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Alex Coughlin

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Alex Coughlin
Birth nameAlex Coughlin
Born (1993-12-03) December 3, 1993 (age 31)[1]
New York City, New York, U.S.
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Alex Coughlin[2]
Leo Blackstone[2]
Billed height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[2]
Billed weight205 lb (93 kg)[2]
Trained by
DebutApril 28, 2018[3]
RetiredMarch 23, 2024

Alex Coughlin (born December 3, 1993) is an American former professional wrestler. He is best known for his time in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he was a member of Bullet Club and a former Strong Openweight Tag Team Champion, alongside Bullet Club stablemate Gabe Kidd.

Professional wrestling career

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Early career (2018)

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Coughlin made his debut on April 28, 2018, working mainly for his hometown promotion New York Wrestling Connection, where he was trained by Bull James.[3]

New Japan Pro-Wrestling (2018–2024)

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Young Lion (2018–2020)

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In 2018, Coughlin entered the New Japan Pro-Wrestling LA Dojo, as the first class along with Karl Fredericks and Clark Connors, training under Katsuyori Shibata. Coughlin made his in-ring debut, where he was defeated by Connors in a dark match at Fighting Spirit Unleashed. Coughlin visited Japan for the first time as a representative of the LA Dojo at the Young Lion Cup held in September 2019 and came third in the tournament along with Connors with 8 points.[4][5] Over the next year, Coughlin would lose to many New Japan wrestlers and draw to his fellow young lions, which is common for young lions during their training. Whilst Fredericks and Connors achieved more success, Coughlin continued to train and lose to New Japan wrestlers, due to having less wrestling background prior to joining the Dojo. Through New Japan's partnership with other promotions, Coughlin was also able to make many appearances for Ring of Honor and Revolution Pro Wrestling. Coughlin was regularly featured on Game Changer Wrestling's Bloodsport.[6][7] On January 4, 2020, at Wrestle Kingdom 14, Coughlin, Fredericks, Connors and Toa Henare defeated Tencozy (Satoshi Kojima and Hiroyoshi Tenzan), Yota Tsuji and Yuya Uemura in an eight-man tag-team match.[8]

The Android (2021–2023)

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In March 2020, New Japan suspended all of its activities, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, causing American-based talent, such as Coughlin to not be able to travel to Japan. Therefore, Coughlin appeared primarily on New Japan's new American-based show NJPW Strong, where he would mainly team up with his LA Dojo teammates. Whilst, Fredericks and Connors had already graduated from being Young Lions due to winning the Young Lion Cup and the Lion's Break Crown respectively, Coughlin would start a ten-match challenge series, facing a range of competitors each week. He would lose the first 8 matches, losing to the likes of Josh Alexander, Tomohiro Ishii and even Fredericks. However, in the ninth match, he defeated J. R. Kratos, after the match Coughlin announced he had graduated as a Young Lion.

In February, Coughlin returned to the UK, continuing to make appearances for Revolution Pro Wrestling. During this time, Coughlin began using the nickname, "The Android", a comparison to his machine-like strength. Also in March, the LA Dojo, which was still represented by graduates like Coughlin, Connors, and Fredericks, began a feud with All Elite Wrestling's The Factory as they fought over which was the superior wrestling developmental system. This led to Coughlin and other LA Dojo members making their debuts on the May 10 edition of AEW Dark, saving the LA Dojo’s The DKC and Kevin Knight from a post-match attack by The Factory. The following week, LA Dojo members defeated The Factory in a ten-man tag team match.[9] On June 26, Coughlin teamed with Yuya Uemura, The DKC, and Kevin Knight on the Buy-in of AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door in a losing effort to Max Caster and The Gunn Club's Billy Gunn, Austin Gunn and Colten Gunn.[10] Shortly after, it was announced that Coughlin had suffered a leg injury.[11][12]

Coughlin returned in November on the pre-show of Historic X-Over, teaming with LA Dojo stablemates, Clark Connors, Kevin Knight and Gabriel Kidd to defeat Kosei Fujita, Oskar Leube, Ryohei Oiwa and Yuto Nakashima.[13] A few days later, Coughlin and Kidd teamed together in the World Tag League, however finished bottom of their block with just 2 points.[14]

In February, Coughlin defeated J. R. Kratos on the kickoff show of Battle in the Valley.[15] The following month at Multiverse United, Coughlin teamed with Sami Callihan, Fred Rosser and PCO to defeat Eddie Edwards, Joe Hendry, Tom Lawlor and J. R. Kratos.[16] At NJPW Collision in Philadelphia, Coughlin defeated Tracy Williams.[17] On the buy-in of Resurgence, Coughlin defeated Christopher Daniels.[18]

Bullet Club (2023–2024)

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See also: Bullet Club

On June 4 at Dominion, Coughlin and Gabriel Kidd, branded as Bullet Club War Dogs attacked Bishamon (Hirooki Goto and Yoshi-Hashi), following their victory of capturing both the IWGP Tag Team Championship and the Strong Openweight Tag Team Championships, signalling their challenge for both titles, whilst also turning both men heel for the first time. The duo later accompanied Bullet Club leader, David Finlay to the ring in Bullet Club shirts, officially joining the stable[19] On July 4 on night 1 of NJPW Independence Day, Coughlin and Kidd defeated Bishamon to win the Strong Openweight Tag Team Championships, marking both men’s first NJPW championships.[20] The following Day on Night 2, the duo lost to Bishamon, in a losing effort to capture the IWGP World Tag Team Championships.[21] Later in the month, Coughlin entered his first G1 Climax tournament, where he would compete in the D Block.[22] Coughlin finished the tournament with a total of 6 points, failing to advance to the quarterfinals.[23] On October 9 at Destruction in Ryōgoku, Coughlin and Kidd lost the Strong Openweight Tag Team Titles to Guerrillas of Destiny (El Phantasmo and Hikuleo), ending their reign at 97 days.[24]

The duo attempted to rebound the following month, entering the annual World Tag League, competing in the A-Block.[25] Coughlin and Kidd finished joint top of their block, with 10 points, advancing to the semi-final round.[26] In the semi-final round, the duo were defeated by Bishamon, eliminating them from the tournament.[27]

On February 11, 2024 at The New Beginning in Osaka, Coughlin teamed with the rest of his Bullet Club War Dogs teammates, to defeat United Empire in a ten-man steel cage match. This would be Coughlin's last wrestling match for NJPW as on March 23, he announced his retirement from professional wrestling.

Ring of Honor (2019, 2023)

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Coughlin and other LA Dojo students appeared a few times for Ring of Honor in 2019. most notably on the ROH/NJPW War of the Worlds shows.[28]

Coughlin returned to ROH in April 2023, teaming with his LA Dojo trainer Katsuyori Shibata, to defeat The Workhorsemen (Anthony Henry and J.D Drake). After the match, Coughlin pointed at Shibata's ROH Pure Championship, teasing a future match between the two for the title.[29] The match took place on June 1, where Coughlin was defeated by Shibata.[30]

Professional wrestling style

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Coughlin's style was based on pure strength, which earned him the nickname of "The Android". He commonly utilized suplexes and was known to deadlift opponents, even if they were larger than him.

Championships and accomplishments

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References

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  1. ^ "Alex Coughlin – アレックス・コグリン – BULLET CLUB | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING". NJPW.
  2. ^ a b c d Kreikenbohm, Philip. "Alex Coughlin". CAGEMATCH – The Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on January 1, 2023. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
  3. ^ a b Kreikenbohm, Philip. "Alex Coughlin Matches". CAGEMATCH – The Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on February 24, 2023. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  4. ^ "【新日本】ヤングライオン杯で外国人初V "猛獣"フレドリックスはナイスガイ". 東京スポーツ. September 26, 2019. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  5. ^ "JRA presents Road to Tokyo Dome". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  6. ^ "GCW Bloodsport 8 live results: Josh Barnett vs. JONAH, Jon Moxley vs. Biff Busick". March 31, 2022.
  7. ^ "GCW Josh Barnett's Bloodsport 7 Results: Minoru Suzuki in Action". October 23, 2021.
  8. ^ Renner, Ethan (January 4, 2020). "NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 14 night one live results: Okada vs. Ibushi". Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  9. ^ "NJPW LA Dojo Members & More AEW Debuts Announced". May 9, 2022.
  10. ^ "AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door 2022 Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights". Bleacher Report.
  11. ^ Thompson, Andrew (July 1, 2022). "NJPW's Alex Coughlin & Yuto Nakashima injured, DOUKI & YOH sidelined due to COVID protocols".
  12. ^ "Alex Coughlin Pulled From NJPW Burning Spirit Tour Due To Injury, Replaced By The DKC | Fightful News". www.fightful.com.
  13. ^ "Stardom Historic X-over". CageMatch. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  14. ^ Powell, Jason (December 14, 2022). "12/14 NJPW "World Tag League & Super Jr. Tag League 2022" results: Vetter's review of "Aussie Open" Mark Davis and Kyle Fletcher vs. Yoshi-Hashi and Hirooki Goto in the World Tag League finals, Lio Rush and Yoh vs. Chris Bey and Ace Austin in the Super Jr. Tag League finals, Karl Anderson vs. Hikuleo for the Never Openweight Championship".
  15. ^ "NJPW Battle In The Valley 2023 Results – TJR Wrestling". tjrwrestling.net. February 19, 2023.
  16. ^ Applegate, Colby (March 31, 2023). "IMPACT x NJPW: Multiverse United Results (3/30/23): Mike Bailey vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi".
  17. ^ Rich, Andrew (April 17, 2023). "NJPW Collision in Philadelphia (April 16, 2023) Results & Review". Voices of Wrestling.
  18. ^ Fritts, Chick (May 21, 2023). "NJPW Resurgence live results: Strong Women's title tournament". WON/F4W - WWE news, Pro Wrestling News, WWE Results, AEW News, AEW results.
  19. ^ Kelly, Andrew (June 4, 2023). "Bullet Club Recruits New Members At NJPW Dominion". Cultaholic. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  20. ^ "Bullet Club Captures Gold At NJPW STRONG Independence Day". Wrestling Inc. July 4, 2023.
  21. ^ Fritts, Chick (July 5, 2023). "NJPW Strong Independence Day night two live results: Moxley vs. Desperado Final Death match". WON/F4W - WWE news, Pro Wrestling News, WWE Results, AEW News, AEW results. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
  22. ^ "NJPW G1 Climax 33 Participants, Blocks & Full Schedule". Voices of Wrestling. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
  23. ^ Rueter, Sean (August 9, 2023). "New Japan's G1 Climax 33 quarterfinals are set". Cageside Seats. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
  24. ^ Fritts, Chick (October 9, 2023). "NJPW Destruction in Ryogoku live results: SANADA vs. EVIL lumberjack match". WON/F4W - WWE news, Pro Wrestling News, WWE Results, AEW News, AEW results. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
  25. ^ Carey, Ian (November 13, 2023). "NJPW reveals teams for World Tag League 2023". WON/F4W - WWE news, Pro Wrestling News, WWE Results, AEW News, AEW results. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
  26. ^ Carey, Ian (December 7, 2023). "Semifinals set for NJPW World Tag League 2023". WON/F4W - WWE news, Pro Wrestling News, WWE Results, AEW News, AEW results. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
  27. ^ Carey, Ian (December 8, 2023). "Finals set for NJPW World Tag League 2023". WON/F4W - WWE news, Pro Wrestling News, WWE Results, AEW News, AEW results. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
  28. ^ "411MANIA". Csonka’s ROH War of The Worlds Grand Rapids 2019 Review.
  29. ^ Malkasian, Mike (April 14, 2023). "Ring of Honor TV Results 4/13/23".
  30. ^ Malkasian, Mike (June 2, 2023). "Ring of Honor TV Results 6/1/23".
  31. ^ Ruth, Sondra (September 14, 2023). "Complete 2023 PWI 500 List Revealed, Top NJPW Star Absent". tjrwrestling.net. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
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