Hiromu Takahashi Debuts in WWE as ‘KYOKI,’ Forms New Unit ‘BAKUSAI’ with Shinsuke Nakamura

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Hiromu Takahashi, who recently left New Japan Pro-Wrestling, made a surprise debut on WWE SmackDown under the new ring name “KYOKI,” and it was announced that he’s forming a new unit called “BAKUSAI” with Shinsuke Nakamura. On 5ch’s Geinou/Sports Sokuhou+ board, users had fun with the running joke that Japanese wrestlers always get saddled with weird names once they join WWE, as well as with the Japanese message-board site the unit’s name brings to mind.

Several posts also pointed out that Nakamura is one of the rare exceptions who has kept his own name throughout his run, and noted how the former LIJ members who left New Japan have since split between WWE and NOAH.

<WWE SmackDown> ◇August 21 (August 22 JST) ◇Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

The “King of Strong Style,” Shinsuke Nakamura, finally introduced his new partner.

Just before the main event, Nakamura appeared via video package with a message for the rival Tongan heel unit MFT (My Family Tree). Addressing the current WWE Tag Team Champions (Tama Tonga and Tara Tonga), he said: “MFT, I warned you, didn’t I? Guess you weren’t listening. It’s finally come from the darkness — the time has finally come, out from under the lights.” Then, emerging from behind him, was Hiromu Takahashi, who left New Japan Pro-Wrestling for good this past February.

Source: nikkansports.com / Original article here

6Anonymous2026/08/24(月) 06:02:47.93ID:kndzLzRs0
Isn't it embarrassing acting out a script with a gimmick that makes no sense?
22Anonymous2026/08/24(月) 06:21:09.67ID:Hco3VVKm0
>>6
Big paycheck, so everybody's happy
7Anonymous2026/08/24(月) 06:02:50.02ID:sEyR6WZ90
Everyone gets a weird name once they go over there
28Anonymous2026/08/24(月) 06:27:03.52ID:jlpgc6ju0
>>7
Undertaker → Funeral Director
The Rock → Rock

They're probably making him do this kind of shtick in Japanese too
41Anonymous2026/08/24(月) 06:50:51.62ID:873pNs2a0
>>7
Kenzo was smart to turn down 'Hirohito' (a proposed ring name referencing Emperor Hirohito)
63Anonymous2026/08/24(月) 07:26:24.20ID:BvWKGLeJ0
>>7

When you think about it, Nakamura really is the exception among exceptions. He might be the only one who kept his real name
9Anonymous2026/08/24(月) 06:04:03.43ID:OMD2lRtB0
Gokuo said it's a good thing Hiromu's real name didn't get taken by WWE even if the new one's weird, and yeah, fair point
I can't see him being successful enough there to end his career in WWE
12Anonymous2026/08/24(月) 06:06:28.83ID:SDFxv+TE0
In Japan you just can't shake the image of Bakusai (a notoriously seedy local classifieds/forum site), and that image is terrible
13Anonymous2026/08/24(月) 06:07:34.98ID:Y/ZiQaUP0
There used to be a site called Bakusai, right?
18Anonymous2026/08/24(月) 06:11:35.84ID:PXcPFlcn0
Maybe it's written 爆砕 (Bakusai), meaning 'explosion'
Or it could be 博才 (Hakusai), meaning 'instinct'
19Anonymous2026/08/24(月) 06:12:59.53ID:/Hdu36GB0
I want them to bring back Kaientai's English-dub comedy bit
I loved that one
23Anonymous2026/08/24(月) 06:22:49.58ID:TASWbLY70

24Anonymous2026/08/24(月) 06:23:45.63ID:3+ydC79z0
He was in LIJ and ended up in CHAOS instead…
25Anonymous2026/08/24(月) 06:24:26.07ID:vARraeRV0
Nakamura keeps his name as-is, but every other Japanese guy gets stuck with a weird one
31Anonymous2026/08/24(月) 06:34:38.53ID:9PjTNpsI0
This gimmick's gonna flop and get buried in the dark
34Anonymous2026/08/24(月) 06:39:18.28ID:/rvRDb060
Still, compared to the KENSO or Yoshi Tatsu days, there's no forced weird character anymore, so it's actually a lot better now
35Anonymous2026/08/24(月) 06:39:32.65ID:C+Ma2skp0
>>7
They do this because otherwise nobody remembers the name
36Anonymous2026/08/24(月) 06:43:07.24ID:tOOAlCMf0
More importantly, Tama Tonga is a tag champ now?
He's King Haku's son, but in New Japan he was pretty weak and got made fun of
HHH probably wants to recreate New Japan's feuds straight in WWE — they'd click well together
40Anonymous2026/08/24(月) 06:50:02.60ID:tOOAlCMf0
Right now it's actually the Naito group that left New Japan getting more of the spotlight
Hiromu and Watanabe are in WWE, while Naito and Bushi are holding belts in NOAH
The ones who stayed behind are SANADA, Takagi, and Yota-sama… well, good luck lol
54Anonymous2026/08/24(月) 07:08:04.64ID:iEzB7yfY0
>>40
Does a NOAH belt even have any value?
93Anonymous2026/08/24(月) 09:20:26.80ID:Z0LaeG0B0
>>40
Somehow Naito and BUSHI just give off this 'exiled to the sticks' vibe
43Anonymous2026/08/24(月) 06:52:17.28ID:xuQZn+WC0
Like how WWF was forced to change its name to WWE
Bakusai will probably end up getting changed to 'Bakusan'
44Anonymous2026/08/24(月) 06:52:24.61ID:NeZcG/i00
He's got good looks too, hope he grabs a belt
45Anonymous2026/08/24(月) 06:54:12.80ID:xPCyXtBl0
>>41
His wife's an intellectual
Though honestly, he probably would've turned it down regardless of that
46Anonymous2026/08/24(月) 06:56:51.51ID:ieJEm/u20
Wrestlers cosplaying as wrestlers — guess that's modern pro wrestling for you
47Anonymous2026/08/24(月) 06:57:27.69ID:c/mqQ5Fq0
What's little Hiromu gonna do about his 'Bomber' finisher?
49Anonymous2026/08/24(月) 07:00:05.09ID:9PjTNpsI0
Feels like a jobber brought along another jobber
50Anonymous2026/08/24(月) 07:01:08.94ID:uLlfJhE40
BUBUDUKE (a play on 'bubuzuke,' the classic passive-aggressive Kyoto hospitality joke)
Because Nakamura is from Kyoto Prefecture
52Anonymous2026/08/24(月) 07:02:17.24ID:bP2TDWER0
Naraku and Kyoki will probably team up eventually
55Anonymous2026/08/24(月) 07:08:43.27ID:tOOAlCMf0
Nakamura's whole family has been living over there for ages
Apparently every Japanese wrestler who goes to WWE, men and women alike, gets looked after by the Nakamura family
That's what Kuroshio Japan said — in that sense he might be a pretty valuable guy to have around too
79Anonymous2026/08/24(月) 08:21:46.52ID:JN7a4kZP0
>>55
Apparently he looks out for people at the gym too, regardless of race
Guess that's what you'd expect from a former captain of the Aoyama Gakuin wrestling club
He's got that captain's leadership quality
65Anonymous2026/08/24(月) 07:29:02.01ID:Xre9Y1qj0
What happened to the 'Tranquilo' guy?
67Anonymous2026/08/24(月) 07:31:19.32ID:sEyR6WZ90
>>65
If you mean Naito, he's the current GHC champion in NOAH, wrestling as a babyface
83Anonymous2026/08/24(月) 08:36:48.28ID:Ujkl3hgS0
Pro wrestling storylines are always forming groups, breaking them up, and fighting rivals or new enemies
It's just endless conflict between rivals forever — does the story ever actually wrap up?
85Anonymous2026/08/24(月) 08:40:08.60ID:B+5ZwxQJ0
>>83
Same as American TV dramas
Once the popularity starts fading
they suddenly start losing and their contract ends after that season
89Anonymous2026/08/24(月) 09:11:34.29ID:Y5NT/TDT0
>>63
Keeping the same name would've been fine
But contractually, once you leave WWE you can't use that name anymore
Ikemen Jiro had no choice but to become 'Kuroshio TOKYO Japan' too
91Anonymous2026/08/24(月) 09:14:52.95ID:YoRr3D+K0
>>89
So if Nakamura ever leaves, he won't be able to use 'Nakamura' anymore either?

*This article is an excerpt and summary of the 5ch (Geinou/Sports Sokuhou+) thread ‘[Pro Wrestling] Hiromu Takahashi Debuts in WWE: “My Name is KYOKI” — Forming New Unit “BAKUSAI” with Shinsuke Nakamura‘.

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