WWE Rumors: AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura to Start on Main Roster?

By Jay Sichler | Jan 6, 2016

AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura are coming to WWE, but will they begin their career in NXT or the main roster?

Over the last few days, the big news in wrestling has been the announcement of AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura leaving NJPW for WWE. The question that has been arousing with these two has been where would they start their WWE careers.

For the last few years, the norm has been that every new superstar that WWE has signed must start down in NXT. Whether its brand new superstars such as Baron Corbin, Tyler Breeze and Charlotte. Or whether it’s been established stars on the indy scene such as Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn and Samoa Joe everyone has started down in NXT.

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However, Nakamura and Styles presented a rare case. They are more than indy stars, as they are top wrestlers. NJPW is considered the second biggest wrestling company in the world, Nakamura and Styles in NJPW were both multiple world champions and main-evented countless amount of pay-per-views.Styles also was a top star in TNA for over a decade.

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Because of this many people have questioned is it really necessary for these two to start down on the NXT roster. Well, according to F4WOnline.com (h/t Wrestle Zone), that does not seem to be the case. They are reporting that Nakamura and Styles signed WWE deals, not NXT deals. This most likely means that the two will begin on the main WWE roster.

While it’s possible that the two might work a few NXT live shows just to get assimilated with a WWE ring they are not expected to be a part of the NXT roster. With the Royal Rumble a few weeks away it is possible that we see Styles debut at the event.

WWE would like to add some of the NJPW stars they recently signed into the big match. With the WWE Championship now on the line in the Royal Rumble match itself for the first time since 1992, WWE wants to make this the biggest rumble match ever.

However, Styles will be the only one as of now to be ready for the Royal Rumble. He finished his commitments to NJPW last night in Korakuen Hall for New Year Dash. However, Nakamura, Gallows and Anderson are not due to finish with NJPW until Feb.

Reports are stating that the company will allow these three to finish up their commitments, with Nakamura still needing to drop the IWGP Intercontinental Championship. So as of now the only one who could debut this month is Styles.

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Styles entering the Royal Rumble matches would go down as one of the most shocking and top moments in the history of the match. Styles and Nakamura joining the main roster right away makes perfect sense. Their main event power and superstar allure will help boost WWE’s lackluster roster, and will help make The Road to WrestleMania 32, the most exciting and unpredictable its been in years.