Characters / New Japan Pro Wrestling Stables

This page lists the current wrestlers and other talent who work for New Japan Pro-Wrestling, organized by faction/Power Stable. For a list of wrestlers organized by debut, see here.

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In recent years, NJPW cards have been increasingly best summed up as a massive multi-year mob war between several different factions looking to run roughshod over the company and a loose contingent of faces dedicated to stopping them all. Currently, there are five major factions dominating the promotion (six if you count the usually-unaffiliated pure babyfaces who often have to band together to deal with them).

CHAOS

Created by Shinsuke Nakamura and Toru Yano in 2009 to recapture the spirit of Strong Style wrestling, it is currently led by the new Ace of the promotion who once had a record-setting reign as IWGP Heavyweight Champion, Kazuchika Okada. While the group started off as heels, the members' popularity saw them gravitate more towards faces, or at least tweeners, when compared to the other groups, before eventually outright aligning themselves with the main unit in order to take on the latest lineup and incarnation of the next stable on the list.

Kazuchika Okada (岡田 和睦, Okada Kazuchika, 2007-2010, 2010-)

Hirooki Goto (後藤洋央紀, Gotō Hirooki, 2003-2005, 2007-)

• Always Second Best: For all his achievements, including winning the 2008 G1 Climax and winning the New Japan Cup a record 3 times, he's never been able to capture the IWGP Heavyweight Championship—despite a whopping 8 attempts to do so.
• Bash Brothers: With his childhood friend Shibata.
• Cool Mask: As CTU-H
• Everything's Better with Samurai: He's known for his persona as an unrelenting (but impeccably honorable) modern-day samurai—often wrestling in a traditional hakama and entering the arena to traditional Edo-era Japanese choral music.
• Finishing Move: Shouten, Shouten Kai and Goto Shiki
• Heterosexual Life-Partners: With his former classmate Katsuyori Shibata, who allowed him to stay in his house and helped him to rehabilitate his injuried shoulder before his second entrance exam to New Japan (he had to left the company after passing the first one due to said injury).
• I Know Aikido: He trains in the Yoshinkan dojo.
• Kimono Is Traditional: Often wrestles in a hakama, fitting his persona as a modern-day samurai.
• Lightning Bruiser: Is surprinsigly strong for a wrestler his size.
• Opposing Sports Team: Thanks to this trope, Goto pretty much played the heel by default for his NEVER Openweight title defense at the G1 Special in San Francisco, since his opponent, Jeff Cobb, was the local indie promotion's heavyweight champion.
• Power Stable: Control Terrorism Unit (CTU), RISE and Chaos.
• Red Baron: "Aramusha" ("Daredevil"), "Fukkoku Strong-Style" ("New Iteration Strong-Style"), "Brave Warrior" and "Wild Samurai".
• Reverse Psychology: Pulled this on Kota Ibushi who kept refusing his offers to fight for the NEVER Openweight Championship. After a regular match he told him he would stop offering, provoking Ibushi to propose the match on his own. Unfortunately for Goto, it backfired when he was defeated for the title as a result.
• Signature Move: The ushigoroshi, a fireman's carry neckbreaker that Goto himself was the first to popularize.
• Wrestling Doesn't Pay: A modern day wrestling Samurai.

Tomohiro Ishii (石井 智宏, Ishii Tomohiro, 2004, 2005, 2006-)

Toru Yano (矢野 通, Yano Tōru, 2001-)

• Boisterous Bruiser
• Chairman of the Brawl: Wields his red steel chair, and spitting sake in his opponent’s face.
• Combat Pragmatist: He fights incredibly dirty and does whatever he can to get away with it. He won a G1 Climax match by taping the opponent's legs together outside the ring, therefore by ring-out.
• Drunken Master: Used to carry a bottle of sake to the ring.
• Finishing Move: Oni Koroshi, Kagamiwari and various pinfalls.
• Garbage Wrestler
• Genre Savvy: He gradually learns that leaving himself open during his Rob Van Dam style taunt allows opponents to sneak up behind him. He uses this knowledge to catch them off guard more often than not — and goes back to the taunt.
• Large Ham: Maybe their largest.
• Not So Harmless: Occasionally breaks out of his wacky comedy style and shows his legitimate grappling background.
• Power Stable: G.B.H. and Chaos
• Product Placement: Somehow turned this into part of his entrance, as he now always shills his latest Yano Toru or CHAOS DVD to the crowd (and even during his speech at the G1 Climax 24 press conference, causing Shinsuke Nakamura and Kazuchika Okada to crack up behind him)
• Punctuated! For! Emphasis!: Yano’s catchphrase involves emphasizing each word while pointing to himself with both thumbs: YANO! TO! RU! Also yes, this is a complete rip-off of what Rob Van Dam does.
• Red Baron: "YTR"
• Traumatic Haircut: Given one by Tajiri after losing a hair vs hair match.

YOSHI-HASHI (吉橋 伸雄, Yoshihashi Nobuo, 2008-2010, 2012-)

• Bullying a Dragon: He felt disrespected by Shibata, one of New Japan’s most brutal wrestlers and challenged him to a match. It went about as expected.
• Determinator: Despite the below, he never gives up and gives it his all even when he's against guys who are twice his size. Even managing to knock them off their feet. Finishing them off on the other hand...
• Jobber: Unless Iizuka was with him, chances are he ate the pin for Chaos. Now that Iizuka and Yujiro defected from Chaos, he is clearly on the lowest rung on the ladder of heavyweights in CHAOS. He gets the occasional singles win but no real momentum or significant streak.
• Power Stable: Chaos
• Red Baron: "Loose Explosion" (at least that's what it said on his pants), and "Headhunter".
• Shout-Out: His costume and staff pay homage to the Monkey King from ‘’Journey to the West’’.

Rocky Romero/Black Tiger IV (John R. Rivera, 2002, 2003, 2004-2006, 2008-)

• Alliterative Name
• Color Character: As Black Tiger
• Combat Pragmatist: Claims to be the King of Sneaky Style.
• Cool Mask: As Black Tiger
• "Do It Yourself" Theme Tune: Rocky provided the music for and does the lead vocals for Forever Hooligans, Roppongi Vice and Roppongi 3K.
• Eyepatch of Power: Wears one outside of matches.
• Finishing Move: Diablo Armbar, Foreign Devil and Kick to the Head.
• Foreign Wrestling Heel: For a very long time as himself before turning Face along with the rest of Chaos.
• Fur and Loathing: Wore a fur coat as a member of Forever Hooligans and Roppongi Vice.
• Legacy Character: Was the fourth Black Tiger after César Cuauhtémoc González (aka Silver King).
• Power Stable: Chaos
• Red Baron: "Mr. Forever", "Azúcar", and "The King of Sneaky Style".
• Slasher Smile: With or without tongue present.

Roppongi 3K

Sho Tanaka/Sho (田中 翔 Tanaka Shō 2012-2016, 2017-)

Yohei Komatsu/Yoh (小松 洋平 Komatsu Yōhei 2012-2016, 2017-)

Rocky Romero/Black Tiger IV (John R. Rivera, 2002, 2003, 2004-2006, 2008-)

• Badass Teacher: Rocky's role on the team is of a mentor and manager to Sho and Yoh.
• Bash Brothers: Sho and Yoh went on excursion together, tagged together as Fujin & Raijin in CMLL and the Tempura Boyz in Ring of Honor and re-debuted in New Japan Together.
• Combat Pragmatist: Rocky claims to be the King of Sneaky Style and he's trying to apart his wisdom to Sho and Yoh.
• "Do It Yourself" Theme Tune: Like his other themes, Rocky made and does the lead vocals for R 3 K's theme.
• Finishing Move: 3K (Sho & Yoh), Shock Arrow (Sho), Five Star Clutch (Yoh), Diablo Armbar (Rocky).
• Power Stable: Chaos
• Red Baron: "Azúcar" for Rocky, "High Voltage" for Sho and "High and Mighty" for Yoh.
• Red Oni, Blue Oni: Yoh is red, showing a more energetic and charismatic side of himself. Sho is blue, choosing to be stoic and focused.

Robbie Eagles (2018-)

• Badasses Wear Bandanas: Wears a headband on his head and a bandana around his neck.
• Finishing Move: Ron Miller Special
• Goggles Do Nothing: Wears a purely cosmetic, but awesome looking sniper scope eyepiece as part of his entrance gear.
• Land Down Under: Came from New South Wales.
• Red Baron: "The Sniper of the Skies".
• Power Stable: First Bullet Club, then Chaos.
• Token Good Teammate: To the Jay White-led era of Bullet Club. Ultimately resulted in him being a Defector from Decadence and jumping ship to CHAOS.

Shinsuke Nakamura (中邑 真輔, Nakamura Shinsuke, 2002-2006, 2006-2016)

Bullet Club

THE Foreign Wrestling Heel stable in New Japan, created by Prince Devitt in 2013, with other former leaders including third founding member Karl Anderson, AJ Styles, and Kenny Omega. Their style is primarily influenced by how Heels operate in Western promotions, and because of their talent and Western roots has become arguably the most popular faction out of the lot overseas. Currently the stable is led by Jay White.

Jay White (2015-)

KENTA (小林 健太, Kobayashi Kenta, 2019-)

Takaaki Watanabe/EVIL (渡辺 高章 Watanabe Takaaki, 2011-2013, 2015-)

• Acrofatic: Not the fattest wrestler ever, but for his size, he his very agile.
• Beard of Evil: Yes, the beard literally belongs to EVIL.
• Came Back Wrong: When Takaaki Watanabe left on excursion, he was just an ordinary Young Lion. Then he came back, and, well...
• Catchphrase: "This is EVIL! EVERYTHING is EVIL! Subete wa..."
• Dark Horse Victory: In tournament competition, EVIL has a reputation for scoring shocking upset victories. The most infamous of these came during the 2017 G1 Climax, when he defeated Kazuchika Okada himself, handing Okada his first singles loss in over a year and earning himself an IWGP Heavyweight title match.
• Finishing Move: Evil (STO)
• Large Ham
• Maybe Magic, Maybe Mundane: Currently the closest thing to a supernatural character NJPW has on their roster.
• Obviously Evil: Gee, I wonder if the name gave it away.
• Power Stable: First Los Ingobernables de Japón, then Bullet Club.
• Red Baron: “King of Darkness”
• Sinister Scythe: His entrance has him carrying one to the ring.

King Fale/Bad Luck Fale (Fale Simitaitoko, 2010-2012, 2013-)

Tama Tonga (Alipate Leone, 2010-2012, 2013-)

Tanga Loa (Tevita Fifita, 2016-)

El Phantasmo (Riley Vigier, 2019-)

• Arrogant Kung-Fu Guy: His cheating, me-first mentality and Smug Snake behavior has made him very successful in New Japan so far, but it also caused Robbie Eagles to turn on Bullet Club for CHAOS.
• Chiptune: His pre-Bullet Club theme incorporates elements of this.
• Cool Shades: Phantasmo wears a pair of spiked, shutter shades. They sometimes light up in time with his entrance music.
• Dubstep: His theme song (both before and after joining Bullet Club) is something people would hear at a rave. It even has a beat drop.
• Finishing Move: CRII (CR2)
• Kick the Dog: Likes to take merch from other factions right off of fans and throw it as many rows back as he can.
• Power Stable: Bullet Club.
• Red Baron: "Headbanger" and "ELP"

Taiji Ishimori (石森 太二 Ishimori Taiji, 2004-2005, 2010, 2016, 2018-)

• Cool Mask/Malevolent Masked Men: Wears a mask similar to the scary skeleton demon mask the original Bone Soldier wore. In fact the old mask is stitched to the back of his vest.
• Finishing Move: Bloody Cross
• Pintsized Powerhouse: At 5'4, Ishimori's attacks are absolutely devastating.
• Psychotic Smirk: The first thing he displays to his opponents after he takes off his mask.
• Red Baron: "Bone Solder" as of his membership in the Bullet Club.

Leo Tonga/Hikuleo (Tautuiaki Koloamatangi, 2016-)

• Bash Brothers: Literally, with Tanga Loa and Tama Tonga.
• Big Little Brother: He's both taller and bigger than his older brothers.
• Finishing Move: Gunslinger.
• The Giant: Just a little under 7 feet tall.
• Power Stable: Bullet Club.
• Red Baron: "Young Gun" and "Tongan Giant".
• Wrestling Family: The son of Haku/Meng, cousin of Bad Luck Fale and brother of Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa.

Chase Owens (Chase Owens, 2014-)

• Finishing Move: Package Piledriver.
• Green-Eyed Monster: Gets pretty petty when it comes to being left out of tournaments. This includes Finlay and Henare's "C Block" in the 2018 G1 Climax and being passed over for the 2018 World Tag League when regular partner, Yujiro, teamed up with fellow West Virginian, Hangman Page.
• The Mole: In a video on the YouTube channel What Culture Chase and Tama Tonga claimed Chase was this in the BC Elite for the BC OGs all along. Whether this is in New Japan canon and/or not just a blatant lie by the OGs isn't made clear.
• Power Stable: Bullet Club.
• The Quiet One: Initially, he usually let the likes of Bruce Tharpe and later Kenny Omega talk for him. After a couple years, he managed to find his own voice.
• Red Baron: "The Crown Jewel".

Yujiro Takahashi (高橋 裕二郎, Takahashi Yujiro, 2004-2009, 2009-)

• Cane Fu: His pimp cane as a member of the Bullet Club.
• Chronic Backstabbing Disorder: He's turned on Naito, Chaos, and the Elite.
• Cool Shades: Always has a pair of sunglasses for his entrance after his heel turn.
• Finishing Move: Bukko Nuki German, Suisha Otoshi, Tokyo Pimps, Pimp Juice, Miami Shine and Intercollege Slam.
• Kavorka Man: Not the best looking wrestler yet hangs out with beautiful women like Mao and Pieter.
• Power Stable: Chaos and Bullet Club
• Red Baron: "Mr. R Rated" during his ladies man gimmick. This was changed to the even less subtle "The Tokyo Pimps".
• Suspiciously Similar Substitute: As a ladies man, he's one of Val Venis and as a pimp, he's one of the Godfather).
• The Worf Effect: Gets a good amount of wins in tag matches and against lower card and Young Lion talent. Most of the time though, he doesn't win when it matters.

The World Class Tag Team

Gedo (高山 圭司, Takayama Keiji, 1989, 2001-)

Jado (秋吉 昭二 , Akiyoshi Shōji, 1989, 2001-)

• Bash Brothers
• Chronic Backstabbing Disorder: The left CTU prior to its dissolution for G.B.H., betrayed Makabe and Honma in favor of joining Chaos, then turned on Okada and Chaos to align themselves with the Bullet Club.
• Older Sidekick: Gedo served as Okada’s manager and mouthpiece before betraying him and joining Jay White. For Jado's part, he now seconds the Guerillas of Destiny.
• Power Stable: Team 2000, CTU, G.B.H., Chaos and the Bullet Club
• Red Baron: English commentator, Kevin Kelly called Jado the "Master Heater" after he joined the Bullet Club and now the name is canon.
• Shout-Out: Jado follows his knife edge chops with Woo! and flops on his face after takings some hits. Both of these actions are paying homage to Ric Flair.

Dick Togo (佐藤 茂樹, Sato Shigeki, 1996-1997, 2002-2011, 2020-)

• Badass in a Nice Suit: Togo's non-wrestling gear as Evil's sidekick in the Bullet Club consists of a stylish three-piece suit, a fedora and Cool Shades.
• Bash Brothers: With Taka Michinoku

• Older Sidekick: Serves as one to Evil in the Bullet Club.
• Power Stable: Bullet Club
• Red Baron: "The Spoiler" after joining Bullet Club.
• Razor Floss: As "The Spoiler", Togo chokes out wrestlers with a garrote wire.
• Ring Oldies: Still wrestling in his 50s.

Los Ingoberables De Japon

An offshoot of the Los Ingobernables group from CMLL created by Tetsuya Naito, who joined it during his excursion to Mexico. Since returning in 2015 he has drafted EVIL, Bushi, Sanada, Hiromu Takahashi, and Shingo Takagi into the stable, but EVIL later betrayed LIJ and joined Bullet Club. While heels, the group has drawn much popularity thanks to their leader, eventually becoming tweeners who can be face or heel as the plot demands much like CHAOS was before them.

Tetsuya Naito (内藤 哲也, Naitō Tetsuya, 2005-2009, 2009-)

SANADA (真田 聖也, Sanada Seiya, 2016-)

• Batter Up!: Carries a baseball bat on his way to the ring.
• Dark Is Evil: Wears dark outfits and attire.
• Delinquent Hair: From his debut until mid-2019, he would spike his hair into an impossibly high mohawk.
• Dressed to Plunder: Started going for a pirate look in the middle of 2019.
• Finishing Move: The Dragon Sleeper, which he calls Skull End, and The Moonsault.
• Power Stable: Debuted by attacking Okada as the new member of Los Ingobernables.
• Red Baron: "Cold Skull"
• The Voiceless: It takes him winning the main event of the show and a fair amount of prodding from the crowd just to get two words out of him.
• Those Two Guys: He and EVIL are LIJ's go-to heavyweight tag team.
• Unknown Rival: SANADA considers Okada his greatest rival and constantly targets him, but Okada doesn't exactly reciprocate that energy.
• White Mask of Doom: Wears one in the shape of a skull.

Shingo Takagi (鷹木信悟, Takagi Shingo 2018-)

• Normal Fish in a Tiny Pond: During his stint as a junior heavyweight, his only singles loss was to Will Ospreay in the 2019 Best of Super Juniors tournament. His transition into the regular heavyweight division has seen him take more losses against wrestlers better equipped to face someone like him, such as his first G1 Climax tournament.
• Red Baron: "The Dragon"
• The Sixth Ranger: Joined Los Ingobernables de Japon in 2018, after Hiromu Takahashi got hurt and left the group with only one active junior heavyweight.

Hiromu Takahashi/Kamaitachi ((高橋 広夢 Takahashi Hiromu, 2010-2013, 2016-)

BUSHI (清水 哲也, Shimizu Tetsuya, 2012-)

• Cool Mask: Makes it a habit of wearing two, one over the other.
• Finishing Move: Firebird Splash, MX, Sankakutobi-Tornillo
• Masked Luchador
• Power Stable: Los Ingobernables de Japón.
• Red Baron: Currently "Shikkoku no Death Mask" ("Jet Black Death Mask"), formerly “Flying Bushido”
• Super Spit: Began spitting poison mist as a member of Los Ingobernables.
• Wearing a Flag on Your Head: Wore the three colors that make up the Mexican flag on his mask as a face.

Suzuki-gun

Also known as the Suzuki Army, it is lead by their namesake Minoru Suzuki who previously ousted former leader Satoshi Kojima (the group was originally named Kojima-gun) a few short months after it was founded in 2011. The group is freelance, having followed Suzuki to Pro Wrestling NOAH and left New Japan for a time before returning at the start of 2017. Other members include El Desperado, Taichi, TAKA Michinoku, Yoshinobu Kanemaru and Zack Sabre Jr..

Minoru Suzuki (鈴木 実, Suzuki Minoru, 1988-1989, 2003-2005, 2006-2007, 2010-)

Zack Sabre Jr. (Lucas Eatwell, 2017-)

Taichi Ishikari/Taichi (牧 太一郎, Maki Taichiro, 2006, 2007, 2009 2010-)

• Bash Brothers: Milano Collection A.T. and then Taka Michinoku.
• Battle Strip: One of his trademark taunts is taking off his pants in the middle of the ring. Thankfully, there are wrestling trunks underneath.
• Combat Pragmatist: As a member of Suzuki-gun, Taichi is constantly cheating even if it's to his determent.
• Cool Mask: As part of his entrance entire.
• Finishing Move: Black Mephisto and Taichi Clutch.
• First-Name Basis: Now just known by his first name.
• Non-Indicative Name: Taichi is short for Taichiro, but those who wouldn't know that would wonder why he's named after a martial art/exercise.
• Red Baron: "Ai o Suteta Seitei" ("The Holy Emperor who Abandoned Love")
• Power Stable: Suzuki-gun.
• The Prankster: He and Taka would be notorious for their tricks as a Junior tag team.
• Improbable Weapon User: His mic stand.
• Wrestling Doesn't Pay: A wrestling (lip synching) pop singer/nobleman.

Kyosuke Mikami/El Desperado (三上 恭佑, Mikami Kyōsuke, 2011-2012, 2014)

• But Not Too Foreign: Although Mikami is purely Japanese in real life, Desperado is kayfabe half-Mexican on his mother's side with his half-Japanese heritage explaining his ability to speak Japanese.
• Cool Mask: As El Desperado.
• Masked Luchador: As El Desperado.
• Parts Unknown: As El Desperado.
• Power Stable: Suzuki-gun.

Yoshinobu Kanemaru (金丸義信, Kanemaru Yoshinobu, 2017-)

• Card-Carrying Villain: They don't call him "Heel Master" for nothing.
• Finishing Move: Deep Impact, Touch Out.
• Power Stable: Suzuki-gun.
• Red Baron: "Heel Master".
• Super Spit: Brings a bottle of Suntori whiskey with him to the ring and he's not adverse to taking a swig and giving his opponets a Suntori Surprise.

Douki (葉山達也, Hayama Tatsuya, 2019-)

• Ascended Extra: Came to New Japan and Suzuki-gun as a stand in for the injured El Desperado in the 2019 Best Of The Super Junior tournament. Even after Despy healed up, Douki stayed in the company.
• Cool Mask: Similar to the Mortal Kombat ninjas.
• Finishing Move: Suplex de la Luna.
• Power Stable: Suzuki-gun.
• Red Baron: "Japonés del Mal" ("Bad Japanese"), which was the name of his age team with Daisuke Hanaoka in Toryumon Mexico.

TAKA Michinoku (吉田 貴男, Yoshida Takao 1994, 1996-1997 2002, 2004, 2006, 2007-)

United Empire

The newest stable, formed in 2020 as The Empire and renamed in January 2021. Led by Will Ospreay, initially joined by Jeff Cobb, Great-O-Khan, and Bea Priestley. As of Sakura Genesis 2021 the United Empire is comprised of Will Ospreay, Jeff Cobb, Great O-Khan and Aaron Henare.

Will Ospreay (William Ospreay, 2016-)

Tomoyuki Oka/Great-O-Khan (岡 倫之, Oka Tomoyuki, 2016-2018, 2019, 2020-)

• Bald of Evil: On his first official night back in Japan since becoming the Great-O-Khan, he interfered in in the G1 Climax and cost Okada his match against Will Ospreay, the latter turning heel on Okada minutes later.
• Chinese Vampire: His entrance gear and mannerisms before matches are reminiscent of the jiangshi or hopping vampire.
• Finishing Move: The Eliminator
• I Know Karate: Before his New Japan career, O-Khan competed in tournaments for amateur wrestling, judo, karate, sambo, kickboxing, pankration, jiu-jitsu and mixed-martial arts.
• Power Stable: One of the three founding members of The United Empire with Will Ospreay and Bea Priestly.
• Red Baron: “The Dominator”
• Screaming Warrior: Shrieks like a banshee as he attacks his opponent.
• Spell My Name With An S: During his excursion in RevPro, his name was the Great O-Karn.

Jeff Cobb (Jeffrey Cobb, 2017-)

• Acrofatic: It isn’t enough of him to be as strong as an ox, but Cobb has displayed jaw-dropping levels of agility for a guy his size.
• A Hero to His Hometown: Pulled a variation of this at the G1 Special in San Francisco, where he challenged for the NEVER Openweight Championship and walked out carrying the top title from local indie promotion APW. The crowd promptly latched onto Jeff, cheering him over Hirooki Goto.
• Finishing Move: Tour of the Islands, Gachimuchi-sault (Standing Moonsault)
• Leotard of Power: Wears customized singlets from SPLX.
• Lightning Bruiser: Built like a tank, but scarily agile and capable of some impressive high-flying moves.
• Power Stable: The United Empire.
• Red Baron: Currently "The Hatchet", formerly “Mr. Athletic”.
• Wrestling Monster: A heroic example until he joined the United Empire.

Henare/Toa Henare/Aaron Henare (Aaron Henry, 2016-)

• Finishing Move: First the TOA Bottom (Rock Bottom) and the Street of Rage (Death Valley Driver)
• Cool Shades: Part of his updated look as a member of the United Empire.
• Hot-Blooded: While he’s well spoken outside of the ring and most of his promos are subdued and humble, in the ring he’s quite intense.
• Loincloth: For a bit of time, he wore a brown loincloth to the ring.
• Power Stable: The United Empire.
• Red Baron: "The Ultimate Weapon"
• Wild Maori: Had aspects of this as a Young Lion, rapped it up when he graduated and now has dialed it back a bit.

Taguchi Japan/Main Unit

The more textbook babyfaces of the promotion have effectively been pulled into a loose makeshift alliance of their own, as whether they simply want to compete to be the best or outright intend to defend the company from all these forces, the faction atmosphere is simply too strong for them not to have to contend with it. Since Bullet Club restructured itself to be more dangerous at the end of 2018, the main unit has also aligned with CHAOS in a mutual alliance to take them on. Technically lead by Ryusuke Taguchi, who enthusiastically gives orders to the main eventers who find themselves in the group.

Ryusuke Taguchi (田口 隆祐, Taguchi Ryusuke, 2002-)

• Afro Asskicker: When he initially became the Funky Weapon.
• Disco Dan: Was once the stuck in the 70s/80s variety.
• Finishing Move: Dondon, Dondon The End, Enban Chuudoku, Mirror Magic Go!, Milano-saku Dodon's Throne, Shika Koroshi, Uradodon
• Happy Dance: After he wins his matches in his Disco Dan days.
• Large Ham: "Oh yeah!" even without a mic in hand he can make himself heard on the house mics.
• Power Stable: Taguchi Japan
• Red Baron: "Funky Weapon", "Master Of Dropkicks" (Master Of Dropkick is also the name of his entrance theme)
• Shaking the Rump: A taunt of his during his 80s stint.
• Shout-Out: Uses the three amigos and a frog splash...okay, a 180 frog splash but the intent is obvious.
• Theatrics of Pain: He's a great seller, all the more noticeable in this atmosphere. With the subdued audience you can really hear his pained breaths and cries of anguish, plus contrast them against all the guys who hardly sell.

Hiroshi Tanahashi (棚橋 弘至, Tanahashi Hiroshi, 1999-)

Kota Ibushi (飯伏幸太, Ibushi Kota, 2009-)

Jon Moxley (Jonathan Good, 2019-)

Juice Robinson (Joseph Robinson, 2015-)

• All-American Face: Picked up elements of this as he started chasing the U.S. title, and ended up becoming the first American to hold the belt.
• Arch-Enemy: To Jay White, who he's been interlocked with in one form or another since they were Young Lions.
• Bunny-Ears Lawyer: He's so colorful and goofy that you might not take him seriously at first. Then you realize he's a 2-time IWGP United States Champion with wins over Jay White and Kenny friggin' Omega.
• Brought Down to Normal: Despite an extended run in FCW and NXT previous to his New Japan debut, he elected to start from all the way at the bottom as a Young Lion and work his way back up the card.
• Dreadlock Warrior: He rocked pretty long dreads from when he first showed up at the Dojo until he shaved them in mid-2019. He'd supposedly offered to cut them during his Young Lion training, but presumably, the trainers decided he was already more experienced than the rest of his class and therefore didn't need to cut it.
• Finishing Move: He borrows Christian's Killswitch, calling it "Pulp Friction".
• Red Baron: "The Flamboyant"
• Significant Haircut: Shockingly cut his iconic dreadlocks off before his U.S. championship defence against the debuting Jon Moxley to show how dead seriously he was taking his opponent.
• Sir Swearsalot: Does he ever!
• The Stoner: Not said outright, given that this is Japan and getting caught with weed can get you deported, but...c'mon. He's got the dreadlocks, the rainbow colors, the happy-go-lucky vibe...

David Finlay (David Finlay III, 2015-)

• Catchphrase: “See you in the mountains”.
• Finishing Move: Prima Nocta (Just called the Stunner in the English Commentary) and the Acid Drop.
• Metalhead: Alluded to with his entrance attire and his long hair. His first song is titled “Samurai Rock” and his current song is very metal-esque.
• Wrestling Family: An extensive family tree in the business. No not only is his dad Finlay aka Fit Finlay, his siblings, grandfather and great grandfathers were also professional wrestlers and his aunt and great uncle were referees.
• Red Baron: "Celtic Prince"

Yuji Nagata (永田 裕志, Nagata Yuji, 1992-1997, 1998-)

Satoshi Kojima (小島 聡, Kojima Satoshi, 1991-2002, 2010-)

Hiroyoshi Tenzan (山本 広吉, Yamamoto Hiroyoshi, 1991-1993, 1995-)

Dragon Lee/Ryu Lee (2016-)

• Arch-Enemy/The Rival: Himoru Takahashi
• Finishing Move: Desnucadora, Dragon Driver
• Masked Luchador: A masked star formerly of CMLL.
• Shout-Out: It’s hard not to think that the Dragon Lee moniker is an obvious reference to Bruce Lee.
• Wrestling Family: His father is La Bestia del Ring and his brothers are Rush and the current Místico (who was also formerly Dragon Lee).

Togi Makabe (真壁 伸也, Makabe Shin'ya, 1997-)

• Bash Brothers: With Yano and Honma
• Chained by Fashion: Wears a long chain in vignettes.
• Chairman of the Brawl: Tends to use chairs as weapons, besides his chain.
• Expy: His character and wrestling style is influenced by Bruiser Brody.
• Finishing Move: King Kong Kneedrop and Lariat.
• Flipping the Bird: Often lets two flip at once.
• Garbage Wrestler: What, you thought he would never use that chain?
• No-Sell: While he won't sandbag much, he's not known for really reacting or displaying a lasting effect of moves.
• Power Stable: G.B.H.
• Red Baron: "Unchained Gorilla", "Boso King Kong" ("The Rampaging King Kong"), "Ikari no Hoko" ("Howl of Rage").
• Sir Swearsalot: Fond of dropping f-bombs on his opponents.

Tomoaki Honma (本間朋晃, Honma Tomoaki, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007-)

• Bash Brothers: With Makabe
• Cool Mask: As Makai Masked Canadian
• Determinator: This is true in his matches despite his Jobber status to begin with. It becomes solidified after he recovered from a terrible neck injury in 2017.
• Finishing Move: Turmeric Clutch, Kokeshi and Pillar Crash.
• Jobber: The only time he seems to wins is against Young Lions or as part of a tag team.
• Power Stable: Makai Club and G.B.H.
• Ricky Morton: Usually in tag teams with Makabe.
• Took a Level in Badass: Beat Karl Anderson and Doc Gallows with Makabe to win the IWGP Tag Team Championship in Wrestle Kingdom 2016.
• Use Your Head: His sick looking Flying Headbutt which he has even done on an opponent lying on the floor.

Tiger Mask IV (山崎義弘, Yamazaki Yoshihiro, 2002-).

• Animal Motifs: Lions perhaps?
• Battle Strip: At ''NJPW Fight For Existence II" when called out by Low Ki, though it was quickly broken up before anything could really happen.
• Cool Mask: Comes with the Tiger Mask gimmick.
• Finishing Move: Tiger Suplex, Avalanche Double Underhook Suplex and other variants.
• Legacy Character: The first person to be Tiger Mask since Koji Kanemoto was unmasked in 1995.
• Masked Luchador: Specifically, the entire Tiger Mask line owe their existence to Fray Tormenta.
• The Complainer Is Always Wrong: He is somewhat infamous because he likes to criticize things on the company, like the guest MMA fighters and the new junior heavyweights.

Hirai Kawato/Master Wato (川人 拓来, Kawato Hirai, 2016-2018, 2020-)

• Finishing Move: RPP
• Red Baron: “Road to the GrandMaster”
• Wrestling Doesn't Pay: A wrestling martial arts master.

Katsuyori Shibata (柴田勝頼, Shibata Katsuyori, 1999-2004, 2006, 2012-)

The Young Lions

Lists the various NJPW wrestlers who are currently training as Young Lions or are on excursion.

General Young Lion Tropes

• Boring, but Practical: Even independent wrestlers and combat sports athletes who join the New Japan Dojo who may know a plethora of techniques have their arsenals limited to specific set of basic but effective techniques.
• Important Haircut: Most trainees, specifically those trained in Japan, will debut with a clean shaven face (sometimes with a mustache) and a buzzcut to symbolize the start of their journey in the company.
• Jobber: While there are accessions to the rule, Young Lions generally don't win singles matches unless they are facing another Young Lion. They can win in tag team matches but they are never the ones picking up the win and could be at liability to take the fall for their team.
• Finishing Move: The Boston Crab or a variation of it.
• Spirited Competitor: Ready for any action they can get to the point of sometimes becoming surprisingly brutal in-ring.
• Training from Hell: Part of their training involves doing 1,000 squats six days a week.
• Limited Wardrobe: Basic black trunks and boots with the possibility of small personal effects thrown in.

On Excursion

Shota Umino (海野 翔太, Umino Shōta, 2017-2019)

Noge Dojo - Japan

Gabriel Kidd (Gabriel Kidd, 2020-) (Part of the LA Dojo officially, but has stayed at the Noge Dojo since the start of the COVID-19 Pandemic)

Yuto Nakashima (中島 佑斗, Nakashima Yūto, 2021-)

• First Day from Hell: The poor guy gets injured mere minutes into his first match ever.

Yota Tsuji (辻 陽太, Tsuji Yōta, 2018-)

Yuya Uemura (上村優也, Uemura Yūya, 2018-)

LA Dojo - USA

Alex Coughlin (Alex Coughlin, 2018-)

The DKC (Dylan Barrales, 2020-)

• Only Known by Initials: DKC stands for “Dylan Kyle Cox”, his full wrestler name on the indies. It served as his Red Baron on NJPW Strong before becoming a Young Lion.

Kevin Knight (Kevin Knight, 2020-)

Ren Narita (成田蓮, Narita Ren, 2017-)