Bullet Membership has change into some of the identified stables inside skilled wrestling. One can watch any main promotion and see a Bullet Membership t-shirt being worn within the crowd. Thus proving how well-liked this all-heel faction really is inside the wrestling group.
Bullet Membership was began in 2013 inside the New Japan Professional Wrestling promotion. Since then, the membership has had 5 completely different leaders, main as much as a brand-new chief in 2020 after New Japan Cup 2020 Last. Over seven elements, we’re going to discover the historical past of Bullet Membership and the completely different leaders who’ve held the reigns of this now-historic faction.
The Cleaner, Kenny Omega is usually argued as the most effective & generally one of many worst leaders Bullet Membership ever noticed. That is the Historical past of Bullet Membership Half 3.
Goodbye Tyson Smith, Whats up Kenny Omega
Kenny Omega, or Tyson Smith, was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, on October sixteenth, 1983. He debuted for Premier Championship Wrestling (PCW) in 2001 and since then has change into some of the celebrated and well-known wrestlers of all time.
Kenny Omega was awarded Sports activities Illustrated’s Wrestler Of The Yr 2017. He topped Professional Wrestling Illustrated’s prime 500 male wrestlers in 2018 and gained two matches of the yr.
Omega at present holds Dave Meltzer’s highest score awarded to an expert wrestling match. He has wrestled all around the world for a number of the largest Worldwide promotions and well-known unbiased promotions. Together with Ring of Honor, New Japan Professional Wrestling, DDT Professional-Wrestling, Professional Wrestling Guerrilla, and at present All Elite Wrestling.
Kenny Omega’s profession inside Japan began because of Kota Ibushi. After watching a number of of Ibushi’s matches, Omega targeted on getting observed by DDT (Dramatic Dream Group) and subsequently getting the chance to battle Ibushi. In 2008 Omega debuted for DDT and had his dream match with Kota Ibushi.
This match sparked the creation of the Golden Lovers because the duo teamed up. Kenny Omega had a relatively profitable profession as a single and tag wrestler inside DDT earlier than the Golden Lovers moved to New Japan Professional Wrestling in 2010. The staff competed inside New Japan’s squared circle till 2011, after they returned to give attention to DDT. This was whereas Ibushi returned to NJPW as a semi-regular.
The Golden Lovers got here to an finish in 2014 as Omega targeted solely on NJPW as a junior heavyweight.
The Historical past Of Bullet Membership Half 3 – Omega’s Future
Omega’s future inside wrestling was cemented at a press convention on October third, 2014. In the course of the press convention, Kenny Omega would be part of NJPW full-time as his DDT contract expired. Omega dubbed himself ‘The Cleaner.’ Simply over a month later, The Cleaner would be part of Bullet Membership at Energy Wrestle.
We Don’t Want To Be Phenomenal; We Want To Clear
The Cleaner determined to take management of Bullet Membership the night time after Wrestle Kingdom 10. Omega, with the assistance of the Younger Bucks, eliminated AJ Kinds as chief. The break up second it took the Bucks to hit their former ally with Superkicks was all it took to alter Bullet Membership {and professional} wrestling ceaselessly. Tama Tonga mentioned the choice for Omega to change into the chief to NJPW1972;
“Once we knew that Kenny was going to be main the group, I used to be behind that. I’m a big-picture thinker, I’m at all times fascinated by what could be finest for the group as an entire.”
Although Kenny Omega’s actions would carry giant success to the group, particularly The Elite, Omega would additionally increase questions inside the membership. It might make his Bullet Membership brothers query him an increasing number of. Tama Tonga continued his interview, stating;
“however… I assume he had different intentions. He had completely different objectives in thoughts. I sort of began to see it if you noticed him do extra stuff popping up with the Elite right here and there, however I used to be simply attempting to be supportive.”
However earlier than we dive into the groundbreaking world of The Elite, let’s bounce again to the occasions of January 4th, 2016, at Wrestle Kingdom 10.
The Historical past Of Bullet Membership Half 3
Wrestle Kingdom 10 Failures
The faction competed in 5 of the foremost championship matches at Wrestle Kingdom 10. The Younger Bucks regained the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Group titles. Dangerous Luck Fale, Takahashi, and Tonga had been unsuccessful of their try and win the NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Group Championship. Kenny Omega continued Bullet Membership’s dropping streak as he misplaced his IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship to Kushida.
Bullet Membership’s luck didn’t get any higher at Wrestle Kingdom 10. Anderson and Gallows misplaced the IWGP Tag Group Championships.
A.J. Kinds was the final Bullet Membership to lose. He misplaced to then-current IWGP Intercontinental Champion Shinsuke Nakamura. Solely a number of hours later, Anderson, Gallows, and Kinds had all given discover that they’d be leaving New Japan Professional Wrestling. The subsequent day Bullet Membership eliminated Kinds and regarded to the long run as Kenny Omega introduced he could be graduating from the junior heavyweight division and difficult Nakamura for the IWGP Intercontinental Championship.
“I Need Everybody To Know That Myself, Nick, And Matt Jackson Are The Elite”
A.J. Kinds didn’t even have one foot on the airplane earlier than Kenny Omega began to make modifications to Bullet Membership. Omega created The Elite together with the Younger Bucks. This was an enormous change for Bullet Membership and its members, because it appeared the Bullet Membership could be taking a again seat. Kenny Omega defined his ideas on The Elite being part of Bullet Membership with Rolling Stone;
“The Bullet Membership has kind of change into this pop-culture phenomenon. You don’t even have to love wrestling or comply with our product, and you’ll put on a Bullet Membership shirt, and it’s cool. I can perceive how New Japan needs to maintain up with that.
That’s their money cow. If we’re nonetheless the Bullet Membership, in parentheses, then I’m OK with that. However I would like everybody to know that myself, Nick and Matt Jackson are The Elite. I need to push that arduous, particularly this yr.”
The Historical past Of Bullet Membership Half 3
The Elite
Bullet Membership continued on with the creation of The Elite. On March twelfth, 2016, Tama Tonga introduced his brother, Tanga Loa, could be becoming a member of the Bullet Membership. Collectively they turned his tag staff companion. The pair debuted collectively, competing in an IWGP Tag Group Championship match. They had been calling themselves G.O.D or Guerrillas of Future. A number of months later in Could, two ROH wrestlers joined the faction, Adam Cole and Adam Web page.
Web page would rename himself ‘Hangman’ Adam Web page. Heading into the midpart of the yr Bullet Membership had regained a few of its treasured titles. G.O.D held the IWGP Tag Titles, Omega was carrying the Intercontinental Championship after successful the 2016 G1 Climax and Younger Bucks gained the IWGP Jr Tag Group Titles.
Bullet Membership continued including new members earlier than the tip of 2016 as Captain New Japan, who modified his title to Bone Solider, and Cody joined the faction. Below Kenny Omega’s management, some Bullet Membership members had been additionally frequently competing inside Ring Of Honor. Adam Cole held the ROH World Championship till Last Battle 2016, and the Younger Bucks introduced residence the ROH World Tag Group Championships.
Matt and Nick Jackson held each the ROH World Tag Group Championships and the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Group Championships till Wrestle Kingdom 11 in January 2017. At Wrestle Kingdom 11 the Younger Bucks misplaced the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Group Championships to Roppongi Vice.
Wrestle Kingdom 11 Okada Vs Omega – Spherical 1
This was not the one misplaced belts at Wrestle Kingdom 11 for Bullet Membership although. G.O.D additionally misplaced their IWGP Tag Group Championship titles to Tomohiro Ishii and Toru Yano. Wrestle Kingdom 11 additionally made historical past as the primary time Bullet Membership chief Kenny Omega challenged, unsuccessfully, Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship.
The loss to Okada clearly affected the often calm and relatively boastful Omega as he took a break from New Japan Professional Wrestling, claiming he needed to reassess the long run.
Omega did return a month later although, on the twenty sixth of February. Omega’s return appeared to set off a variety of issues inside The Elite. As Adam Cole and the Younger Bucks grew nearer whereas working inside Ring Of Honor, Omega grew jealous. Clearly wanting Cole out of the faction.
This feud would proceed to warmth up over the subsequent coming months. March 4th marked one other misplaced title for Bullet Membership and The Elite as The Younger Bucks had been defeated by The Hardys and misplaced their ROH World Tag Group Championship belts. Omega and Cole’s issues as soon as once more appeared inside Could 2017. Omega had bided his time, ready for an opportunity for the Younger Bucks to activate Cole.
This time lastly got here on Could the twelfth as Omega and the Bucks fired Cole from Bullet Membership changing him with Marty Scurll.
The Historical past Of Bullet Membership Half 3
Adam Cole, Bay Bay….. No Really Bye Bye
Kenny Omega then targeted on having one other shot on the IWGP Heavyweight Championship and Okada. At Wrestling Dontaku 2017, Omega defeated Ishii. He was subsequently nominated by Okada for a rematch at Dominion 6.11. Omega and Okada fought an unbelievable 60-minute match at Dominion 6.11, which led to a time-limit draw. Each rivals gave their all however by no means might safe the victory.
The 60-minute match additionally began extra issues for Omega and his management, as Cody desperately needed to throw the towel in for Omega. Kenny didn’t appear too eager on that choice. At Dominion 6.11, the Younger Bucks regained their IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Group Championships towards Roppongi Vice.
Ring Of Honor Success and New Japan Loses
Cody was subsequent to carry a championship belt to Bullet Membership. He defeated Christopher Daniels to win the ROH World Championship throughout ROH’s Greatest In The World. Cody then challenged Okada for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. A match he misplaced. However additional cracks inside Cody and Omega’s relationship had been forming as Omega tried to throw the towel in throughout that match.
On July 2nd, 2017, Kenny Omega turned the first-ever IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion as he defeated Tomohiro Ishii.
It wasn’t solely with Cody that Kenny Omega gave the impression to be having issues retaining management. His management with the unique members of Bullet Membership was additionally cracking. For the 2017 G1 Climax, Tama Tonga, Dangerous Luck Fale, and Omega all entered the event. Whereas Omega did advance to the finals and managed to defeat rival Okada, he did run into some issues together with his personal staff.
Omega and Tonga ended up going through each other. After the match, Tama Tonga began to query Omega’s management as soon as once more. He pointed to him being too distracted with The Elite. Tama Tonga continued his relationship with Bullet Membership, minus the issues with Omega. Tama and Loa then introduced their youngest brother, Leo Tonga, into the membership.
Again in Ring Of Honor, The Younger Bucks misplaced their ROH World Tag Group Championship belts to The Motor Metropolis Machine Weapons at Loss of life Earlier than Dishonor XV. Two months later, Marty Scrull gained the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship at Energy Wrestle. Throughout Ring Of Honor’s Last Battle, Cody misplaced the ROH World Championship to Dalton Fort.
Bullet Membership continued and changed the misplaced titles with the NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Group Championships as Dangerous Luck Fale and G.O.D defeated Los Ingobernables on the seventeenth of December.
The Historical past Of Bullet Membership Half 3
Are You Bullet Membership, OR Are You Elite?!
On the finish of 2017, Kenny Omega’s management appeared to be slipping away from him. He was going through issues with Cody and the unique Bullet Membership members. Dangerous Luck Fale mentioned Omega’s management to New Japan Professional Wrestling as,
“it actually felt like we had been dropping our id.”
Omega continued his management into 2018, however how would it not finish? Would Cody take over? Would Bullet Membership insurgent towards Omega? This was The Historical past Of Bullet Membership Half 3; tune in subsequent week to proceed the story.
All photos and movies courtesy of New Japan Professional Wrestling, Bullet Membership, Ring Of Honor, Kenny Omega, Chaos OrbitYT, Boke Man Sam, and WWETV UK