Bullet Club has returned to its rightful owners.
The first shot of Bullet Club’s civil war was fired this past Saturday, 20 years to the day after Hulk Hogan turned “Hollywood” in WCW and formed the nWo with Kevin Nash and Scott Hall. Tonga and his brother Tanga Loa proclaimed their own new world order at the Cow Palace when they made the decision to revamp Bullet Club’s personnel following Kenny Omega’s captivating main event victory over Cody Rhodes.
“If you’re looking for Bullet Club, it’s in Japan,” said Tama Tonga, who led an attack ousting IWGP heavyweight champion Kenny Omega, Cody Rhodes, and the Young Bucks from Bullet Club this past Saturday in the closing moments of New Japan’s “G1 Special in San Francisco” show. “But know this: WWE does have Bullet Club. We know who they are, you all know who they are, that’s Bullet Club. No matter where you go, if you’re loyal to us, you are in Bullet Club for life.”
The 35-year-old Tonga explained that he is returning Bullet Club to its roots.
“This has been a long time coming,” said Tonga.
“Kenny Omega started a subgroup, ‘The Elite,’ within Bullet Club. No one is the head of Bullet Club, no one ever has been, and we had a self-proclaimed leader focusing on his own ‘Super Kliq’ or whatever else nerd ass name it’s called. This war was sparked the moment ‘The Elite’ was formed.”
Tonga promises that Bad Luck Fale, who was not at the New Japan show this past Saturday, approved of the decision.
“Fale is the one who made the call,” said Tonga. “You’ll all find that out soon.”
The menacing, 6’4” Fale is the longest-tenured member of Bullet Club, only trailing Finn Balor and Karl Anderson in terms of rank. Although Tonga is a founding member whose service dates back to Bullet Club’s origin on May 3, 2013, Balor created the group, Fale was his bodyguard, Karl Anderson joined after a pivotal match against New Japan “Ace” Hiroshi Tanahashi, and Tonga then came fourth.
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Rank is how Japan is run, and that’s how Bullet Club—true Bullet Club—is run. Not egotistical clowns running around, shouting ‘Look at me!’ True Bullet Club is discipline and order.”
Tonga explained that his violence on Saturday stemmed from Omega and the Bucks’ lack of respect toward himself, Fale, and Loa.
“The ones putting in the work day in and day out in Japan, we were cast away,” said Tonga. “We tried, over time, to give them the benefit of the doubt, but it kept getting worse. The ideals of Bullet Club working together, being a team, and watching each other’s backs was no longer what we stood for. We were a divided club. It was just too much to ignore.”
The foundation of the Bullet Club was built of the shoulders of legendary forefathers Finn Balor and AJ Styles. Tonga explained that both men supported his decision to exile the likes of Omega, the Young Bucks, and Rhodes.
“Balor and Styles taught us and showed us teamwork,” said Tonga. “Balor taught Fale and me so much in the New Japan dojo, and we have nothing but respect for him. AJ came into Bullet Club and was humble and a team player, someone who was here for the betterment of the team. That’s why they were placed, by the group, to the front.
“In terms of their in-ring styles, they have two very different styles but they are both amazing wrestlers. I have learned a lot from both.”
In the United States Civil War, the competing sides of the North and South fought over territorial integrity and slavery. Contrary to popular opinion, Tonga says that he and Loa are not the upstart South, they are the North and merely reclaiming what is already theirs.
“We are the North,” said Tonga. “The other ones, they represent an idea, but they’re trying to separate themselves in their own selfish way. So we are taking back the idea of Bullet Club and pushing it forward.
“Saturday night was a test. When Kenny took a bigger role, he took out AJ and we supported him. The Bucks ousted Balor and we didn’t say a word. Yujiro Takahashi and Chase Owens, Marty Scurll and Hangman Page, they would have been on our side had they helped, but they didn’t.
“I admire Cody for his courage. He doesn’t know this, but I watch him. I’ve watched everything he’s done since he left New York. I admire his strength and courage, the way he stood up to Kenny. He made that step before me, which I admired. So we gave him a chance to show he was with us, not against us, but he made his choice.”
On a night where history repeated itself in its own serendipitous way, Tonga took a shot at the crown and did not miss.
“My goal, my sole focus, is to straighten out Bullet Club,” said Tonga. “Take it back and push it forward. Wherever that takes me, that’s where I’ll go, whether that’s the G1 final or a match with Kenny. People still don’t know what Bullet Club is, but in due time, everyone will understand.”
Tonga also cleared up misconceptions regarding the current status of Bullet Club.
“I am not the leader of Bullet Club,” Tonga explained. “Fale, me, and Loa, we are the leaders of Bullet Club, and anyone that’s with us.
“We are not ‘Firing Squad,’ we are Bullet Club, the Bullet Club. ‘Firing Squad’ only arrives when there is bulls--- and betrayal.”
As for the legendary Haku, who is the father of Tonga and Loa and helped decimate the former Bullet Club members this past Saturday, Tonga noted that his father is only a phone call away.
“Blood is thicker than water,” said Tonga. “He’s called on when needed.”
Tonga was also asked if he would ever consider allowing Omega and the Bucks back into Bullet Club.
“Actions speak louder than words,” he said. “Let’s start with actions first.”
For those wondering if Bullet Club is fine, Tonga noted that it has never been better.
“Finally, after over two years, Bullet Club is now fine,” said Tonga. “After Saturday, Bullet Club is on its way to being the best we’ve ever been.”
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