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* GutturalGrowler: Honma's characteristically hoarse voice is the result of crushed vocal chords.
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* PeekABangs: His hair is often draped over his right eye outside of matches.
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* AlwaysSecondBest: For all his achievements, including winning the 2008 G1 Climax, he's never been able to capture the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, despite a whopping ''8'' attempts to do so.
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* AlwaysSecondBest: For all his achievements, including winning the 2008 G1 Climax, Climax and winning the New Japan Cup a record 3 times, he's never been able to capture the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, despite Championship--despite a whopping ''8'' attempts to do so.
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* EverythingsBetterWithSamurai
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* EverythingsBetterWithSamuraiEverythingsBetterWithSamurai: 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.
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* KimonoIsTraditional: Often wrestles in a hakama.
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* KimonoIsTraditional: Often wrestles in a hakama.''hakama'', fitting his persona as a modern-day samurai.
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Dewicked trope
* ChairmanOfTheBrawl: Wields his red steel chair, and spitting sake in his opponent’s face.
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* WeaponOfChoice: His [[ChairmanOfTheBrawl red steel chair]] and spitting sake in his opponent’s face.
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* WeaponOfChoice: His mic stand.
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* WeaponOfChoice: ImprobableWeaponUser: His mic stand.
* ChairmanOfTheBrawl: Tends to use chairs as weapons, besides [[ChainPain his chain]].
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* WeaponOfChoice: [[ChainPain His chain]] and [[ChairmanOfTheBrawl chairs]].
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* IHaveTheHighGround: All three are very versatile high flyers.
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* IHaveTheHighGround: Known for his amazing acrobatic feats.
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* FinishingMove: [[IHaveTheHighGround Diving Senton]]
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* IHaveTheHighGround
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* IHaveTheHighGround: More often when he was a Junior-Heavyweight.
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* IHaveTheHighGround
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* IHaveTheHighGround: Lee is a very acrobatic luchador.
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* SimpleStaff: Has a staff, but he rarely uses it.
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* NiceHat: Sho with the backwards baseball cap.
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* NiceHat: His knit hat when he worked for the NWA.
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* BadassInANiceSuit: Togo's non-wrestling gear as Evil's sidekick in the Bullet Club consists of a stylish three-piece suit, a NiceHat and CoolShades.
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* BadassInANiceSuit: Togo's non-wrestling gear as Evil's sidekick in the Bullet Club consists of a stylish three-piece suit, a NiceHat fedora and CoolShades.
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Blinding Bangs is no longer a trope. Moving examples to other tropes when applicable.
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* [[BlindingBangs Blinding Bandana]]: Gedo usually sports one outside of his matches.
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!!! [[Wrestling/EvilWrestling Takaaki Watanabe/EVIL]] (渡辺 高章 Watanabe Takaaki, 2011-2013, 2015-)
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!!! [[Wrestling/EvilWrestling [[Wrestling/EvilWrestler Takaaki Watanabe/EVIL]] (渡辺 高章 Watanabe Takaaki, 2011-2013, 2015-)
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!!! [[Wrestling/KentaKobayashi KENTA]] (小林 健太, Kobayashi Kenta, 2019-)
!!! [[Wrestling/{{EVIL}} Takaaki Watanabe/EVIL]] (渡辺 高章 Watanabe Takaaki, 2011-2013, 2015-)
!!! [[Wrestling/{{EVIL}} Takaaki Watanabe/EVIL]] (渡辺 高章 Watanabe Takaaki, 2011-2013, 2015-)
to:
!!! [[Wrestling/KentaKobayashi KENTA]] Wrestling/{{KENTA|Kobayashi}} (小林 健太, Kobayashi Kenta, 2019-)
!!![[Wrestling/{{EVIL}} [[Wrestling/EvilWrestling Takaaki Watanabe/EVIL]] (渡辺 高章 Watanabe Takaaki, 2011-2013, 2015-)
!!!
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* YouGottaHaveBlueHair: A green mullet, specifically.
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* YouGottaHaveBlueHair: Since coming back to New Japan, Wato has dyed his hair a bright shade of blue to match his costume.
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Skunk Stripe is no longer a trope. Zero Context Examples and examples that do fit existing tropes will be deleted.
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* SkunkStripe: Has two blonde streaks in his hair.
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* SkunkStripe: Has black and white hair.
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* MixedAncestry: Born in Germany to and Irish man and a German woman and was raised and currently lives in America.
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Added DiffLines:
This page lists the current wrestlers and other talent who work for Wrestling/NewJapanProWrestling, organized by faction/PowerStable. For a list of wrestlers organized by debut, see [[Characters/NewJapanProWrestling here]].
----
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).
[[foldercontrol]]
[[folder: CHAOS]]
Created by Wrestling/ShinsukeNakamura and Wrestling/ToruYano 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, Wrestling/KazuchikaOkada. 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.
!!! Wrestling/KazuchikaOkada (岡田 和睦, Okada Kazuchika, 2007-2010, 2010-)
https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/eeb1892f0122fd0eaf6d6b798e97f837_geek_stuff_kazuchika_okada.jpg
!!! Hirooki Goto (後藤洋央紀, Gotō Hirooki, 2003-2005, 2007-)
https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/hirooki_goto.png
* AlwaysSecondBest: For all his achievements, including winning the 2008 G1 Climax, he's never been able to capture the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, despite a whopping ''8'' attempts to do so.
* BashBrothers: With his childhood friend Shibata.
* CoolMask: As CTU-H
* EverythingsBetterWithSamurai
* FinishingMove: Shouten, Shouten Kai and Goto Shiki
* HeterosexualLifePartners: 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).
* [[IKnowKarate I Know Aikido]]: He trains in the Yoshinkan dojo.
* KimonoIsTraditional: Often wrestles in a hakama.
* LightningBruiser: Is surprinsigly strong for a wrestler his size.
* OpposingSportsTeam: 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.
* PowerStable: Control Terrorism Unit (CTU), RISE and Chaos.
* RedBaron: "Aramusha" ("Daredevil"), "Fukkoku Strong-Style" ("New Iteration Strong-Style"), "Brave Warrior" and "Wild Samurai".
* ReversePsychology: Pulled this on Wrestling/KotaIbushi 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.
* SignatureMove: The ushigoroshi, a fireman's carry neckbreaker that Goto himself was the first to popularize.
* WrestlingDoesntPay: A modern day wrestling {{Samurai}}.
!!! Wrestling/TomohiroIshii (石井 智宏, Ishii Tomohiro, 2004, 2005, 2006-)
https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ishii.jpg
!!! Wrestling/ToruYano (矢野 通, Yano Tōru, 2001-)
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/toru_yano.png]]
* BoisterousBruiser
* CombatPragmatist: 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.
* DrunkenMaster: Used to carry a bottle of sake to the ring.
* FinishingMove: Oni Koroshi, Kagamiwari and various pinfalls.
* GarbageWrestler
* GenreSavvy: He gradually learns that leaving himself open during his Wrestling/RobVanDam 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.
* LargeHam: Maybe their largest.
* NotSoHarmless: Occasionally breaks out of his wacky comedy style and shows his legitimate grappling background.
* PowerStable: G.B.H. and Chaos
* ProductPlacement: 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 [[{{Corpsing}} crack up behind him]])
* PunctuatedForEmphasis: 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 Wrestling/RobVanDam does.
* RedBaron: "YTR"
* TraumaticHaircut: Given one by [[Wrestling/YoshihiroTajiri Tajiri]] after losing a hair vs hair match.
* WeaponOfChoice: His [[ChairmanOfTheBrawl red steel chair]] and spitting sake in his opponent’s face.
!!! YOSHI-HASHI (吉橋 伸雄, Yoshihashi Nobuo, 2008-2010, 2012-)
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/yoshi_hashi.png]]
* BullyingADragon: He felt disrespected by Shibata, one of New Japan’s most brutal wrestlers and challenged him to a match. [[SquashMatch 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.
* PowerStable: Chaos
* RedBaron: "Loose Explosion" (at least that's what it said on his pants), and "Headhunter".
* ShoutOut: His costume and staff pay homage to the Monkey King from ‘’Literature/JourneyToTheWest’’.
* SimpleStaff: Has a staff, but he rarely uses it.
!!! Rocky Romero[=/=]Black Tiger IV (John R. Rivera, 2002, 2003, 2004-2006, 2008-)
* AlliterativeName
* ColorCharacter: As Black Tiger
* CombatPragmatist: Claims to be the King of Sneaky Style.
* CoolMask: As Black Tiger
* DoItYourselfThemeTune: Rocky provided the music for and does the lead vocals for Forever Hooligans, Roppongi Vice and Roppongi 3K.
* EyepatchOfPower: Wears one outside of matches.
* FinishingMove: Diablo Armbar, Foreign Devil and Kick to the Head.
* ForeignWrestlingHeel: For a very long time as himself before turning Face along with the rest of Chaos.
* FurAndLoathing: Wore a fur coat as a member of Forever Hooligans and Roppongi Vice.
* LegacyCharacter: Was the fourth Black Tiger after César Cuauhtémoc González (aka Silver King).
* PowerStable: Chaos
* RedBaron: "Mr. Forever", "Azúcar", and "The King of Sneaky Style".
* SlasherSmile: 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-)
* BadassTeacher: Rocky's role on the team is of a mentor and manager to Sho and Yoh.
* BashBrothers: 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.
* CombatPragmatist: Rocky claims to be the King of Sneaky Style and he's trying to apart his wisdom to Sho and Yoh.
* DoItYourselfThemeTune: Like his other themes, Rocky made and does the lead vocals for R3K's theme.
* FinishingMove: 3K (Sho & Yoh), Shock Arrow (Sho), Five Star Clutch (Yoh), Diablo Armbar (Rocky).
* IHaveTheHighGround: All three are very versatile high flyers.
* NiceHat: Sho with the backwards baseball cap.
* PowerStable: Chaos
* RedBaron: "Azúcar" for Rocky, "High Voltage" for Sho and "High and Mighty" for Yoh.
* RedOniBlueOni: Yoh is red, showing a more energetic and charismatic side of himself. Sho is blue, choosing to be stoic and focused.
!!! Robbie Eagles (2018-)
* BadassesWearBandanas: Wears a headband on his head and a bandana around his neck.
* FinishingMove: Ron Miller Special
* GogglesDoNothing: Wears a purely cosmetic, but awesome looking sniper scope eyepiece as part of his entrance gear.
* LandDownUnder: Came from New South Wales.
* RedBaron: "The Sniper of the Skies".
* PowerStable: First Bullet Club, then Chaos.
* TokenGoodTeammate: To the Jay White-led era of Bullet Club. Ultimately resulted in him being a DefectorFromDecadence and jumping ship to CHAOS.
!!! Wrestling/ShinsukeNakamura (中邑 真輔, Nakamura Shinsuke, 2002-2006, 2006-2016)
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Bullet Club]]
THE ForeignWrestlingHeel stable in New Japan, created by [[Wrestling/FergalDevitt Prince Devitt]] in 2013, with other former leaders including third founding member Wrestling/KarlAnderson, Wrestling/AJStyles, and Wrestling/KennyOmega. Their style is primarily influenced by how {{Heel}}s 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 Wrestling/JayWhite.
!!! Wrestling/JayWhite (2015-)
!!! [[Wrestling/KentaKobayashi KENTA]] (小林 健太, Kobayashi Kenta, 2019-)
!!! [[Wrestling/{{EVIL}} 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.
* BeardOfEvil: Yes, the beard literally belongs to EVIL.
* CameBackWrong: 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..."
* DarkHorseVictory: 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.
* FinishingMove: Evil (STO)
* LargeHam
* MaybeMagicMaybeMundane: Currently the closest thing to a supernatural character NJPW has on their roster.
* ObviouslyEvil: Gee, I wonder if the name gave it away.
* PowerStable: First Los Ingobernables de Japón, then Bullet Club.
* RedBaron: “King of Darkness”
* SinisterScythe: His entrance has him carrying one to the ring.
* SkunkStripe: Has two blonde streaks in his hair.
!!! [[Wrestling/BadLuckFale King Fale/Bad Luck Fale]] (Fale Simitaitoko, 2010-2012, 2013-)
!!! [[Wrestling/GuerrillasOfDestiny Tama Tonga]] (Alipate Leone, 2010-2012, 2013-)
!!! [[Wrestling/GuerrillasOfDestiny Tanga Loa]] (Tevita Fifita, 2016-)
!!! El Phantasmo (Riley Vigier, 2019-)
* ArrogantKungFuGuy: His cheating, me-first mentality and SmugSnake 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.
* CoolShades: 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.
* FinishingMove: CRII ([=CR2=])
* KickTheDog: Likes to take merch from other factions right off of fans and throw it as many rows back as he can.
* PowerStable: Wrestling/BulletClub.
* RedBaron: "Headbanger" and "ELP"
!!! Taiji Ishimori (石森 太二 Ishimori Taiji, 2004-2005, 2010, 2016, 2018-)
* CoolMask[=/=]MalevolentMaskedMen: 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.
* FinishingMove: Bloody Cross
* IHaveTheHighGround: Known for his amazing acrobatic feats.
* PintsizedPowerhouse: At 5'4, Ishimori's attacks are absolutely devastating.
* PsychoticSmirk: The first thing he displays to his opponents after he takes off his mask.
* RedBaron: "Bone Solder" as of his membership in the Bullet Club.
!!! Leo Tonga/Hikuleo (Tautuiaki Koloamatangi, 2016-)
* BashBrothers: Literally, with Tanga Loa and Tama Tonga.
* BigLittleBrother: He's both taller and bigger than his older brothers.
* FinishingMove: Gunslinger.
* TheGiant: Just a little under 7 feet tall.
* PowerStable: Wrestling/BulletClub.
* RedBaron: "Young Gun" and "Tongan Giant".
* WrestlingFamily: The son of [[Wrestling/{{Meng}} Haku/Meng]], cousin of Bad Luck Fale and brother of Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa.
!!! Chase Owens (Chase Owens, 2014-)
* FinishingMove: Package Piledriver.
* GreenEyedMonster: 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.
* TheMole: In a video on the [=YouTube=] channel ''What Culture'' Chase and Tama Tonga claimed Chase was this in the BC Elite for the BC [=OG=]s all along. Whether this is in New Japan canon and/or not just a [[BlatantLies blatant lie]] by the [=OG=]s isn't made clear.
* NiceHat: His knit hat when he worked for the NWA.
* PowerStable: Bullet Club.
* TheQuietOne: 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.
* RedBaron: "The Crown Jewel".
!!! Yujiro Takahashi (高橋 裕二郎, Takahashi Yujiro, 2004-2009, 2009-)
* CaneFu: His pimp cane as a member of the Bullet Club.
* ChronicBackstabbingDisorder: He's turned on Naito, Chaos, and the Elite.
* CoolShades: Always has a pair of sunglasses for his entrance after his heel turn.
* FinishingMove: Bukko Nuki German, Suisha Otoshi, Tokyo Pimps, Pimp Juice, Miami Shine and Intercollege Slam.
* KavorkaMan: Not the best looking wrestler yet hangs out with beautiful women like Mao and Pieter.
* PowerStable: Chaos and Bullet Club
* RedBaron: "Mr. R Rated" during his ladies man gimmick. This was changed to the even less subtle "The Tokyo Pimps".
* SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute: As a ladies man, he's one of Wrestling/ValVenis and as a pimp, he's one of [[Wrestling/CharlesWright the Godfather]]).
* TheWorfEffect: 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-)
* BashBrothers
* [[BlindingBangs Blinding Bandana]]: Gedo usually sports one outside of his matches.
* ChronicBackstabbingDisorder: 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.
* OlderSidekick: 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.
* PowerStable: Team 2000, CTU, G.B.H., Chaos and the Bullet Club
* RedBaron: English commentator, Kevin Kelly called Jado the "Master Heater" after he joined the Bullet Club and now the name is canon.
* ShoutOut: Jado follows his knife edge chops with Woo! and [[FaceFault flops on his face after takings some hits]]. Both of these actions are paying homage to Wrestling/RicFlair.
!!! Dick Togo (佐藤 茂樹, Sato Shigeki, 1996-1997, 2002-2011, 2020-)
* BadassInANiceSuit: Togo's non-wrestling gear as Evil's sidekick in the Bullet Club consists of a stylish three-piece suit, a NiceHat and CoolShades.
* BashBrothers: With Taka Michinoku
* FinishingMove: [[IHaveTheHighGround Diving Senton]]
* OlderSidekick: Serves as one to Evil in the Bullet Club.
* PowerStable: Wrestling/BulletClub
* RedBaron: "The Spoiler" after joining Bullet Club.
* RazorFloss: As "The Spoiler", Togo chokes out wrestlers with a garrote wire.
* RingOldies: Still wrestling in his 50s.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Los Ingoberables De Japon]]
An offshoot of the ''Los Ingobernables'' group from CMLL created by Wrestling/TetsuyaNaito, who joined it during his excursion to Mexico. Since returning in 2015 he has drafted EVIL, Bushi, Sanada, Wrestling/HiromuTakahashi, 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.
!!! Wrestling/TetsuyaNaito (内藤 哲也, Naitō Tetsuya, 2005-2009, 2009-)
!!! SANADA (真田 聖也, Sanada Seiya, 2016-)
* BatterUp: Carries a baseball bat on his way to the ring.
* DarkIsEvil: Wears dark outfits and attire.
* DelinquentHair: From his debut until mid-2019, he would spike his hair into an impossibly high mohawk.
* DressedToPlunder: Started going for a pirate look in the middle of 2019.
* FinishingMove: The Dragon Sleeper, which he calls Skull End, and The Moonsault.
* PowerStable: Debuted by attacking Okada as the new member of Los Ingobernables.
* RedBaron: "Cold Skull"
* TheVoiceless: 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.
* ThoseTwoGuys: He and EVIL are LIJ's go-to heavyweight tag team.
* UnknownRival: SANADA considers Okada his greatest rival and constantly targets him, but Okada doesn't exactly reciprocate that energy.
* WhiteMaskOfDoom: Wears one in the shape of a skull.
!!! Shingo Takagi (鷹木信悟, Takagi Shingo 2018-)
* NormalFishInATinyPond: During his stint as a junior heavyweight, his only singles loss was to Wrestling/WillOspreay 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.
* RedBaron: "The Dragon"
* TheSixthRanger: Joined Los Ingobernables de Japon in 2018, after Hiromu Takahashi got hurt and left the group with only one active junior heavyweight.
* YouGottaHaveBlueHair: A green mullet, specifically.
!!! Wrestling/HiromuTakahashi/Kamaitachi ((高橋 広夢 Takahashi Hiromu, 2010-2013, 2016-)
!!! BUSHI (清水 哲也, Shimizu Tetsuya, 2012-)
* CoolMask: Makes it a habit of wearing two, one over the other.
* FinishingMove: Firebird Splash, MX, Sankakutobi-Tornillo
* IHaveTheHighGround
* MaskedLuchador
* PowerStable: Los Ingobernables de Japón.
* RedBaron: Currently "Shikkoku no Death Mask" ("Jet Black Death Mask"), formerly “Flying Bushido”
* SuperSpit: Began spitting poison mist as a member of Los Ingobernables.
* WearingAFlagOnYourHead: Wore the three colors that make up the Mexican flag on his mask as a face.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Suzuki-gun]]
Also known as the Suzuki Army, it is lead by their namesake Wrestling/MinoruSuzuki who previously ousted former leader Wrestling/SatoshiKojima (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, Wrestling/TAKAMichinoku, Yoshinobu Kanemaru and Wrestling/ZackSabreJr.
!!! Wrestling/MinoruSuzuki (鈴木 実, Suzuki Minoru, 1988-1989, 2003-2005, 2006-2007, 2010-)
!!! Wrestling/ZackSabreJr (Lucas Eatwell, 2017-)
!!! Taichi Ishikari/Taichi (牧 太一郎, Maki Taichiro, 2006, 2007, 2009 2010-)
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/taichi.png]]
* BashBrothers: Milano Collection A.T. and then Taka Michinoku.
* BattleStrip: One of his trademark taunts is taking off his pants in the middle of the ring. Thankfully, there are wrestling trunks underneath.
* CombatPragmatist: As a member of Suzuki-gun, Taichi is constantly cheating even if it's to his determent.
* CoolMask: As part of his entrance entire.
* FinishingMove: Black Mephisto and Taichi Clutch.
* FirstNameBasis: Now just known by his first name.
* IHaveTheHighGround: More often when he was a Junior-Heavyweight.
* NonIndicativeName: Taichi is short for Taichiro, but those who wouldn't know that would wonder why he's named after a martial art/exercise.
* RedBaron: "Ai o Suteta Seitei" ("The Holy Emperor who Abandoned Love")
* PeekABangs: His hair is often draped over his right eye outside of matches.
* PowerStable: Suzuki-gun.
* ThePrankster: He and Taka would be notorious for their tricks as a Junior tag team.
* SkunkStripe: Has black and white hair.
* WeaponOfChoice: His mic stand.
* WrestlingDoesntPay: A wrestling (lip synching) pop singer/[[AristocratsAreEvil nobleman]].
!!! Kyosuke Mikami/El Desperado (三上 恭佑, Mikami Kyōsuke, 2011-2012, 2014)
* ButNotTooForeign: 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.
* CoolMask: As El Desperado.
* IHaveTheHighGround
* MaskedLuchador: As El Desperado.
* PartsUnknown: As El Desperado.
* PowerStable: Suzuki-gun.
!!! Yoshinobu Kanemaru (金丸義信, Kanemaru Yoshinobu, 2017-)
* CardCarryingVillain: They don't call him "Heel Master" for nothing.
* FinishingMove: Deep Impact, Touch Out.
* PowerStable: Suzuki-gun.
* RedBaron: "Heel Master".
* SuperSpit: 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-)
* AscendedExtra: 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.
* CoolMask: Similar to the Franchise/MortalKombat ninjas.
* FinishingMove: Suplex de la Luna.
* PowerStable: Suzuki-gun.
* RedBaron: "Japonés del Mal" ("Bad Japanese"), which was the name of his age team with Daisuke Hanaoka in [[Wrestling/{{Toryumon}} Toryumon Mexico]].
!!! Wrestling/TAKAMichinoku (吉田 貴男, Yoshida Takao 1994, 1996-1997 2002, 2004, 2006, 2007-)
[[/folder]]
[[folder: 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.
!!! Wrestling/WillOspreay (William Ospreay, 2016-)
!!! Tomoyuki Oka/Great-O-Khan (岡 倫之, Oka Tomoyuki, 2016-2018, 2019, 2020-)
* BaldOfEvil: 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.
* ChineseVampire: His entrance gear and mannerisms before matches are reminiscent of the jiangshi or hopping vampire.
* FinishingMove: [[VillainousFaceHold The Eliminator]]
* IKnowKarate: Before his New Japan career, O-Khan competed in tournaments for amateur wrestling, judo, karate, sambo, kickboxing, pankration, jiu-jitsu and mixed-martial arts.
* PowerStable: One of the three founding members of Wrestling/TheUnitedEmpire with Will Ospreay and Bea Priestly.
* RedBaron: “The Dominator”
* ScreamingWarrior: Shrieks like a banshee as he attacks his opponent.
* SpellMyNameWithAnS: 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.
* AHeroToHisHometown: 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.
* FinishingMove: Tour of the Islands, Gachimuchi-sault (Standing Moonsault)
* LeotardOfPower: Wears customized singlets from SPLX.
* LightningBruiser: Built like a tank, but scarily agile and capable of some impressive high-flying moves.
* PowerStable: Wrestling/TheUnitedEmpire.
* RedBaron: Currently "The Hatchet", formerly “Mr. Athletic”.
* WrestlingMonster: A heroic example until he joined the United Empire.
!!! Henare/Toa Henare/Aaron Henare (Aaron Henry, 2016-)
* FinishingMove: First the TOA Bottom (Rock Bottom) and the Street of Rage (Death Valley Driver)
* CoolShades: Part of his updated look as a member of the United Empire.
* HotBlooded: 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.
* PowerStable: Wrestling/TheUnitedEmpire.
* RedBaron: "The Ultimate Weapon"
* [[WildSamoan Wild Maori]]: Had aspects of this as a Young Lion, rapped it up when he graduated and now has dialed it back a bit.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: 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-)
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ryusuke_taguchi.png]]
* AfroAsskicker: When he initially became the Funky Weapon.
* DiscoDan: Was once the stuck in the 70s/80s variety.
* FinishingMove: Dondon, Dondon The End, Enban Chuudoku, Mirror Magic Go!, Milano-saku Dodon's Throne, Shika Koroshi, Uradodon
* HappyDance: After he wins his matches in his Disco Dan days.
* LargeHam: "Oh yeah!" even without a mic in hand he can make himself heard on the house mics.
* PowerStable: Wrestling/TaguchiJapan
* RedBaron: "Funky Weapon", "Master Of Dropkicks" (Master Of Dropkick is also the name of his entrance theme)
* ShakingTheRump: A taunt of his during his 80s stint.
* ShoutOut: Uses [[Wrestling/EddieGuerrero the three amigos and a frog splash]]...okay, a 180 frog splash but the intent is obvious.
* TheatricsOfPain: 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.
!!! Wrestling/HiroshiTanahashi (棚橋 弘至, Tanahashi Hiroshi, 1999-)
!!! Wrestling/KotaIbushi (飯伏幸太, Ibushi Kota, 2009-)
!!! Wrestling/JonMoxley (Jonathan Good, 2019-)
!!! Juice Robinson (Joseph Robinson, 2015-)
* AllAmericanFace: Picked up elements of this as he started chasing the U.S. title, and ended up becoming the first American to hold the belt.
* ArchEnemy: To Jay White, who he's been interlocked with in one form or another since they were Young Lions.
* BunnyEarsLawyer: 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''.
* BroughtDownToNormal: 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.
* DreadlockWarrior: 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.
* FinishingMove: He borrows Wrestling/{{Christian}}'s Killswitch, calling it "Pulp Friction".
* RedBaron: "The Flamboyant"
* SignificantHaircut: Shockingly cut his iconic dreadlocks off before his U.S. championship defence against the debuting Wrestling/JonMoxley to show how dead seriously he was taking his opponent.
* SirSwearsalot: Does he ever!
* TheStoner: 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”.
* FinishingMove: Prima Nocta (Just called the Stunner [[DubNameChange 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.
* MixedAncestry: Born in Germany to and Irish man and a German woman and was raised and currently lives in America.
* WrestlingFamily: An extensive family tree in the business. No not only is his dad [[OnlyOneName Finlay]] aka Fit Finlay, his siblings, grandfather and great grandfathers were also professional wrestlers and his aunt and great uncle were referees.
* RedBaron: "Celtic Prince"
!!! Wrestling/YujiNagata (永田 裕志, Nagata Yuji, 1992-1997, 1998-)
!!! Wrestling/SatoshiKojima (小島 聡, Kojima Satoshi, 1991-2002, 2010-)
!!! Wrestling/HiroyoshiTenzan (山本 広吉, Yamamoto Hiroyoshi, 1991-1993, 1995-)
!!! Dragon Lee/Ryu Lee (2016-)
* ArchEnemy[=/=]TheRival: Himoru Takahashi
* FinishingMove: Desnucadora, Dragon Driver
* IHaveTheHighGround: Lee is a very acrobatic luchador.
* MaskedLuchador: A masked star formerly of CMLL.
* ShoutOut: It’s hard not to think that the Dragon Lee moniker is an obvious reference to Creator/BruceLee.
* WrestlingFamily: His father is La Bestia del Ring and his brothers are Rush and the current Místico (who was [[LegacyCharacter also formerly Dragon Lee]]).
!!! Togi Makabe (真壁 伸也, Makabe Shin'ya, 1997-)
* BashBrothers: With Yano and Honma
* ChainedByFashion: Wears a long chain in vignettes.
* {{Expy}}: His character and wrestling style is influenced by Wrestling/BruiserBrody.
* FinishingMove: King Kong Kneedrop and Lariat.
* FlippingTheBird: Often lets two flip at once.
* GarbageWrestler: What, you thought he would never use that chain?
* NoSell: While he won't sandbag much, he's not known for really reacting or displaying a lasting effect of moves.
* PowerStable: G.B.H.
* RedBaron: "Unchained Gorilla", "Boso King Kong" ("The Rampaging King Kong"), "Ikari no Hoko" ("Howl of Rage").
* SirSwearsalot: Fond of dropping f-bombs on his opponents.
* WeaponOfChoice: [[ChainPain His chain]] and [[ChairmanOfTheBrawl chairs]].
!!! Tomoaki Honma (本間朋晃, Honma Tomoaki, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007-)
* BashBrothers: With Makabe
* CoolMask: 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.
* FinishingMove: Turmeric Clutch, Kokeshi and Pillar Crash.
* GutturalGrowler: Honma's characteristically hoarse voice is the result of crushed vocal chords.
* {{Jobber}}: The only time he seems to wins is against Young Lions or as part of a tag team.
* PowerStable: Makai Club and G.B.H.
* RickyMorton: Usually in tag teams with Makabe.
* TookALevelInBadass: Beat [[Wrestling/BulletClub Karl Anderson and Doc Gallows]] with Makabe to win the IWGP Tag Team Championship in Wrestle Kingdom 2016.
* UseYourHead: 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-).
* AnimalMotifs: Lions perhaps?
* BattleStrip: At ''NJPW Fight For Existence II" when called out by Low Ki, though it was quickly broken up before anything could really happen.
* CoolMask: Comes with the Tiger Mask gimmick.
* FinishingMove: Tiger Suplex, Avalanche Double Underhook Suplex and other variants.
* LegacyCharacter: The first person to be Tiger Mask since Koji Kanemoto was unmasked in 1995.
* MaskedLuchador: Specifically, the entire Tiger Mask line owe their existence to Fray Tormenta.
* TheComplainerIsAlwaysWrong: 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-)
* FinishingMove: RPP
* RedBaron: “Road to the [=GrandMaster=]”
* WrestlingDoesntPay: A wrestling martial arts master.
* YouGottaHaveBlueHair: Since coming back to New Japan, Wato has dyed his hair a bright shade of blue to match his costume.
!!! Wrestling/KatsuyoriShibata (柴田勝頼, Shibata Katsuyori, 1999-2004, 2006, 2012-)
[[/folder]]
[[folder: The Young Lions]]
Lists the various NJPW wrestlers who are currently training as Young Lions or are on excursion.
!!! General Young Lion Tropes
* BoringButPractical: 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.
* ImportantHaircut: 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.
* FinishingMove: The Boston Crab or a variation of it.
* SpiritedCompetitor: Ready for any action they can get to the point of sometimes becoming surprisingly brutal in-ring.
* TrainingFromHell: '''Part''' of their training involves doing 1,000 squats six days a week.
* LimitedWardrobe: 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-)
* FirstDayFromHell: 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-)
* OnlyKnownByInitials: DKC stands for “Dylan Kyle Cox”, his full wrestler name on the indies. It served as his RedBaron on NJPW Strong before becoming a Young Lion.
!!! Kevin Knight (Kevin Knight, 2020-)
!!! Ren Narita (成田蓮, Narita Ren, 2017-)
[[/folder]]
----
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).
[[foldercontrol]]
[[folder: CHAOS]]
Created by Wrestling/ShinsukeNakamura and Wrestling/ToruYano 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, Wrestling/KazuchikaOkada. 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.
!!! Wrestling/KazuchikaOkada (岡田 和睦, Okada Kazuchika, 2007-2010, 2010-)
https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/eeb1892f0122fd0eaf6d6b798e97f837_geek_stuff_kazuchika_okada.jpg
!!! Hirooki Goto (後藤洋央紀, Gotō Hirooki, 2003-2005, 2007-)
https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/hirooki_goto.png
* AlwaysSecondBest: For all his achievements, including winning the 2008 G1 Climax, he's never been able to capture the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, despite a whopping ''8'' attempts to do so.
* BashBrothers: With his childhood friend Shibata.
* CoolMask: As CTU-H
* EverythingsBetterWithSamurai
* FinishingMove: Shouten, Shouten Kai and Goto Shiki
* HeterosexualLifePartners: 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).
* [[IKnowKarate I Know Aikido]]: He trains in the Yoshinkan dojo.
* KimonoIsTraditional: Often wrestles in a hakama.
* LightningBruiser: Is surprinsigly strong for a wrestler his size.
* OpposingSportsTeam: 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.
* PowerStable: Control Terrorism Unit (CTU), RISE and Chaos.
* RedBaron: "Aramusha" ("Daredevil"), "Fukkoku Strong-Style" ("New Iteration Strong-Style"), "Brave Warrior" and "Wild Samurai".
* ReversePsychology: Pulled this on Wrestling/KotaIbushi 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.
* SignatureMove: The ushigoroshi, a fireman's carry neckbreaker that Goto himself was the first to popularize.
* WrestlingDoesntPay: A modern day wrestling {{Samurai}}.
!!! Wrestling/TomohiroIshii (石井 智宏, Ishii Tomohiro, 2004, 2005, 2006-)
https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ishii.jpg
!!! Wrestling/ToruYano (矢野 通, Yano Tōru, 2001-)
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/toru_yano.png]]
* BoisterousBruiser
* CombatPragmatist: 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.
* DrunkenMaster: Used to carry a bottle of sake to the ring.
* FinishingMove: Oni Koroshi, Kagamiwari and various pinfalls.
* GarbageWrestler
* GenreSavvy: He gradually learns that leaving himself open during his Wrestling/RobVanDam 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.
* LargeHam: Maybe their largest.
* NotSoHarmless: Occasionally breaks out of his wacky comedy style and shows his legitimate grappling background.
* PowerStable: G.B.H. and Chaos
* ProductPlacement: 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 [[{{Corpsing}} crack up behind him]])
* PunctuatedForEmphasis: 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 Wrestling/RobVanDam does.
* RedBaron: "YTR"
* TraumaticHaircut: Given one by [[Wrestling/YoshihiroTajiri Tajiri]] after losing a hair vs hair match.
* WeaponOfChoice: His [[ChairmanOfTheBrawl red steel chair]] and spitting sake in his opponent’s face.
!!! YOSHI-HASHI (吉橋 伸雄, Yoshihashi Nobuo, 2008-2010, 2012-)
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/yoshi_hashi.png]]
* BullyingADragon: He felt disrespected by Shibata, one of New Japan’s most brutal wrestlers and challenged him to a match. [[SquashMatch 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.
* PowerStable: Chaos
* RedBaron: "Loose Explosion" (at least that's what it said on his pants), and "Headhunter".
* ShoutOut: His costume and staff pay homage to the Monkey King from ‘’Literature/JourneyToTheWest’’.
* SimpleStaff: Has a staff, but he rarely uses it.
!!! Rocky Romero[=/=]Black Tiger IV (John R. Rivera, 2002, 2003, 2004-2006, 2008-)
* AlliterativeName
* ColorCharacter: As Black Tiger
* CombatPragmatist: Claims to be the King of Sneaky Style.
* CoolMask: As Black Tiger
* DoItYourselfThemeTune: Rocky provided the music for and does the lead vocals for Forever Hooligans, Roppongi Vice and Roppongi 3K.
* EyepatchOfPower: Wears one outside of matches.
* FinishingMove: Diablo Armbar, Foreign Devil and Kick to the Head.
* ForeignWrestlingHeel: For a very long time as himself before turning Face along with the rest of Chaos.
* FurAndLoathing: Wore a fur coat as a member of Forever Hooligans and Roppongi Vice.
* LegacyCharacter: Was the fourth Black Tiger after César Cuauhtémoc González (aka Silver King).
* PowerStable: Chaos
* RedBaron: "Mr. Forever", "Azúcar", and "The King of Sneaky Style".
* SlasherSmile: 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-)
* BadassTeacher: Rocky's role on the team is of a mentor and manager to Sho and Yoh.
* BashBrothers: 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.
* CombatPragmatist: Rocky claims to be the King of Sneaky Style and he's trying to apart his wisdom to Sho and Yoh.
* DoItYourselfThemeTune: Like his other themes, Rocky made and does the lead vocals for R3K's theme.
* FinishingMove: 3K (Sho & Yoh), Shock Arrow (Sho), Five Star Clutch (Yoh), Diablo Armbar (Rocky).
* IHaveTheHighGround: All three are very versatile high flyers.
* NiceHat: Sho with the backwards baseball cap.
* PowerStable: Chaos
* RedBaron: "Azúcar" for Rocky, "High Voltage" for Sho and "High and Mighty" for Yoh.
* RedOniBlueOni: Yoh is red, showing a more energetic and charismatic side of himself. Sho is blue, choosing to be stoic and focused.
!!! Robbie Eagles (2018-)
* BadassesWearBandanas: Wears a headband on his head and a bandana around his neck.
* FinishingMove: Ron Miller Special
* GogglesDoNothing: Wears a purely cosmetic, but awesome looking sniper scope eyepiece as part of his entrance gear.
* LandDownUnder: Came from New South Wales.
* RedBaron: "The Sniper of the Skies".
* PowerStable: First Bullet Club, then Chaos.
* TokenGoodTeammate: To the Jay White-led era of Bullet Club. Ultimately resulted in him being a DefectorFromDecadence and jumping ship to CHAOS.
!!! Wrestling/ShinsukeNakamura (中邑 真輔, Nakamura Shinsuke, 2002-2006, 2006-2016)
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Bullet Club]]
THE ForeignWrestlingHeel stable in New Japan, created by [[Wrestling/FergalDevitt Prince Devitt]] in 2013, with other former leaders including third founding member Wrestling/KarlAnderson, Wrestling/AJStyles, and Wrestling/KennyOmega. Their style is primarily influenced by how {{Heel}}s 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 Wrestling/JayWhite.
!!! Wrestling/JayWhite (2015-)
!!! [[Wrestling/KentaKobayashi KENTA]] (小林 健太, Kobayashi Kenta, 2019-)
!!! [[Wrestling/{{EVIL}} 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.
* BeardOfEvil: Yes, the beard literally belongs to EVIL.
* CameBackWrong: 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..."
* DarkHorseVictory: 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.
* FinishingMove: Evil (STO)
* LargeHam
* MaybeMagicMaybeMundane: Currently the closest thing to a supernatural character NJPW has on their roster.
* ObviouslyEvil: Gee, I wonder if the name gave it away.
* PowerStable: First Los Ingobernables de Japón, then Bullet Club.
* RedBaron: “King of Darkness”
* SinisterScythe: His entrance has him carrying one to the ring.
* SkunkStripe: Has two blonde streaks in his hair.
!!! [[Wrestling/BadLuckFale King Fale/Bad Luck Fale]] (Fale Simitaitoko, 2010-2012, 2013-)
!!! [[Wrestling/GuerrillasOfDestiny Tama Tonga]] (Alipate Leone, 2010-2012, 2013-)
!!! [[Wrestling/GuerrillasOfDestiny Tanga Loa]] (Tevita Fifita, 2016-)
!!! El Phantasmo (Riley Vigier, 2019-)
* ArrogantKungFuGuy: His cheating, me-first mentality and SmugSnake 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.
* CoolShades: 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.
* FinishingMove: CRII ([=CR2=])
* KickTheDog: Likes to take merch from other factions right off of fans and throw it as many rows back as he can.
* PowerStable: Wrestling/BulletClub.
* RedBaron: "Headbanger" and "ELP"
!!! Taiji Ishimori (石森 太二 Ishimori Taiji, 2004-2005, 2010, 2016, 2018-)
* CoolMask[=/=]MalevolentMaskedMen: 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.
* FinishingMove: Bloody Cross
* IHaveTheHighGround: Known for his amazing acrobatic feats.
* PintsizedPowerhouse: At 5'4, Ishimori's attacks are absolutely devastating.
* PsychoticSmirk: The first thing he displays to his opponents after he takes off his mask.
* RedBaron: "Bone Solder" as of his membership in the Bullet Club.
!!! Leo Tonga/Hikuleo (Tautuiaki Koloamatangi, 2016-)
* BashBrothers: Literally, with Tanga Loa and Tama Tonga.
* BigLittleBrother: He's both taller and bigger than his older brothers.
* FinishingMove: Gunslinger.
* TheGiant: Just a little under 7 feet tall.
* PowerStable: Wrestling/BulletClub.
* RedBaron: "Young Gun" and "Tongan Giant".
* WrestlingFamily: The son of [[Wrestling/{{Meng}} Haku/Meng]], cousin of Bad Luck Fale and brother of Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa.
!!! Chase Owens (Chase Owens, 2014-)
* FinishingMove: Package Piledriver.
* GreenEyedMonster: 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.
* TheMole: In a video on the [=YouTube=] channel ''What Culture'' Chase and Tama Tonga claimed Chase was this in the BC Elite for the BC [=OG=]s all along. Whether this is in New Japan canon and/or not just a [[BlatantLies blatant lie]] by the [=OG=]s isn't made clear.
* NiceHat: His knit hat when he worked for the NWA.
* PowerStable: Bullet Club.
* TheQuietOne: 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.
* RedBaron: "The Crown Jewel".
!!! Yujiro Takahashi (高橋 裕二郎, Takahashi Yujiro, 2004-2009, 2009-)
* CaneFu: His pimp cane as a member of the Bullet Club.
* ChronicBackstabbingDisorder: He's turned on Naito, Chaos, and the Elite.
* CoolShades: Always has a pair of sunglasses for his entrance after his heel turn.
* FinishingMove: Bukko Nuki German, Suisha Otoshi, Tokyo Pimps, Pimp Juice, Miami Shine and Intercollege Slam.
* KavorkaMan: Not the best looking wrestler yet hangs out with beautiful women like Mao and Pieter.
* PowerStable: Chaos and Bullet Club
* RedBaron: "Mr. R Rated" during his ladies man gimmick. This was changed to the even less subtle "The Tokyo Pimps".
* SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute: As a ladies man, he's one of Wrestling/ValVenis and as a pimp, he's one of [[Wrestling/CharlesWright the Godfather]]).
* TheWorfEffect: 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-)
* BashBrothers
* [[BlindingBangs Blinding Bandana]]: Gedo usually sports one outside of his matches.
* ChronicBackstabbingDisorder: 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.
* OlderSidekick: 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.
* PowerStable: Team 2000, CTU, G.B.H., Chaos and the Bullet Club
* RedBaron: English commentator, Kevin Kelly called Jado the "Master Heater" after he joined the Bullet Club and now the name is canon.
* ShoutOut: Jado follows his knife edge chops with Woo! and [[FaceFault flops on his face after takings some hits]]. Both of these actions are paying homage to Wrestling/RicFlair.
!!! Dick Togo (佐藤 茂樹, Sato Shigeki, 1996-1997, 2002-2011, 2020-)
* BadassInANiceSuit: Togo's non-wrestling gear as Evil's sidekick in the Bullet Club consists of a stylish three-piece suit, a NiceHat and CoolShades.
* BashBrothers: With Taka Michinoku
* FinishingMove: [[IHaveTheHighGround Diving Senton]]
* OlderSidekick: Serves as one to Evil in the Bullet Club.
* PowerStable: Wrestling/BulletClub
* RedBaron: "The Spoiler" after joining Bullet Club.
* RazorFloss: As "The Spoiler", Togo chokes out wrestlers with a garrote wire.
* RingOldies: Still wrestling in his 50s.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Los Ingoberables De Japon]]
An offshoot of the ''Los Ingobernables'' group from CMLL created by Wrestling/TetsuyaNaito, who joined it during his excursion to Mexico. Since returning in 2015 he has drafted EVIL, Bushi, Sanada, Wrestling/HiromuTakahashi, 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.
!!! Wrestling/TetsuyaNaito (内藤 哲也, Naitō Tetsuya, 2005-2009, 2009-)
!!! SANADA (真田 聖也, Sanada Seiya, 2016-)
* BatterUp: Carries a baseball bat on his way to the ring.
* DarkIsEvil: Wears dark outfits and attire.
* DelinquentHair: From his debut until mid-2019, he would spike his hair into an impossibly high mohawk.
* DressedToPlunder: Started going for a pirate look in the middle of 2019.
* FinishingMove: The Dragon Sleeper, which he calls Skull End, and The Moonsault.
* PowerStable: Debuted by attacking Okada as the new member of Los Ingobernables.
* RedBaron: "Cold Skull"
* TheVoiceless: 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.
* ThoseTwoGuys: He and EVIL are LIJ's go-to heavyweight tag team.
* UnknownRival: SANADA considers Okada his greatest rival and constantly targets him, but Okada doesn't exactly reciprocate that energy.
* WhiteMaskOfDoom: Wears one in the shape of a skull.
!!! Shingo Takagi (鷹木信悟, Takagi Shingo 2018-)
* NormalFishInATinyPond: During his stint as a junior heavyweight, his only singles loss was to Wrestling/WillOspreay 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.
* RedBaron: "The Dragon"
* TheSixthRanger: Joined Los Ingobernables de Japon in 2018, after Hiromu Takahashi got hurt and left the group with only one active junior heavyweight.
* YouGottaHaveBlueHair: A green mullet, specifically.
!!! Wrestling/HiromuTakahashi/Kamaitachi ((高橋 広夢 Takahashi Hiromu, 2010-2013, 2016-)
!!! BUSHI (清水 哲也, Shimizu Tetsuya, 2012-)
* CoolMask: Makes it a habit of wearing two, one over the other.
* FinishingMove: Firebird Splash, MX, Sankakutobi-Tornillo
* IHaveTheHighGround
* MaskedLuchador
* PowerStable: Los Ingobernables de Japón.
* RedBaron: Currently "Shikkoku no Death Mask" ("Jet Black Death Mask"), formerly “Flying Bushido”
* SuperSpit: Began spitting poison mist as a member of Los Ingobernables.
* WearingAFlagOnYourHead: Wore the three colors that make up the Mexican flag on his mask as a face.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Suzuki-gun]]
Also known as the Suzuki Army, it is lead by their namesake Wrestling/MinoruSuzuki who previously ousted former leader Wrestling/SatoshiKojima (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, Wrestling/TAKAMichinoku, Yoshinobu Kanemaru and Wrestling/ZackSabreJr.
!!! Wrestling/MinoruSuzuki (鈴木 実, Suzuki Minoru, 1988-1989, 2003-2005, 2006-2007, 2010-)
!!! Wrestling/ZackSabreJr (Lucas Eatwell, 2017-)
!!! Taichi Ishikari/Taichi (牧 太一郎, Maki Taichiro, 2006, 2007, 2009 2010-)
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/taichi.png]]
* BashBrothers: Milano Collection A.T. and then Taka Michinoku.
* BattleStrip: One of his trademark taunts is taking off his pants in the middle of the ring. Thankfully, there are wrestling trunks underneath.
* CombatPragmatist: As a member of Suzuki-gun, Taichi is constantly cheating even if it's to his determent.
* CoolMask: As part of his entrance entire.
* FinishingMove: Black Mephisto and Taichi Clutch.
* FirstNameBasis: Now just known by his first name.
* IHaveTheHighGround: More often when he was a Junior-Heavyweight.
* NonIndicativeName: Taichi is short for Taichiro, but those who wouldn't know that would wonder why he's named after a martial art/exercise.
* RedBaron: "Ai o Suteta Seitei" ("The Holy Emperor who Abandoned Love")
* PeekABangs: His hair is often draped over his right eye outside of matches.
* PowerStable: Suzuki-gun.
* ThePrankster: He and Taka would be notorious for their tricks as a Junior tag team.
* SkunkStripe: Has black and white hair.
* WeaponOfChoice: His mic stand.
* WrestlingDoesntPay: A wrestling (lip synching) pop singer/[[AristocratsAreEvil nobleman]].
!!! Kyosuke Mikami/El Desperado (三上 恭佑, Mikami Kyōsuke, 2011-2012, 2014)
* ButNotTooForeign: 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.
* CoolMask: As El Desperado.
* IHaveTheHighGround
* MaskedLuchador: As El Desperado.
* PartsUnknown: As El Desperado.
* PowerStable: Suzuki-gun.
!!! Yoshinobu Kanemaru (金丸義信, Kanemaru Yoshinobu, 2017-)
* CardCarryingVillain: They don't call him "Heel Master" for nothing.
* FinishingMove: Deep Impact, Touch Out.
* PowerStable: Suzuki-gun.
* RedBaron: "Heel Master".
* SuperSpit: 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-)
* AscendedExtra: 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.
* CoolMask: Similar to the Franchise/MortalKombat ninjas.
* FinishingMove: Suplex de la Luna.
* PowerStable: Suzuki-gun.
* RedBaron: "Japonés del Mal" ("Bad Japanese"), which was the name of his age team with Daisuke Hanaoka in [[Wrestling/{{Toryumon}} Toryumon Mexico]].
!!! Wrestling/TAKAMichinoku (吉田 貴男, Yoshida Takao 1994, 1996-1997 2002, 2004, 2006, 2007-)
[[/folder]]
[[folder: 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.
!!! Wrestling/WillOspreay (William Ospreay, 2016-)
!!! Tomoyuki Oka/Great-O-Khan (岡 倫之, Oka Tomoyuki, 2016-2018, 2019, 2020-)
* BaldOfEvil: 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.
* ChineseVampire: His entrance gear and mannerisms before matches are reminiscent of the jiangshi or hopping vampire.
* FinishingMove: [[VillainousFaceHold The Eliminator]]
* IKnowKarate: Before his New Japan career, O-Khan competed in tournaments for amateur wrestling, judo, karate, sambo, kickboxing, pankration, jiu-jitsu and mixed-martial arts.
* PowerStable: One of the three founding members of Wrestling/TheUnitedEmpire with Will Ospreay and Bea Priestly.
* RedBaron: “The Dominator”
* ScreamingWarrior: Shrieks like a banshee as he attacks his opponent.
* SpellMyNameWithAnS: 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.
* AHeroToHisHometown: 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.
* FinishingMove: Tour of the Islands, Gachimuchi-sault (Standing Moonsault)
* LeotardOfPower: Wears customized singlets from SPLX.
* LightningBruiser: Built like a tank, but scarily agile and capable of some impressive high-flying moves.
* PowerStable: Wrestling/TheUnitedEmpire.
* RedBaron: Currently "The Hatchet", formerly “Mr. Athletic”.
* WrestlingMonster: A heroic example until he joined the United Empire.
!!! Henare/Toa Henare/Aaron Henare (Aaron Henry, 2016-)
* FinishingMove: First the TOA Bottom (Rock Bottom) and the Street of Rage (Death Valley Driver)
* CoolShades: Part of his updated look as a member of the United Empire.
* HotBlooded: 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.
* PowerStable: Wrestling/TheUnitedEmpire.
* RedBaron: "The Ultimate Weapon"
* [[WildSamoan Wild Maori]]: Had aspects of this as a Young Lion, rapped it up when he graduated and now has dialed it back a bit.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: 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-)
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ryusuke_taguchi.png]]
* AfroAsskicker: When he initially became the Funky Weapon.
* DiscoDan: Was once the stuck in the 70s/80s variety.
* FinishingMove: Dondon, Dondon The End, Enban Chuudoku, Mirror Magic Go!, Milano-saku Dodon's Throne, Shika Koroshi, Uradodon
* HappyDance: After he wins his matches in his Disco Dan days.
* LargeHam: "Oh yeah!" even without a mic in hand he can make himself heard on the house mics.
* PowerStable: Wrestling/TaguchiJapan
* RedBaron: "Funky Weapon", "Master Of Dropkicks" (Master Of Dropkick is also the name of his entrance theme)
* ShakingTheRump: A taunt of his during his 80s stint.
* ShoutOut: Uses [[Wrestling/EddieGuerrero the three amigos and a frog splash]]...okay, a 180 frog splash but the intent is obvious.
* TheatricsOfPain: 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.
!!! Wrestling/HiroshiTanahashi (棚橋 弘至, Tanahashi Hiroshi, 1999-)
!!! Wrestling/KotaIbushi (飯伏幸太, Ibushi Kota, 2009-)
!!! Wrestling/JonMoxley (Jonathan Good, 2019-)
!!! Juice Robinson (Joseph Robinson, 2015-)
* AllAmericanFace: Picked up elements of this as he started chasing the U.S. title, and ended up becoming the first American to hold the belt.
* ArchEnemy: To Jay White, who he's been interlocked with in one form or another since they were Young Lions.
* BunnyEarsLawyer: 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''.
* BroughtDownToNormal: 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.
* DreadlockWarrior: 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.
* FinishingMove: He borrows Wrestling/{{Christian}}'s Killswitch, calling it "Pulp Friction".
* RedBaron: "The Flamboyant"
* SignificantHaircut: Shockingly cut his iconic dreadlocks off before his U.S. championship defence against the debuting Wrestling/JonMoxley to show how dead seriously he was taking his opponent.
* SirSwearsalot: Does he ever!
* TheStoner: 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”.
* FinishingMove: Prima Nocta (Just called the Stunner [[DubNameChange 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.
* MixedAncestry: Born in Germany to and Irish man and a German woman and was raised and currently lives in America.
* WrestlingFamily: An extensive family tree in the business. No not only is his dad [[OnlyOneName Finlay]] aka Fit Finlay, his siblings, grandfather and great grandfathers were also professional wrestlers and his aunt and great uncle were referees.
* RedBaron: "Celtic Prince"
!!! Wrestling/YujiNagata (永田 裕志, Nagata Yuji, 1992-1997, 1998-)
!!! Wrestling/SatoshiKojima (小島 聡, Kojima Satoshi, 1991-2002, 2010-)
!!! Wrestling/HiroyoshiTenzan (山本 広吉, Yamamoto Hiroyoshi, 1991-1993, 1995-)
!!! Dragon Lee/Ryu Lee (2016-)
* ArchEnemy[=/=]TheRival: Himoru Takahashi
* FinishingMove: Desnucadora, Dragon Driver
* IHaveTheHighGround: Lee is a very acrobatic luchador.
* MaskedLuchador: A masked star formerly of CMLL.
* ShoutOut: It’s hard not to think that the Dragon Lee moniker is an obvious reference to Creator/BruceLee.
* WrestlingFamily: His father is La Bestia del Ring and his brothers are Rush and the current Místico (who was [[LegacyCharacter also formerly Dragon Lee]]).
!!! Togi Makabe (真壁 伸也, Makabe Shin'ya, 1997-)
* BashBrothers: With Yano and Honma
* ChainedByFashion: Wears a long chain in vignettes.
* {{Expy}}: His character and wrestling style is influenced by Wrestling/BruiserBrody.
* FinishingMove: King Kong Kneedrop and Lariat.
* FlippingTheBird: Often lets two flip at once.
* GarbageWrestler: What, you thought he would never use that chain?
* NoSell: While he won't sandbag much, he's not known for really reacting or displaying a lasting effect of moves.
* PowerStable: G.B.H.
* RedBaron: "Unchained Gorilla", "Boso King Kong" ("The Rampaging King Kong"), "Ikari no Hoko" ("Howl of Rage").
* SirSwearsalot: Fond of dropping f-bombs on his opponents.
* WeaponOfChoice: [[ChainPain His chain]] and [[ChairmanOfTheBrawl chairs]].
!!! Tomoaki Honma (本間朋晃, Honma Tomoaki, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007-)
* BashBrothers: With Makabe
* CoolMask: 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.
* FinishingMove: Turmeric Clutch, Kokeshi and Pillar Crash.
* GutturalGrowler: Honma's characteristically hoarse voice is the result of crushed vocal chords.
* {{Jobber}}: The only time he seems to wins is against Young Lions or as part of a tag team.
* PowerStable: Makai Club and G.B.H.
* RickyMorton: Usually in tag teams with Makabe.
* TookALevelInBadass: Beat [[Wrestling/BulletClub Karl Anderson and Doc Gallows]] with Makabe to win the IWGP Tag Team Championship in Wrestle Kingdom 2016.
* UseYourHead: 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-).
* AnimalMotifs: Lions perhaps?
* BattleStrip: At ''NJPW Fight For Existence II" when called out by Low Ki, though it was quickly broken up before anything could really happen.
* CoolMask: Comes with the Tiger Mask gimmick.
* FinishingMove: Tiger Suplex, Avalanche Double Underhook Suplex and other variants.
* LegacyCharacter: The first person to be Tiger Mask since Koji Kanemoto was unmasked in 1995.
* MaskedLuchador: Specifically, the entire Tiger Mask line owe their existence to Fray Tormenta.
* TheComplainerIsAlwaysWrong: 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-)
* FinishingMove: RPP
* RedBaron: “Road to the [=GrandMaster=]”
* WrestlingDoesntPay: A wrestling martial arts master.
* YouGottaHaveBlueHair: Since coming back to New Japan, Wato has dyed his hair a bright shade of blue to match his costume.
!!! Wrestling/KatsuyoriShibata (柴田勝頼, Shibata Katsuyori, 1999-2004, 2006, 2012-)
[[/folder]]
[[folder: The Young Lions]]
Lists the various NJPW wrestlers who are currently training as Young Lions or are on excursion.
!!! General Young Lion Tropes
* BoringButPractical: 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.
* ImportantHaircut: 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.
* FinishingMove: The Boston Crab or a variation of it.
* SpiritedCompetitor: Ready for any action they can get to the point of sometimes becoming surprisingly brutal in-ring.
* TrainingFromHell: '''Part''' of their training involves doing 1,000 squats six days a week.
* LimitedWardrobe: 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-)
* FirstDayFromHell: 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-)
* OnlyKnownByInitials: DKC stands for “Dylan Kyle Cox”, his full wrestler name on the indies. It served as his RedBaron on NJPW Strong before becoming a Young Lion.
!!! Kevin Knight (Kevin Knight, 2020-)
!!! Ren Narita (成田蓮, Narita Ren, 2017-)
[[/folder]]
