Longest Running Triple H Fansite
Since 2006
Showing posts with label Finn Balor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Finn Balor. Show all posts

September 8, 2017

Triple H, William Regal, Court Bauer And More Explore The UK Scene On “The World According To Wrestling”

The World According To Wrestling podcast is back with a second episode this week and explores the current situation in the British wrestling scene, ITV’s revamp of World Of Sport, WWE’s UK plans and how the UK indie scene feels about it. The loaded line-up of episode guests includes Triple H, Dave Meltzer, Andy Quildan, Klondyke Kate, Fred Dinenage, William Regal, Robbie Brookside, Finn Balor, Neville, Ryan Satin and Court Bauer.

The episode is available to download from today on iTunes and all other podcast platforms. You can read a few excerpts as well as listen to the show below:  

Paul Levesque, WWE’s Executive Vice President and 14-time World Champion Triple H, on launching in the UK at a similar time to World of Sport: 

“Did it change our timing a little bit because of when they positioned their show? Yeah, but we are talking by maybe months or something not speeding up the process in terms of getting it done. We’ve been working on this for a long time. Any other show aside, if they are successful I’m happy for them. And, at the end of the day, it all helps the industry so we just do what we do. And I think we do it better than anyone else on the planet.”


Former WWE writer and MLW’s Court Bauer, said: 

“UK really was an amazing region for pro wrestling and then there was a scorched earth effect for many years and it’s revived itself in more modern times. When you have something as big as WWE hovering over you like a death star, you know, this could go two different ways. Fans might win, but also that might just be a short term position if you look at the large term something like ITV doing World Of Sport truly could really help sustain and stabilise this regeneration of pro-wrestling. So that’s my concern.”


Andy Quildan, founder of Revolution Pro Wrestling in the UK said, on ITV and WWE moving in on the British scene:

“Worrying about what everyone else is doing and trying to get into pretend wrestling wars with people is just ridiculous. The fact of the matter is if WWE want to come over and takeover UK wrestling, they’re going to do it. It is what it is. Let’s continue to do what we do in the highest level possible.

“I can see people’s mentality with ‘they’re trying to take over British wrestling’ and my argument is if you look at for example theatre, look at the West End. How many different theatrical productions are going on in the West End every single night. All at the same time. All competing with one another… I’m not phased by it. It’s a very interesting time and certainly a lot of stuff’s changing but at the same time it’s nice for British wrestling not to be an afterthought for once."

August 19, 2017

CFO$ Give Triple H Credit For Finn Balor’s Theme

WWE Music composers CFO$ discussed Triple H’s involvement in the creation of Finn Balor’s theme song during a new interview with  Metal Injection. The deo said that the Game had a big impact in constructing Balor’s theme.

“As much as we’d like to take all the credit for Finn’s entrance ourselves, we definitely can’t,” said the two. “We had written the main riff and orchestral sections of the song and brought them to HHH and the music team for a brainstorming session while down at an NXT event in Florida. Given the uniqueness of Finn’s character, we all knew his theme needed something special to make it fit him properly. Luckily, HHH had the whole thing mapped out in his head – from the long, moody entrance of the demon – to the choir erupting during the breaks in the orchestra, giving the crowd that perfect moment to throw their arms up and scream. It’s no wonder this one went on to become a fan favorite.”

March 11, 2017

Finn Balor Returns From Injury At Live Event, Triple H Also Returns In Main Event

August 22, 2016

Mick Foley laces WWE fans for their reaction at SummerSlam


RAW General Manager Mick Foley is taking his role seriously.

The WWE legend took to Facebook on Monday to criticize those fans in attendance at SummerSlam at Brooklyn's Barclays Center, who mocked the debut of the Universal title.

The impetus for Foley's lecture was a tweet from Seth Rollins, who lost to Finn Balor in the first Universal title bout.



Per Foley on Facebook:

WHEN SMART FANS TURN DUMB

I have long felt, and often spoken about the element of magic needed to make a good match great and a great match classic.

Finn Balor and Seth Rollins had a GREAT match last night - a match that I was HONORED to watch from ringside. But instead of that element of magic necessary to turn that great match into a classic, what Finn and Seth got instead was the stench of self-congratulatory snarkiness from a a very vocal minority of the sold-out Barklay's Center. But a couple thousand self-important chanters, mixed in with 14,000 other people who genuinely WANT TO WATCH THE FREAKING MATCH is an awful distraction.

Yes, the chants were clever. Maybe the look of the Universal Championship isn't the one that I personally wouldn't have wanted. But remember the Hardcore Title? It was supposed to be a joke when it was presented to me – broken pieces of metal held together by duct tape. But we made that title mean something by busting our asses to show it's worth. As Seth Rollins writes in his tweet, a title is about more than appearance; it's about what it represents for the men fighting for it. Remember the WWE title I won from The Rock – that moment that has gone down as among the greatest in Monday Night Raw history? Did you know that title belt reeked of beer and mildew, and stunk up my bag every day for the 37 days (or whatever the exact number was) that I held it? Did you know that I didn't give an F about the beer and mildew... or what it looked like, what color it was, if it spun or had my name on it? I only cared about the hard work that had gone into winning it, and that those responsible for running the company felt that I was worthy of holding it.

There are so many times when WWE fans act in a way that makes me proud. Last night was not one of them. Last night, that vocal minority in attendance - who thought their clever chants about their displeasure toward the aesthetic design of a FREAKING belt were more important than the two guys busting their asses to have the best match possible, made me feel ashamed.

I hope some of those people who were chanting about the Universal Championship - many of whom are Finn Balor fans - will read this article, and realize that Finn flew his family in from Ireland to be part of the event last night. I hope they will take a good look at themselves in the mirror, and realize they made the evening a little less special for him by trying to make the evening about themselves.

There is a reason why Seth Rollins simple, yet eloquent statement received 10,000 RT's from around the world. People agreed with him! Most of them would have loved to be sitting in the seats of those self-important fans - with that element of magic in the air that would have turned their great match into a classic.

RAW GM's Announce Plans To Crown New WWE Universal Champion


BROOKLYN, N.Y. — The Demon King has abdicated the throne.

Less than 24 hours after defeating Seth Rollins to become the first-ever WWE Universal Champion, Finn Bálor was forced to relinquish the title to Raw GM Mick Foley and Commissioner Stephanie McMahon, having suffered a right shoulder injury at The Architect’s hands during their historic clash. Unforuntately, Bálor’s hope for a clean exit was cut short by Seth Rollins, who wasted no time in attempting to cobble together a case for himself to inherit the now-vacant championship.

The Architect certainly had company in that regard. Sami Zayn, Chris Jericho and Kevin Owens were quick to name themselves as worthy of a title opportunity, as did Roman Reigns and, surprisingly, Enzo Amore & Big Cass. Foley provided the solution, sanctioning four qualifying bouts for a Fatal 4-Way next week to determine a new Universal Championship.

Finn Balor Relinquishes WWE Universal Championship On RAW; How Long Will He Be Sidelined?


Mick Foley and Stephanie McMahon introduced Balor, who gave a speech about winning the title how it represented a lifetime of sacrifice. He says this title represents that you can accomplish anything if you believe it, then says he sacrificed to win the title last night. Balor thanks everyone, including Seth Rollins for giving him a great match, then said the title would be the first thing he came back for, and hands it to Foley as he leaves.

As far as how long Balor will be inactive, WWE.com posted a new update regarding Finn Balor’s injury shortly before RAW went on air, estimating Balor will be sidelined for “anywhere from four to six months” instead of the originally estimated 2-3 months. Balor is reported to be going for a surgical consult this week to determine the severity of the injury.

WWE Confirms Finn Balor Injury; Balor To Have Surgical Consult This Week To Determine Severity Of Injury


WWE.com is reporting inaugural WWE Universal Champion Finn Balor’s injury may be a torn labrum that could sideline him for several months.

WWE confirmed Balor’s injury did happen when Seth Rollins powerbombed him into the barricade during their championship match. According to ringside physician Chris Robinson, Balor dislocated his shoulder but put it back into place, and said today’s MRI results showed a possible labrum tear.

ESPN Senior Writer Arash Markazi, who spoke to Balor earlier today, commented on the report and said Balor couldn’t move his arm much while appearing on Good Morning America today, and didn’t speak about the severity of the injury. Markazi noted that if Balor does have a torn labrum, it could keep him sidelined for 2-3 months.

Balor will have a surgical consult this week to determine the severity of his injury, and will know if surgery is required.

Finn Balor captures first WWE Universal championship

NXT has provided WWE with an immediate future. That turned into the present on Sunday at SummerSlam when Finn Balor defeated Seth Rollins at Barclays Center in Brooklyn to capture the first WWE Universal championship.

The victory, which is the top title on the RAW brand, concluded a stellar weekend for the NXT talent troupe. On Saturday at Barclays Center, Shinsuke Nakamura thrilled the crowd by capturing the NXT championship.

While Nakamura isn't on the main roster as of yet, Balor is and has made an enormous impression in a short time. Consider Balor has been on the RAW roster for around a month. The WWE put out a list last year chronicling the fastest rise to top championship in company history.

Balor shattered all those marks by toppling Rollins in a match that definitely felt like the showstopper on the SummerSlam card.

Rollins, meanwhile, seems to be having trouble digesting the result.

The victory, which is the top title on the RAW brand, concluded a stellar weekend for the NXT talent troupe. On Saturday at Barclays Center, Shinsuke Nakamura thrilled the crowd by capturing the NXT championship.

While Nakamura isn't on the main roster as of yet, Balor is and has made an enormous impression in a short time. Consider Balor has been on the RAW roster for around a month. The WWE put out a list last year chronicling the fastest rise to top championship in company history.

Balor shattered all those marks by toppling Rollins in a match that definitely felt like the showstopper on the SummerSlam card.

source: foxsports.com

August 21, 2016

Recap of Triple H's Facebook Q & A


The following are the highlights of Triple H’s appearance on Facebook Live following the NXT Takeover: Brooklyn II event.

-Cathy Kelley interviewed Triple H backstage at Barclays Center. They both raved about the live special. He said that changing the entire industry last year and to come back and do this tonight shows that NXT is on fire and is getting bigger and bigger. Kelley raved about how NXT sold out Barclays two years in a row.

-Hunter also spoke with pride about taking NXT to Australia and New Zealand. He said WWE Network is everywhere so they can go anywhere. He said they are at a point where they have to pick and choose.

-Kelley asked what Asuka defeating Bayley means for Bayley. “I guess we will see,” Hunter said with a smile. He said Brooklyn is Bayley’s city and she could be the honorary mayor. He said whether she wins or loses, she lights the place on fire. He said the crowd gave her a standing ovation and the people went crazy for her. Hunter said Asuka is on a different level right now and he doesn’t seen anyone touching her in the NXT women’s division anytime soon.

-Kelley mentioned Shinsuke Nakamura becoming the new NXT Champion and how he and Asuka are international talents who hold titles. Hunter said it speaks to the brand. He said everyone wants to be in NXT. “In my opinion, it’s the hottest brand going right now,” he said.

-Kelley asked about the various wrestlers who have been called up to Raw and Smackdown and how it affects NXT. Hunter said that if you look at last year’s show in Brooklyn, the wrestlers who were on it are the main roster of WWE today. He said you’ll see the first NXT Champion Seth Rollins face the longest reigning NXT Champion Finn Balor at SummerSlam. He also mentioned Sasha Banks vs. Charlotte. He said he watched those wrestlers come through NXT and put it on the map. He said he couldn’t be more proud of all of them. He said that when you look at what NXT did this year, it was a completely different group of people. “The talent pool here is as deep as it’s ever been and will continue to be that because we’re going to continue to create the future and the future always evolves,” he said. Hunter said the secret of NXT is that they will always deliver something “new, fresh, and exciting.”

-Hunter went out of his way to mention the Nakamura entrance. “Who would have predicted a violin player, at a WWE event, just lighting the place up?” he asked. Hunter said it was amazing and Nakamura is “just one of those once in a lifetime athletes who can come in and captivate the world.”

August 16, 2016

Booker T Talks New Era Talents He Thinks Will Be Big Stars in WWE, His New Role in WWE


WWE Hall of Famer Booker T recently did an interview with Cody Dalton of The Observer News Enterprise, and below are some highlights:

CD: In WWE, they are talking about this being “The New Era.” Who do you see out there wrestling now that you think will be the next big star in your business?

BT: “I think it’s going to be more than just one guy. WWE finally opened up the door to the independent world, letting those guys come in and show exactly what they have. I’ve always thought there was a lot of untapped talent out in the independent world. They weren’t the prototypical WWE Superstar, but maybe they are the ‘People’s Champion.’ I think now with guys that have been around like (Finn) Bálor, who has been around a long time. Kevin Owens, Neville — those guys have been around a really long time. You’ve got guys like Bobby Roode, Samoa Joe, (Austin) Aries and guys like that who are getting a chance to come in, as well. They get a chance to perform on the big stage. You see A.J. Styles doing very, very well since he finally got a shot at going out there and performing. You actually see a guy who has pretty much a Southern accent, can get on the microphone and deliver a good promo. There’s going to be a lot of guys actually that are going to be coming up. I feel like the business is in good hands for the years to come, the Wrestlemanias to come and the pay per views to come.”

CD: What’s harder — wrestling, teaching someone to wrestling or being a commentator in WWE?

BT: “Probably commentating. That’s why I’m an analyst now. That’s why I’m not commentating anymore. I’m just an analyst on the Kickoff Show on the pay per views. I like being an analyst. Being able to go out there and talk about Zack Ryder from a commentary perspective, there may be some rough patches, but to be able to analyze Zack Ryder — him being a guy that’s been in WWE for over 10 years, a guy that’s been a journeyman, a guy that’s been trying to crack through that glass ceiling and it just doesn’t seem like it’s ever going to happen for him. Maybe he should retire. Maybe he should just go away. I can do that.

Video: Demon King Debuts On Raw

July 25, 2016

Finn Balor Debuts On Raw


Former WWE NXT Champion Finn Balor made his WWE RAW main roster debut on tonight's show from Pittsburgh and moved one step closer to becoming the first-ever WWE Universal Champion.

Balor won a Fatal 4 Way over Kevin Owens, Cesaro and WWE United States Champion Rusev, who he pinned after a Coup de Grace. Balor will now work the RAW main event against the winner of another Fatal 4 Way with the winner facing Seth Rollins for the brand new Universal Title at SummerSlam.

June 24, 2016

The ‘Too Sweet’ history of WWE’s most iconic gesture


It started as something you barely noticed when watching Raw or Nitro in the late ’90s. Shawn Michaels may have thrown it up in the middle of a match, or Scott Hall would flash it on his way down the aisle. It was an unmistakable gesture that hinted at a secret brotherhood known only to a few.

Twenty years later, it has become the not-so-secret handshake seen in sports-entertainment rings around the world, bridging a generation of Superstars and connecting The Kliq with The Club.

Kevin Nash, Triple H and the four Superstars who brought it back to the forefront of sports-entertainment — AJ Styles, Karl Anderson, Luke Gallows and Finn Bálor — reveal its strange origins, The Kliq and nWo’s influence today, and the person in the locker room who loves to “Too Sweet.” Click here.

June 23, 2016

Notes on Tonight’s WWE Cruiserweight Classic Taping; Accident Causes Delay, Seating Chaos, Top Names Backstage, More


-The show was delayed from its original start time as, according to officials in the arena, there was a traffic accident that delayed some fans getting to the arena and they didn’t want to start the taping with a half-empty house. While there are conflicting statements going around about this, with some suggesting that WWE was covering for a low turnout, local news reports confirm that there was a serious two-lane blocking accident in the Orlando area slowing down traffic considerably.

-Because of the delay and fans arriving late, there was a bit of an issue with seating in the building. Apparently close to the original start time, arena workers had started to tarp off areas and move people into hard camera seats to fill in gaps. However when people began to arrive late, it caused a problem with many of their seats already being taken, and workers having to rearrange reserved seating sections to accommodate for the chaos.

-Both Smackdown announcer Mauro Ranallo and Daniel Bryan, who will be co-hosting the tournament together, received huge reactions from the crowd when introduced.

-WWE did a live stream introducing all of the CWC competitors on their Facebook account, which you can check out at this link.

-There were several WWE and NXT names backstage for the taping, including Finn Balor, Corey Graves and Becky Lynch, Hideo Itami and Funaki (who is still with the company doing Japanese commentary for the PPV’s). Obviously Triple H was also backstage in production as well.

-They will be taping four episodes at tonight’s taping event which will include all 16 of the first round tournament matches. We are hoping to have a bracket for what the second round will look like later tonight.

-Possibly killing the rumor of a WWE Cruiserweight Championship return that has been floating around since the announcement of the tournament several months ago, Mauro Ranallo noted during the Facebook-exclusive talent parade earlier tonight that the winner would receive a Cruiserweight Trophy. No mention of a championship of any kind.

April 25, 2016

Triple H Names Top WWE Stars He Would Like to Work With, His WrestleMania Match Against The Undertaker, WWE NXT and More


WWE star Triple H did a Q&A during the WWE Paris event over the weekend, and below are some highlights:

-When asked who in WWE he would like to get in the ring with, Triple H says he’s not sure if he would want to get in the ring with any of the top WWE stars now, but in his prime he would loved to have faced guys like Dean Ambrose, Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, Samoa Joe, Shinsuke Nakamura, AJ Styles and Finn Balor. Triple H says when you are as good as those names, you want to get in the ring with them and work with them.

-Triple H says one of his biggest career moments was facing The Undertaker at WrestleMania 27. He called the match very special and the end of an era in pro wrestling.

-He talked about his career longevity and said that he is proud to have been able to have a 20 year in-ring career and now transition to the WWE offices. He added that he takes a lot of pride in NXT, which he says is the future of WWE.

April 22, 2016

WWE Announces Title Change At WWE NXT Live Event


Samoa Joe defeated Finn Balor to become the new WWE NXT Champion at tonight's live event in Lowell, MA. It appeared Balor was injured right before the finish but that could just be an angle.

WWE announced the following:

LOWELL, Mass. — Samoa Joe defeated Finn Bálor to capture the NXT Championship at a Live Event Thursday night in Lowell, Massachusetts, WWE.com has confirmed.

Joe's victory put an end to Bálor's record-breaking reign as NXT Champion. The Demon won the title on July 4, 2015, and held it for 292 days, surpassing the mark set by Neville in 2014.

Now that Samoa Joe has finally snared NXT's top prize, what will the destroyer have in store for anyone who dares to step up and challenge him? How will Finn Bálor handle this setback?

March 30, 2016

Finn Balor Talks About Becoming The Demon, Getting Butterflies Before NXT TakeOver, NXT's Brand


Finn Balor appeared on Another Wrestling Podcast to promote NXT TakeOver: Dallas. You can check out some highlights below, and the full interview above.

Finn Balor says that he has butterflies in preparation for NXT TakeOver: Dallas. He thinks something would be wrong if there weren't any, and it's that way for the whole roster.

He says any time you're in the ring with Samoa Joe it's a test. He talks about how they're both world traveled, and says Samoa Joe pushes him out of his comfort zone, which is what he wants.

He won't say whether he's going to be Finn or the Demon at NXT TakeOver: Dallas. He says that he takes inspiration from everywhere.

Balor's happy to be at the forefront of NXT and help lead the brand. His goal is to main event WrestleMania, but he's sure he'll get sidetracked along the way on his journey.

He saw a lot of Bullet Club shirts when he arrived in the United States, so he was aware of the American following he had gained during his time with New Japan Pro Wrestling.

Balor goes on to talk about what he has to do to beat Samoa Joe, WWE Axxess NXT Takeover, being on the road and much more on the show., which you can view here.

March 7, 2016

WWE And NXT ASF 2016 Coverage Day Two: Samoa Joe, Balor, Bayley Steals Gimmick, Q&As, Tryouts, More


Matches

* Apollo Crews defeated Tino Sabbotelli.

* Chad Gable defeated Riddick Moss.

* Dan Matha vs. Aiden English kept seeing interference from Simon Gotch, so Dylan Miley ran in. William Regal showed up and made it a tag team match, which Miley and Matha won, to the shock of the crowd. Matha and Miley are really plain, but they're brand new to live events, too.

* Tye Dillinger defeated Kishan Raftar. Dillinger chopped the living hell out of Raftar, who messed up an armdrag. It was surprising to see Raftar, Matha and Miley, because last year most of the talents we saw were almost TV ready.

* Bayley defended the Women's title and beat Nia Jax in an NXT TakeOver London re-match. Eva Marie got beaten up by Bayley after the match. Again, Bayley was over. The barricades were rushed as soon as her music hit. During the match, Bayley grabbed the T-shirt and "10" sign that Dillinger left and totally stole his gimmick.

* Jason Jordan defeated Johnny Gargano with a half nelson suplex. Johnny Gargano was really over, as he's an Ohio guy. These two had a good match.

* Apollo Crews defeated Riddick Moss. This was the kind of match both guys had been having all weekend, which was good for the live crowd.

* Billie Kay defeated Alexa Bliss. Poor Alexa Bliss can't get a win in her own hometown. The crowd always popped for her when she came out, but she'd end up heeling them. I have no idea what the Billie Kay gimmick is, but her entrance theme is pretty cool.

* Chad Gable defeated Scott Dawson with a deadlift German suplex. Their partners were fanning them off with the signature towels before they locked up. A really good match, great chemistry.

* Asuka & Peyton Royce defeated Mandy Rose & Emma via the Asuka Lock. I don't think I saw Mandy Rose really mess up all weekend, which says a lot considering she was on a reality show a few months ago. She's learning quickly by the looks of it.

* Finn Balor and Sami Zayn defeated Samoa Joe and Baron Corbin. All of these guys felt like stars in this. This was an outstanding tag team match, which saw Balor get the pin after a Bloody Sunday on Corbin, following a Helluva kick from Sami Zayn. Much like yesterday, it was really impressive to see.

Q&As

* Mark Henry said he didn't know what he's doing at WrestleMania, and might jump someone to get involved. He said he wouldn't mind being in the Andre the Giant memorial battle royal, and tells a story about Andre picking him up after being pushed down at an event. He singles out Apollo Crews as an NXT talent he'd like to face and says he pushed for him. He called the Mae Young era the most fun in his career and said she was a good kisser, before singling out the Undertaker at WrestleMania 22 as his favorite opponent.

* Sara Del Rey, Matt Bloom and William Regal did a great Q&A. They said that nobody from last year's ASF tryouts was still with WWE, and the ones we see are abbreviated to give us an idea. Sara says that she and Matt are like a brother/sister team, while Regal says he coaches a lot of footwork and evaluates talent. Regal says there's no cutoff for age if someone has a supreme skill set, but for someone new, 30ish is the general range. Sara tells us that in her opinion, Bayley should be the next to go up to the WWE roster, and fans thank and clap for Sara's part in the Diva's revolution. They're asked about ZZ, and they say that he's working hard and getting better. William Regal says that he's hopeful that there will be a new season of Breaking Ground, and that he's very excited for Shinsuke Nakamura. Bloom says he's excited to see him and not get kicked this time. Sara closes by saying she'd love women's tag titles in NXT or the main roster.

Familiar Faces

- We mentioned yesterday that several wrestling personalities were around for the Arnold Classic, and today was no different. Former WCW talent Bill Kazmaier met with fans at the event.

Also, Hardcore legend Sabu was there signing and taking photos.

Other notes

- As was the case yesterday, several talents were signing autographs. While the lines didn't reach anywhere near the length of yesterday's they were still pretty long. Eva Marie was a big hit, and was very personable and friendly, taking pictures with people and adding them to her snapchat. Gable and Jordan are also incredibly friendly with individuals in the crowd.

- During yesterday's match with American Alpha, The Revival and made fun of them, calling them the "American Males."

- Tom Phillips is a pro and seems like he loves his job. Dasha Fuentes is a pretty good ring announcer, and they did a great job hosting today.

- Sunday's crowd was much smaller, much easier to navigate and the like. The place was buzzing about Saturday night's UFC.

- Regarding the tryouts, we saw the same names as yesterday there. If they do well, they're invited to a full tryout at the Performance Center.

- Tommaso Ciampa didn't wrestle, but did sign autographs. He wasn't using crutches, slings, or anything to indicate he was severely injured.

January 14, 2016

Triple H Congratulates The WWE NXT Year-End Award Winners With William Regal


The first-ever WWE NXT Year-End Awards were revealed on tonight's episode - Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady as Tag Team of the Year, Bayley as Female Competitor of the Year, Finn Balor as Male Competitor of the Year, Finn Balor as Overall Competitor of the Year, NXT "Takeover: Brooklyn" as Takeover of the Year and Sasha Banks vs. Bayley in Brooklyn as the Match of the Year.

January 5, 2016

WWE Website Picks Up On Rumors Of AJ Styles And Other NJPW Stars Coming In


WWE's website has picked up on the rumors of New Japan Pro Wrestling stars AJ Styles, Doc Gallows, Karl Anderson and Shinsuke Nakamura possibly leaving NJPW for WWE.

It's rare that WWE's website covers rumors like these and they are promising updates. Below is what they wrote:

Are AJ Styles, Shinsuke Nakamura, Karl Anderson and Doc Gallows coming to WWE?

The sports-entertainment world has been buzzing this week with speculation that WWE has signed four massive international Superstars.

Numerous media outlets reported Monday that AJ Styles, Shinsuke Nakamura, Karl Anderson and Luke "Doc" Gallows — most recently of New Japan Pro Wrestling — are in negotiations to compete under the WWE banner.

The office of WWE COO and EVP of Talent Relations, Triple H, declined to comment on the rumors for WWE.com.

Reports began circulating late Sunday that all four had reportedly given their notices to New Japan management. Fueling the rumors that Styles, Nakamura, Anderson and Gallows were WWE-bound was a series of tweets involving reigning NXT Champion Finn Bálor.

Until recently, Styles, Gallows and Anderson were all part of New Japan's Bullet Club faction, a stable formerly led by Bálor when he wrestled in Japan under the alias Prince Devitt. For months, Bálor has made it clear that he's still tight with the Bullet Club members, even tweeting photos of them wearing his "Bálor Club" T-Shirts. On Monday, Bálor stirred the pot again, tweeting an image of Anderson sporting trunks that bore Finn's "demon" design. Additionally, the official Twitter account for the Bullet Club tweeted the NXT Champion Monday, telling him to keep more Bálor Club shirts on hand in case they need them. That tweet has since been deleted.

 photo i_zps0ebed5ab.jpg
Oderint Dum Metuant: Let Them Hate As Long As They Fear