name in NJPW is due to the Bullet Club. Marking his debut in 2014, Styles first came in as the so-called leader of The BC after Prince Devitt (Finn Balor) had departed for the WWE and within no time whatsoever, 'The Phenomenal One' found himself at the top of the realm as he defeated Kazuchika Okada to win the IWGP Heavyweight Championship right off the bat.

During his tenure with NJPW, Styles had some of the most memorable matches against the likes of Kota Ibushi, Minoru Suzuki, Hiroshi Tanahashi, Kazuchika Okada, and Shinsuke Nakamura, however, after two years of sheer dominance as the frontman of The BC, it was finally time for 'The Phenomenal One' to bid adieu.

At New Year's Dash 2016, after competing in a grueling tag team match against the CHAOS duo of Shinsuke Nakamura and Yoshi-Hashi, Styles, much to everyone's surprise was kicked out of the Bullet Club when Kenny Omega first hit him with a One-Winged Angel and then followed it up by a brutal Bullet Club assault.

If Styles is to make his return to Japan, then you would pretty much assume that he is once again going to be the frontrunner of the newly incarnated Bullet Club consisting of the likes of Tama Tonga, Bad Luck Fale, Jay White, Taiji Ishimori, Robbie Eagles and several other big names.

This could not only mark Styles' grand return to NJPW but could very well plant the seeds for a long-term feud against new BC member Jay White.

#4 AJ Styles returns as a loner

Safe to say AJ Styles gave the Aces & Eights a torrid time

Now, we've all seen what 'The Alpha' Chris Jericho is capable of doing in NJPW, being an absolute veteran of the business, Y2J currently holds the IWGP Intercontinental Championship and needs to sort of faction or stable which can provide him with the proper backing. I mean, he's The Alpha after all!

A few years prior, when AJ Styles was still working for TNA Wrestling, the former TNA World Champion adopted a somewhat similar gimmick and became 'The Lone Wolf' (Not the Baron Corbin type) but rather someone who didn't care to join The Aces & Eights.

Given how amazing NJPW's booking has been for all these years, AJ Styles could very well pull off a loner gimmick once again and could work all by himself, without the assistance of any sort of factions. Not only does this open up the chances of witnessing some absolutely amazing feuds and matches involving Styles but this could also provide a little twist to the usual character AJ Styles has been portraying for all these years.

#3 Surprise G1 Climax entrant

Could AJ Styles finally tick off the G1 Climax from his list of achievements?

In the past, AJ Styles has worked in two G1 Climax tournaments and in his first year, he ended up with a record 16 points on board, equal with Kazuchika Okada and Shinsuke Nakamura, however, despite that, Styles failed to qualify for the finals. The next year, Styles ended up on the second position in his block and after having achieved almost everything, it now remains to be seen will AJ Styles ever add the G1 Climax achievement to his list of accomplishment?

The answer is likely to be a no, considering how Styles is looking to work on a lighter schedule in the WWE and given the hectic schedule NJPW like to follow, the answer still remains a big no!

However, if NJPW is indeed looking to bring back AJ Styles in a historic manner then what better way to announce him as a surprise entrant in the G1 Climax? He is likely to receive a pop on his first night back (even without actually appearing), as this will likely to set the tone for a perfect return for 'The Phenomenal One'.

#2 NJPW brings back AJ Styles but with a contractual twist

The Phenomenal One to lead the BC in ROH again?

If you're familiar with AJ Styles' work under New Japan Pro Wrestling then you should also be familiar with the fact that Styles wasn't exactly NJPW exclusive despite being the IWGP Heavyweight Champion. 'The Phenomenal One' was rather used as the superior figurehead of the Bullet Club in Ring of Honor just so NJPW could further expand and promote their brand in American soil, via the Bullet Club's work. And, it is safe to say that worked pretty well for both NJPW and Bullet Club in particular, as Styles and co. successfully laid the foundation for the Japanese promotion to expand in the US.

From there onwards, since Styles' departure rather, Kenny Omega and the rest of the Bullet Club perfectly expanded the NJPW market in the United States, as back in 2017, New Japan Pro Wrestling finally hosted their first ever American show.

Nevertheless, getting back to the AJ Styles topic, if NJPW is to bring back the two-time WWE Champion then they can very well have him compete for ROH on a regular basis and appear for NJPW only for limited shows, much like he did during his initial run. That way, not only will Styles be able to stay Stateside but he will also get to stay in touch with his family on a regular basis.

#1 The Elite shocks the world and recruits The Phenomenal One!

Bygones be bygones?

The Elite is by far the hottest brand in all of Professional Wrestling today and fans have been eagerly waiting to see what the future holds for the group which currently consists of six of the finest Pro Wrestlers. Despite the rough history between The Elite and AJ Styles, let us not overlook at the fact that the latter did play a huge part in the formation of the initial Bullet Club sub-group after Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks had turned on Styles at New Year's Dash 2016.

Styles, however, could pretty much shock the world and rather stick to the newly incarnated Elite faction, who recently also parted ways with the Bullet Club, becoming a faction on their own. Therefore, it would make all the sense in the world for AJ Styles to join the hottest brand in Pro Wrestling today right?

Just imagine a group which consists of the hottest and arguably the best tag team in The Young Bucks, who alongside current IWGP US Champion, Cody Rhodes are riding at an all-time high, following their self-financed All In wrestling event, which alone is a huge achievement, to say the least.

And then there are two of the fastest rising stars in Marty Scurll and Hangman Page who are also a part of the group and the fact that current IWGP Heavyweight Champion, Kenny Omega and AJ Styles will be a part of a faction together sounds like absolute money. Just imagine the two men standing side-by-side or matter of fact, just imagine all these seven names standing side-by-side.