10 Huge Signings WWE Must Make In 2020

7. Jiro Kuroshio

tessa blanchard
ヒロ・トウサイ [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)]

This is already in the works, per Dave Meltzer, and not before time: NXT is sorely missing a performer of Jiro Kuroshio's ilk.

NXT excels at its in-house style of pulsating, hard-hitting modern in-ring brilliance, but between the Slipknot theme, Mauro Ranallo's screaming and the basic storytelling mechanics of "moments" and "making a name", the intensity of serious business is often the only flavour, which is underscored by how little interest there is in the gruff like of Killian Dain and the Forgotten Sons. That one tone is perfected in the key title pictures. The absence of the Velveteen Dream, in particular, has created a real void.

Kuroshio's entrance is precision-engineered to pop the Full Sail faithful and the Twitter GIF sphere: he emerges through the crowd with his stupendous boy-popper of a jacket to a crazed reaction. An immensely charismatic hand-slapper, Kuroshio is a total joy to watch, and his in-ring style aligns very well with NXT's: a preening, highly-athletic peacock, he is such a mesmerising figure that you can't help but watch him on the apron during tag team matches.

He is a star, simply, and a potential difference-maker.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!