Bullet Club in 2022

[Bo Rida]

I don't really follow NJPW that much but seeing Bullet Club get 7% of the vote in the PWI awards made me wonder what people think of them these days.

Seems house of torture are an unpopular subgroup but sorry if I'm wrong or that's changed.

[ANuclearError]

This question as it is has always been interesting to me, due to what I think is an odd case of expectations.

Bullet Club tends to invoke comparisons to the nWo, and BC has certainly indulged in that. As such, I think there became an expectation to an "endgame" so to speak, which didnn't happen. We've had glimmers of a Hollywood vs Wolfpac style battle to happen a few times now, without really materialising.

Within NJPW, Bullet Club's primary role is to be the heel group with an emphasis on gaijin talent. This contrasts to Suzuki-Gun, a heel group with primarily domestic talent (exceptions apply to both factions). LiJ were also a domestic heel group, but now are firmly face much like (but separate from) CHAOS and the NJPW core. A group that servces that function is undoubtedly still a useful thing to have for NJPW, and Bullet Club's branding is still lucrative enough that it should still be in that role I believe.

Looking at this from a step upwards, I would argue that between Suzuki-Gun returning to NJPW and now, we have not had a major change-up in the NJPW faction system. The only meaningful changes we've seen since are:

1) LiJ's face turn
2) Bullet club civil war between Tongans and Elite (which never really went elsewhere)
3) House of Torture (currently ongoing, looks to separating the rest of Bullet Club from the spoilt assets that are EVIL and Sho's booking)

Perhaps a full separation of HoT from BC, and Jay being back would be enough to reinvigorate some life into Bullet Club, but I don't think its possible for Bullet Club to be the phenonomon it was during the Devitt/AJ/Omega eras.

When you exclude the House of Torture, a core trio of Jay Whiite, KENTA and Ishimori is an excellent asset to have, all credible title challengers in their division. ELP has held his own in my opinion being the "other" junior as Ishimori's deputy. However, I do think we need to have GoD pass the torch onto a new heavyweight tag team (I dunno who'd be good candidates that are available) whilst Fale is already winding down really. Outside of HoT, Chase Owens would be the guy who I think offers the least, but NJPW will be loyal to him sticking around during the pandemic.

[Jindrak Mark]

BC has been stale for 4-5 years now regardless of leadership/membership. Which is only natural considering it's been a thing for 9 years now. The original NWO only lasted 3 years and even the brief WWE reboot was only 6 years after they were formed.

The BC still being a thing in 2022 is the equivalent of the NWO still being a thing in 2005 or if DX's 2006 return wasn't a return but just a continuation and they had been together since 1997 with no breaks.

I imagine the reason they still keep it around is the same reason there's a DX/NWO reunion every couple years. They still sell shirts. They could do with a break like those groups had though.

[Deleted]

I voted BC good, HoT bad. But I think travel restrictions being gone will help as well. White’s return plus Hikeleo and Bey return/debut will be a good boost. But for the love of booking please do a proper HoT vs Bullet Club civil war. It’s time for a White lead cool tweener (similar to early LIJ) vs EVIL’s HoT. No way are fans gonna cheer EVIL and I would grown if White returns and is all buddy buddy with the HoT.

[Oak: Certified Jade Hater]

If I had my way, SHO would be BC instead of HoT but I guess life isn’t perfect.

EVIL and Togo have dragged the group down terribly and I’m at the point where I don’t really care to see them involved in anything. I’ve got a soft spot for the Tokyo Pimp and SHO is a guy who you’ve just gotta build up like you did Devitt and Omega. But as it stands HoT is actively dragging down my enjoyment of Bullet Club.

Also, co-sign on GoD passing the torch to another team soon. They’ve been tag champs plenty of times, and with winning Tag League, there’s not really much for them to do at this point that’s breaking new ground. Get a team like TMDK or the JONAH/Bad Dude Tito team from New Japan STRONG up there as their new heavyweight tag team, at least for a fresh change of pace. Otherwise you’re running the risk of burning out fans even moreso.

[KAMALARAMBO: BOOMSHAKALAKA!!!]

[Mozenrath]

Ending it isn't an option, t-shirt sales-wise, most likely. The sooner people give up on that, the better.

I do think they really need to figure out what they want to do with it. Tama has been making sly comments at Jay's expense on twitter, Jay's been frankly an absentee leader, and KENTA got himself hurt and no idea what the time table is on his return. Tama Tonga frankly isn't a guy I could see making a serious bid for leader, so, I don't really know what the way forward would be.

I do think some new blood would help, or maybe trying to go the tweener route again and feuding with UE or something. Maybe have El Phantasmo jump ship to UE and turn on Ishimori?

[Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-]]

They will never fold the group, it's a matter of finding what works with them, and one of the main things will be when travel restrictions finally stop.

[Deleted]

Bullet Club is really stale but it's damaged by Jay White being out of the country for so long. But yeah, real stale.

House of Torture is trash and the worst thing in the entire industry.

[King Devitt]

I kinda stopped caring when Jay White took over. I like Jay, fantastic wrestler, and amazing heel, but I thought there was a lot left on the table with him being the "obvious mole in CHAOS that splinters the group and creates his own from the ashes he made".

[Clash, Never a Meter Maid]

I think COVID travel restrictions, the Elite striking out on their own (say what you will, they added a ton of personality to the faction) and the mixed reception of EVIL’s world champ push and HoT have all taken some luster off BC over the past couple of years. White is amazing when he’s actually around, and I don’t mind EVIL in a major spot but I don’t think fans were ready for him to leave LIJ at that point. I’d rather they try to find ways to spice up the group because I like the “legacy stable” concept more than a faction just existing for storyline purposes.

[Mochi Lone Wolf]

They make too much money for the company to just let go.