8 Wrestlers WWE Must Sign For The New Cruiserweight Division

2. Ryusuke Taguchi

Ryusuke Taguchi
NJPW

Ryusuke Taguchi is a veteran of the New Japan Junior ranks, one who has endured throughout several years with his winning charm and willingness to evolve.

Taguchi was a longtime tag team partner of Finn Bálor's - their Apollo 55 tandem was a charming double act, without which Devitt may not have endeared himself to the New Japan fanbase to then truly put over his Bullet Club heel persona over to such an incredibly wide-ranging extent.

Not to damn the former IWGP Junior Heavyweight champion with faint praise, but Taguchi isn't quite as skilled as some of the other NJPW luminaries who make up the list. His riotous Funky Weapon persona however would diversify the otherwise straight-laced division which, as it stands, could use the levity of his dancing routine, which would seamlessly slot into the colourful world of PG WWE.

Perhaps more so than anybody listed here, with the exception of Mysterio, Taguchi, who is slight even by Junior standards, is an expert at eliciting genuine emotion as a result of his brilliantly authentic selling.

Taguchi would make all around him look even better than they have already - every division needs a sentimental jobber, and pushing 40, Taguchi would slot in as a more gifted and less jabronified Funaki.

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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!