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The mounting tensions in the Bullet Club have led to questions of whether the once great faction is finally hurtling to it's slow but explosive demise at the hands of an indifferent Kenny Omega and the Machiavellian schemes of Cody.
Or is there the chance for the original Bullet Club members to decide enough is enough and take over, whatever happens, a new chapter of Bullet Club is set to begin soon. The seeds of the tension were sown last year, battle statements declared in the interim and at the Ring of Honor's Honor Rising event in Japan, everything truly got underway.
At the show, two sides of the Bullet Club faced off, to determine the fate of the group. This all leads to the eventual showdown between Club Alphas, Omega and Cody, at ROH Supercard of Honor XII.
Whatever the end result, Bullet Club will never be the same again, so let's look at the faction top to bottom and see what the future holds for each of its current members.
The outsiders
Bullet Club includes a number of members simply there to take a pin in big tag team matches or being groomed to be part of the most elite faction in wrestling today.
There were quite a few such members at one point, and it thankfully hasn't been diluted into an all in (pun intended) affair like the NWO of old. Instead these smaller members will probably fall in line with those that they associate with at this point.
These include Yujiro Takahashi and current young line Leo Tonga AKA Hikuleo, who will obviously join up with his brother Tama Tonga, wherever he goes. Tanga Loa, one-half of the Guerillas of Destiny, is the same as Loa, joining his brothers. Brandi Rhodes seemed to have stepped away from the current Club shenanigans, but she's definitely in her husband's corner.
Finally, there's the case of celebrity member Stephen Amell. Amell joined the Club as an honorary member, due to his friendship with Cody. We shall see if he maintains loyalty or honor at the ALL IN Bullet Club show.
Owens chases a ghost
At the recently concluded Ring of Honor event in Korakuen Hall, Chase Owens teamed up with the reuniting Golden Lovers (Kenny Omega and Kota Ibushi) to take on the Cody-led Bullet Club team.
Many times during the match it felt like Owens was an outsider looking in at a well-oiled brotherhood between the two lovers. He didn't seem comfortable playing along with Kota, but did so due to his old partnership with Omega.
While Owens was there to take the pin, it didn't seem like a case of a lower placed wrestler doing the job. Instead, it may have helped to build the narrative that Chase just doesn't matter to Omega, the way Ibushi does. Look to Cody playing this card against Omega and turning Owens to the dark side.
Owens joins Cody's new faction; The American ELITE
An underboss or an underling?
Bad Luck Fale is where Bullet Club begins and ends; he was there when it all started as the powerful and silent bodyguard of Prince Devitt. Known as the Under-boss of Bullet Club, Fale tasted great success as part of the Club; 'had' being the keyword.
Fale hasn't done much of late as part of the Bullet Club, partaking in the under-card team matches that matter less and less in New Japan these days. His tag as the Under-boss seems wasted, especially since the new guys who've come after him threaten to derail what he and Devitt built.
Under the guidance of Tama Tonga, Fale could return to his old spot as the monster threat of the Club. His finisher is one of the most protected in all of New Japan, and its threat deserves an equally threatening superstar.
Bad Luck Fale becomes the Under-Boss once more for Tama Tonga's OG Bullet Club!
Hung on the words of a serpent
If there's one Bullet Club member who supports Cody fully, it's none other than the Hangman, Adam Page. Page, who has racked up some incredible wins on his way to a shot at the IWGP US Heavyweight title is firmly in the corner of the American Nightmare.
Cody has him (somewhat rightfully) believing that Omega tried to steal his moment, finding the one man who can ably help him to break the Club from within. This could ruin his potential partnership with the Young Bucks in Ring of Honor.
Yet, as Adam Page joins Cody, he is set for a massive elevation as his right-hand man. Adam Page knows what it could do for his career, but currently, he's just the puppet Cody needs to play with.
Adam Page joins Cody's The American ELITE
Can a Villain truly change colors?
The most intriguing piece of the whole Bullet Club puzzle is the Villain, Marty Scurll. The former IWGP Junior Heavyweight champion was recruited by Kenny Omega, as a replacement for Adam Cole.
Scurll has flourished in NJPW but also in ROH under the leadership of Cody. More importantly, Scurll ousted Cole; the former leader of the Bullet Club in American shores, a role Cody has since begrudgingly played.
In last nights match Scurll was indecisive on whether to attack Omega or not, after all, they were friends. However one will notice from the match that Omega didn't hesitate in throwing down with Scurll, giving Cody another way to manipulate and turn someone away from the desperate Omega.
The fact that Scurll has not only questioned Cody's actions but condemned Kenny's failed leadership puts him on a pedestal and a big win for Cody once he joins The American ELITE.
Brothers divided, brothers fall; brothers united, brothers fail!
Bullet Club's Young Bucks have taken their savvy minds and turned the New Japan faction into a money minting machine with their merchandise sales. It is their acumen that turned it into a household name and it's them who have the most to lose.
On one hand are friends they've made recently, on the other hand, there's Kenny Omega - the third member of The Elite, a stable comprising of the three. The Bucks have thus decided to sit out of the conflict and let it boil over, letting the chips land where they may.
Their non-involvement will be their downfall, as they see everything torn apart when they could have fixed what they imagine as just a small war of egos.
Of course, fans expect The Young Bucks to eventually interfere and superkick one side (most likely Cody's AKA The Heel Side) to make their allegiances known, it is their modus operandi after all. Yet it'd be far more interesting and logical if they didn't take a stand simply because of the emotional burden on them, elevating their stale metacharacters.
Despite each one debating their sides (Matt is with Cody while Nick is with Kenny, for now), they'll have to decide, and they will choose Kenny Omega and his newly formed Golden ELITE Club!
A Golden Lover returns
This one is as easy as they come, though I believe Kota Ibushi is set to face Kenny Omega at Wrestle Kingdom 13; he will take his partner's side during this Bullet Club war. Kota and Omega's reunion is fresh and loved by New Japan fans. Tears streamed down the eyes of many when they reunited earlier this year.
Kota Ibushi will be the right-hand man to Omega, slowly re-building goodwill in New Japan. When finally the two face off, it will be on equal and respectful terms. Till then the two will most likely continue to team up, even going for the tag titles as alluded during the first day of Honor Rising.
Though what that will do for the plans of the Young Bucks to move up to the heavyweight division, no one knows. For now, it seems if anyone's happy with Omega's changing attitude and affiliation with Kota then it's the Bucks, allowing them to be a super team of their own.
Kota Ibushi backs Kenny Omega and returns fulltime to NJPW as part of the Golden ELITE Club.
The originals will fire the last shots
As I mentioned in an article previously, there's no doubt in my mind that Tama Tonga is all set to turn the tables on this so-called Bullet Club schism. In a hilarious episode of Being the Elite, Tonga was quick to do nothing but watch as Cody and Omega came to blows.
For quite some time, the originals, especially Tonga, have been pushed back in favor of other members joining the Elite. He hasn't been happy about it, letting his thoughts known in a vicious match with Omega at last year's G1 Climax.
Though it seemed Cody could win them over, he hasn't interacted much with the original Bullet Club. In the Australian tour, GOD and Tonga had Omega's back but for how long? Eventually, Tama Tonga, with all his potential, needs to rise up and take control of his baby.
Tama Tonga will annex everyone else to form his own OG Bullet Club!
An American Nightmare
Cody has changed the face of independent wrestling, in ways that not many would have dreamed or want to admit. The son of the legendary Dusty Rhodes, he might have had it easy to navigate the indies with such pure class post his WWE exit but it speaks volumes that he's stuck around and reinvented himself.
As the borderline sadistic villain ruining Bullet Club, he's got the character down and isn't as mediocre as people claim, in the ring. This story is now or never for Cody to really elevate himself in the eyes of NJPW management and fans.
Whichever way the dice falls, Cody will walk out a made man if he manages to eke at least one win out from Kenny Omega. Breaking apart Bullet Club will make him an even bigger deal. Picking up the carcasses he will rule American indie shores, with the occasional high profile Japanese excursion.
All this happens when Cody forms his own The American ELITE.
Time to Clean up his act
Kenny Omega is now a clear cut good guy in the pro-wrestling world; it helps that he has wholeheartedly embraced his friend and partner Kota Ibushi. Of course, it's no coincidence that Omega's face turn is happening just as Kazuchika Okada grows even more irritatingly arrogant.
That however is a story for the future. In the now, Omega must deal with a fractured Club that will implode and prove one thing we have known since he became the Club's leader - he's not a good one. Kenny has lacked the diplomacy and distinction to see how to merge the disparate sides of his faction.
All of it comes tumbling down, but in the wake of it Kenny Omega might just be stronger and the better for it. With his closest friends still by his side and a new outlook, Omega could change the fortunes for his version of the Bullet Club and the Elite.
Kenny Omega moves out to form his own group of Golden Elite Club.
The battle lines are drawn
Despite the fact that the main schism and fallout conflict of the end of Bullet Club revolves around Cody and Omega, Tonga's eventual insertion into this will add a nice wrinkle to proceedings.
Here are the three clear-cut factions that will add a new dimension to the growing faction wars in New Japan -
Golden Elite Club: Kenny Omega (Leader), Kota Ibushi and The Young Bucks (Matt and Nick Jackson)
OG Bullet Club: Tama Tonga (Leader), Bad Luck Fale, Yujiro Takahashi and Guerillas of Destiny II (Tanga Loa and Hikuleo)
The American ELITE: Cody (Leader)/w Brandi Rhodes, Marty Scurll, Adam Page and Chase Owens
