Alex Coughlin

Coughlin in July 2023

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Long Island, New York, United States

**Alex Coughlin** (born December 3, 1993) is an American professional wrestler currently signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he works as part of the Bullet Club.

After starting his career in 2015, Coughlin joined NJPW two years later as a "young lion" in August 2018, being trained by Katsuyori Shibata. After graduating from his young lion status in December 2021, Coughlin was repackaged as"The Android", complete with a new look, persona and a powerhouse in-ring style.

In June 2023, Coughlin made his return as a heel, joining Bullet Club alongside Gabriel Kidd, known as the Bullet Club War Dogs, and subsquently won the Strong Openweight Tag Team Championship in the following month.

## Professional wrestling career

### Early career (2015–2018)

Coughlin made his debut in 2018, working in the American independent circuit, most notably in New York Wrestling Connection, where he competed under the ring name "Leo Blackstone". He was trained by Bull James and the NYWC Training Academy, working for the promotion until August, before passing a try-out to enter in the NJPW L.A. dojo.

### New Japan Pro Wrestling (2018–Present)

#### LA Dojo (2018–2021)

In August 2018, Coughlin became one of the first trainees of the NJPW L.A. dojo and started his work as a "young lion", being trained by Katsuyori Shibata. On November 10, at Lion's Break Project 1, Coughlin made his debut against fellow NJPW L.A. dojo young lion Karl Fredericks, which ended in a time limit draw. As is customary for most young lions, Coughlin spent most of his matches losing to other, more experienced wrestlers, which would help put over other wrestlers while at the same time give him some in-ring, televised, experience. Through NJPW's international partnerships Coughlin made his debut in American promotion Ring of Honor (ROH), on January 24, 2019, taking part in the 2019 Tag Wars tournament, teaming with Karl Fredericks ina losing effort against Lifeblood (David Finlay and Juice Robinson) in the first round. Coughlin and Fredericks continued working on ROH for the remained of the month. In July, Coughlin and the young lions from L.A. dojo entered in a rivalry with the young lions from the Japan dojo that was build up during the 2019 G1 Climax and Super J-Cup tours.

In September, Coughlin took part in the 2019 Young Lion Cup, finishing the tournament with a record of four wins and three losses, failing to win the tournament. In end of 2021 Coughlin would enter in a 10 match trial series in order to graduate himself from his young lions status. Coughlin would lose almost all of his 10 matches until December 9, where he would defeat JR Kratos in the last match of his trial series and after the match Coughlin announced that he graduated from his young lion status with Kratos asking for a future rematch between them.

From November 22 until December 14, Coughlin and Gabriel Kidd took part in the 2022 World Tag League finishing the tournament with a record of one win and eight losses, failing to advance to the finals of the tournament. 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. The match took place on June 1, where Coughlin was defeated by Shibata.

#### Bullet Club (2023–Present)

On June 4, 2023, at Dominion 6.4 in Osaka-jo Hall, after Hirooki Goto and Yoshi-Hashi won the IWGP Tag Team and Strong Openweight Tag Team Championships, Coughlin and Kidd made their return to NJPW, dubbed as the "Bullet Club War Dogs." They attacked Goto and Yoshi-Hashi before challenging them to a title match, returning as heels in the process. On July 4, 2023, at NJPW Strong Independence Day, Coughlin and Kidd defeated Goto and Yoshi-Hashi to win the Strong Openweight Tag Team Championship. The following day, Coughlin and Kidd unsuccessfully challenged Goto and Yoshi-Hashi for the IWGP Tag Team Championship. Later that month, Coughlin was granted entry into the 2023 G1 Climax, his first G1 Climax tournament. On August 9, he finished the tournament with a record of three wins and four losses, failing to advance to the quarterfinals of the tournament. Following the tournament, on August 12, Coughlin, Kidd and David Finlay confronted Hikuleo, El Phantasmo, and Tama Tonga with Phantasmo and Hikuleo, who newly reunited after being expelled from Bullet Club, setting their sights on Coughlin and Kidd's Strong Openweight Tag Team Championships, setting up two title matches at Destruction between both sides. On October 9 at Destruction in Ryogoku, Coughlin and Kidd lost the Strong Openweight Tag Team Championship to El Phantasmo and Hikuleo. From November 25 until December 6, Coughlin and Kidd took part in the 2023 World Tag League, where they won their block with a record of five wins and two losses, advancing to the semifinals of the tournament. On December 8, Coughlin and Kidd were eliminated from the tournament by losing to eventual winners Hirooki Goto and Yoshi-Hashi, in the semifinals.

## Professional wrestling style

Coughlin's wrestling style revolves mainly around a powerhouse approach, which has earned him the fitting nickname of "The Android." He is known for prominently using suplexes and displaying impressive strength by deadlifting opponents, even when they outweigh him. His in-ring performance seamlessly blends strong style and feats of strength, with occasional heel antics. These include wrestling outside of the ring and into the crowds, attacking Young Lions, breaking barricades, throwing the steps, and attempting to use weapons or championship belts.

Following his addition to the Bullet Club, Coughlin began being named the "The Dead-Eye Dreadnought", with Coughlin often staring people with the famous Greek "Evil Eye". Apart from his powerhouse in-ring style, Coughlin began having a more viscious and violent in the ring style, mostly emphasing on his previous heel antics, as well as the use of low blows and massive interferences from his partners such as Gabe Kidd.

## In wrestling

* **Finishing moves**
	+ Deadlift german suplex
	+ *Jackhammer* (Vertical suplex powerslam)
* **Signature moves**
	+ Boston crab
	+ *Netflix Hold* (Bridging fallaway slam)
	+ Deadlift vertical suplex
	+ Dropkick
	+ Figure-four leglock
	+ Gutwrench suplex
	+ Knife edge chop
	+ Lariat
* **With Gabe Kidd**
	+ *Hijack Piledriver* (Springboard spike kneeling reverse piledriver)
* **Nicknames**
	+ "The Android"
	+ **"The Dead-Eye Dreadnought"**
* **Entrance themes**
	+ "The Android" by Golden Hymns Sing
	+ **"War Dogs"** by [Q]Brick

## Championships and accomplishments

* **New Japan Pro Wrestling**
	+ Strong Openweight Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Gabe Kidd

## External links

* NJPW Japanese profile
* NJPW English profile