|
Post by Final Countdown Jones on Feb 21, 2018 12:26:10 GMT -5
Here is the ultimate problem with any Tama Tonga as the leader scenario: The dude isn't remotely a top guy. NJPW isn't likely to push him to any singles title so him becoming the leader of the Bullet Club would probably just reduce the BC to a marginal faction within NJPW. He didn't feel ready in G1, but we'll see if he's going to rise to the occasion, if he takes the reigns. To be frank, I don't think Kenny was quite ready to lead. People were still learning to buy into him, and Okada had that issue, too, where you'd see people slagging the Rainmaker as an underwhelming finisher, etc. They grew into it and then some. Before WK10 a lot of people were unsure Kenny was ready to lead. He was in a position where people weren't sold on him leading the group and especially not on him rising to the occasion at the main event level. It took until January 5th for that view to become a minority. The fact is, nobody really starts to look like a main event guy until they actually get treated like one.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 21, 2018 13:12:29 GMT -5
As great as this storyline is I'm not expecting much of a shakeup of things when it's all over, just because I really can't picture Cody, Omega and the Bucks actually splitting apart, since they all seem to really like working together. I suppose there's a chance a new group is formed out of this and there ends up being some BTE spinoff.
I would be all for Cody and the Elite squabbling to a point where it becomes apparent that they aren't fit to lead and Tama takes the reigns, so the players remain the same but the pecking order gets shuffled around. He might not have the wrestling ability of some of the others but Tama Tonga is the coolest guy in the room as far as the Bullet Club goes. I'm on his team in this civil war.
|
|
|
Post by corndog on Feb 21, 2018 13:14:45 GMT -5
No chance they are working everyone leading to a 'fiber poke of doom' thing leading to some kind of title match in NJPW for Kenny or something? RoH's big Wrestlemania weekend show ending with a Fingerpoke just isn't happening. If they did, it would be levels of stupid that I wouldn't bad for them going under. But it's not happening, because ROH is a pretty competent company that almost plays it too safe.
|
|
|
Post by Oh Cry Me a Screwball on Feb 22, 2018 3:47:47 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by 2coldMack is even more baffled on Feb 22, 2018 8:58:57 GMT -5
Oh shit..
|
|
|
Post by HMARK Center on Feb 22, 2018 14:03:50 GMT -5
Tama being very consistent in not hinting at wanting to be leader himself; most of his stuff just says he's all about Bullet Club itself, while Cody gets "LEADER" printed on his tights and Kenny even walks into the locker room saying "Well, I'M the leader".
Interesting.
|
|
ASYLUMHAUSEN
Fry's dog Seymour
GIFs | Shitposts | Fun
Posts: 24,749
|
Post by ASYLUMHAUSEN on Feb 22, 2018 23:12:55 GMT -5
|
|
Mozenrath
FANatic
Foppery and Whim
Speedy Speed Boy
Posts: 121,948
Member is Online
|
Post by Mozenrath on Feb 22, 2018 23:21:55 GMT -5
Tama being very consistent in not hinting at wanting to be leader himself; most of his stuff just says he's all about Bullet Club itself, while Cody gets "LEADER" printed on his tights and Kenny even walks into the locker room saying "Well, I'M the leader". Interesting. It raises the interesting question of what the Bullet Club is to him. Maybe he thinks they need to work out their frustrations and get back on track, or maybe to him, the group is mainly the Tongans and people who don't rock the boat, and he'd just as soon be rid of Cody and the Elite. Or even just him sitting back and just allying himself with whoever proves strongest.
|
|
|
Post by Final Countdown Jones on Feb 23, 2018 18:53:08 GMT -5
Tama being very consistent in not hinting at wanting to be leader himself; most of his stuff just says he's all about Bullet Club itself, while Cody gets "LEADER" printed on his tights and Kenny even walks into the locker room saying "Well, I'M the leader". Interesting. It raises the interesting question of what the Bullet Club is to him. Maybe he thinks they need to work out their frustrations and get back on track, or maybe to him, the group is mainly the Tongans and people who don't rock the boat, and he'd just as soon be rid of Cody and the Elite. Or even just him sitting back and just allying himself with whoever proves strongest. Last time he rose up it drew some ire and technically Kenny shut him down; I think there's a respect in that now where he wants to keep from starting some shit, and right now with Cody and Kenny fighting there isn't that much reason all his own to move in and start acting up on anything. Tama won't move until either the dust settles or it seems like there's a really good time to strike, because otherwise he a) turns this into a messy three-way fight b) risks losing the high ground in saying they're the problems and he's the one who's above that shit.
|
|
|
Post by HMARK Center on Feb 23, 2018 22:20:57 GMT -5
It raises the interesting question of what the Bullet Club is to him. Maybe he thinks they need to work out their frustrations and get back on track, or maybe to him, the group is mainly the Tongans and people who don't rock the boat, and he'd just as soon be rid of Cody and the Elite. Or even just him sitting back and just allying himself with whoever proves strongest. Last time he rose up it drew some ire and technically Kenny shut him down; I think there's a respect in that now where he wants to keep from starting some shit, and right now with Cody and Kenny fighting there isn't that much reason all his own to move in and start acting up on anything. Tama won't move until either the dust settles or it seems like there's a really good time to strike, because otherwise he a) turns this into a messy three-way fight b) risks losing the high ground in saying they're the problems and he's the one who's above that shit. Yep, Tama deserves a lot of credit for playing his role to the hilt here: he hasn't stopped doing some shit-talking about Kenny/the Elite, most notably this year's New Years Dash with the "maybe we have the wrong guy recruiting him" promo about the Kenny/Jay White segment, but they played up last year that BC is the type of Club where might makes right, and Kenny beating Tama during G1 was Kenny's way of saying "bend the knee and remember THAT'S what I'm leader", something Cody hasn't done. Still, even on GoD's YouTube show they've been dropping those "Bullet Club has to go back to its roots" hints, so yeah, I'm just waiting for that moment where the in-fighting settles down, and Tama or whomever "sticks the winner"...yeah, that's right, Kevin Nash will text Bullet Club to become a member.
|
|
Mozenrath
FANatic
Foppery and Whim
Speedy Speed Boy
Posts: 121,948
Member is Online
|
Post by Mozenrath on Feb 23, 2018 22:30:51 GMT -5
Last time he rose up it drew some ire and technically Kenny shut him down; I think there's a respect in that now where he wants to keep from starting some shit, and right now with Cody and Kenny fighting there isn't that much reason all his own to move in and start acting up on anything. Tama won't move until either the dust settles or it seems like there's a really good time to strike, because otherwise he a) turns this into a messy three-way fight b) risks losing the high ground in saying they're the problems and he's the one who's above that shit. Yep, Tama deserves a lot of credit for playing his role to the hilt here: he hasn't stopped doing some shit-talking about Kenny/the Elite, most notably this year's New Years Dash with the "maybe we have the wrong guy recruiting him" promo about the Kenny/Jay White segment, but they played up last year that BC is the type of Club where might makes right, and Kenny beating Tama during G1 was Kenny's way of saying "bend the knee and remember THAT'S what I'm leader", something Cody hasn't done. Still, even on GoD's YouTube show they've been dropping those "Bullet Club has to go back to its roots" hints, so yeah, I'm just waiting for that moment where the in-fighting settles down, and Tama or whomever "sticks the winner"...yeah, that's right, Kevin Nash will text Bullet Club to become a member. Nash probably would have been a perfect honorary member like they've done with some others.
|
|
|
Post by badkarma on Feb 23, 2018 23:59:21 GMT -5
I have a theory that Bury the Drug Free Bear will eventually be revealed as CM Punk.
Bury = WWE's treatment of Punk
Drug Free = Straight Edge
Bear = Chicago Bears or Chicago Cubs (a Cub is a young bear)
|
|
ASYLUMHAUSEN
Fry's dog Seymour
GIFs | Shitposts | Fun
Posts: 24,749
|
Post by ASYLUMHAUSEN on Feb 24, 2018 2:01:02 GMT -5
I have a theory that Bury the Drug Free Bear will eventually be revealed as CM Punk. Bury = WWE's treatment of Punk Drug Free = Straight Edge Bear = Chicago Bears or Chicago Cubs (a Cub is a young bear) oh... my...... god............
|
|
|
Post by BitterAF on Feb 24, 2018 5:15:21 GMT -5
I have a theory that Bury the Drug Free Bear will eventually be revealed as CM Punk. Bury = WWE's treatment of Punk Drug Free = Straight Edge Bear = Chicago Bears or Chicago Cubs (a Cub is a young bear)
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2018 5:27:45 GMT -5
I'm Team Cody but I feel bad about it. I haven't had this much emotional involvement in a wrestling storyline in years.
|
|
Zone Was Wrong
Bill S. Preston, Esq.
Currently living off the high that AEW brings every Wednesday and Friday
Posts: 17,304
|
Post by Zone Was Wrong on Feb 24, 2018 6:03:03 GMT -5
I'm Team Cody but I feel bad about it. I haven't had this much emotional involvement in a wrestling storyline in years. I'm with you on the investment. The fact there's three sides to this conflict and has been built up for a long time makes it feel very unique. Cody finally feels like he's found his groove and Kenny is finding more depths as this progresses. Makes me wish wwe would take more care into long term build up like this.
|
|
Josh Spicer
Trap-Jaw
Ladies and genlelmen, my new hero.
Posts: 424
|
Post by Josh Spicer on Feb 24, 2018 6:34:03 GMT -5
So...Marty is Team Cody?
Villain be wackin yo.
|
|
y4j1981
Dennis Stamp
Rowsdower
Posts: 4,712
|
Post by y4j1981 on Feb 24, 2018 10:15:53 GMT -5
The Golden Lovers and Young Bucks have a confrontation, plus we find out what happened in Room 710
|
|
y4j1981
Dennis Stamp
Rowsdower
Posts: 4,712
|
Post by y4j1981 on Feb 24, 2018 11:01:47 GMT -5
As somebody who only vaguely follows NJPW and ROH, can somebody give me the "Cliff's Notes" version of this storyline? Because it sounds f***ing amazing. Trying to keep it brief: Kenny Omega took over the Bullet Club in 2016 upon kicking AJ Styles out of the group and, even though he had his support, the departure of Karl Anderson. Kenny is best of friends with the Young Bucks (Matt and Nick Jackson), and together they formed a sort of mini-team within Bullet Club called "The Elite"; they often tag together, have won the 6-man belts together, and will tour together internationally quite often. In a weird way the Bucks sort of represent Bullet Club in the United States (along with other ROH regulars like Cody, Hangman Page, and Marty Scurll), while the other guys are in Japan more often; this has led to a bit of an identity crisis for the faction. However, going back further in time, Kenny Omega came to Japan earlier than a lot of the other gaijin on the scene right now: he got his big start in the promotion known as DDT, where he challenged and then often teamed with Kota Ibushi. While DDT is the promotion that Jim Cornette made infamous stateside when he ranted about Kota fighting a blow-up doll and Kenny having a match with a 9 year old girl, it's still a widely viewed promotion that put both guys on the map and made them into puroresu stars, with Omega being one of the few North Americans to make a full time living in Japan during the mid-to-late 00s. Together, Kenny and Kota were known as the "Golden Lovers", and they eventually came to NJPW where they won the IWGP Jr. Tag belts and feuded with the team of Apollo 55 (Prince Devitt (now Finn Balor) and Ryusuke Taguchi). They really caught the Japanese wrestling world's attention for their unique offense and storytelling abilities, and seemed as inseparable as brothers. Eventually Kota moved up to the heavyweight ranks in NJPW and nearly became a top star; Kenny signed full time as a junior, but swerved the fans by turning heel and joining Bullet Club. Kota and Kenny rarely interacted after that, but when they did there was always a tension in the air. For example, Kota once challenged AJ Styles for the IWGP heavyweight title and had to deal with Bullet Club interference; when Kenny was due to take a swipe at Ibushi, both men hesitated, making it clear they still hadn't put their past behind them. Kota never did sign full time with NJPW, leading to his never winning a top singles belt and his brief WWE run with the Cruiserweight Classic, but while he was gone Kenny rose to the top of the wrestling world thanks to his G1 tournament win and feud with Okada. To bring it all home: Kota returned to NJPW in a formal manner for last year's G1 tournament, and in interviews Kenny kept hinting that he wanted to face him in the finals, though he wouldn't even refer to Kota by name most of the time. At the same time, Kenny was dealing with some dissension within Bullet Club: while he became great friends with the Bucks as well, the introduction of Cody Rhodes to the group had placed another "alpha type" personality to the mix and led to numerous moments of Cody seeming to undermine Kenny's leadership in subtle ways. At the same time Tama Tonga, an original Bullet Club member, had begun to speak out more about not liking the direction Kenny was taking the Club, feeling they were straying from their solidly heel roots and becoming soft, or becoming a platform for The Elite to grow as a brand instead of thriving as a stable. Kenny beat Tama during G1 last year to silence him for awhile, but Cody's eventual betrayal this past January seemed to have been inevitable. Hangman Page sided with Cody, but everyone else seems conflicted over the situation. The great shock, though, was that Kenny was saved from further beatings by Kota Ibushi, leading to a veritable Randy Savage/Elizabeth reunion moment between the two. Since then Kenny and Kota have officially reunited as a team...but Kenny has not officially dropped out of Bullet Club. Cody is now calling himself the leader of Bullet Club, Page is on his side, the Bucks have not formally declared what they feel should happen to the Club going forward or whom they side with, and the Tongan guys (Tama Tonga, his brothers, and "Underboss" Bad Luck Fale) seem to just be biding their time and keeping track of where the wind blows in this tiff. We'll get a better picture of what's happening soon: this weekend in Australia Cody is teaming with the Bucks, while Kenny is teaming with the Tongan guys. At ROH's Supercard of Honor around Wrestlemania time this year, Kenny and Cody will square off one on one. Omega and Ibushi are also scheduled for some big matches during the next couple of months. The eventual and ultimate outcome of all of this, however, is up in the air. EDIT: I should add, one match that Omega and Ibushi had against one another for DDT managed to draw 10,000 fans. Given the bigger stage of NJPW, there will likely be plenty of demand for their eventual clash now, should something change and we end up getting it at, say, a Wrestle Kingdom. not the whole story but a quick look at stuff leading up to Cody turning on Kenny
|
|
ASYLUMHAUSEN
Fry's dog Seymour
GIFs | Shitposts | Fun
Posts: 24,749
|
Post by ASYLUMHAUSEN on Feb 24, 2018 13:00:58 GMT -5
So, are we just gonna gloss over Tama cementing his #TeamDGAF status by throwing up a Too Sweet in this last episode?
Matt’s reaction cracked me up
|
|