Tama Tonga On The Bullet Club Civil War And Recruiting Neville
Tama Tonga is serious about his Bullet Club recruiting efforts.
Earlier this week, Tonga put out a video announcing “Recruit Season” for new Bullet Club members.
The tweet drew the ire of Cody Rhodes, who said, “We’re good here guys….Go to NXT already please” in a now deleted tweet.
While most associate Bullet Club with Kenny Omega, The Young Bucks, and Cody; Tonga explains that the people have it wrong.
“There is only one Bullet Club, and we’re fighting for it,” Tonga told Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated. “This ignited in San Fran, and we’re at war for Bullet Club. This is where we’re at, it’s the North vs. the South fighting for the United States. You have their side—the ROH side—against the Japan side of me, [Bad Luck] Fale, and [Tanga] Loa. Bullet Club was born in New Japan, but the Young Bucks ain’t signed in New Japan. Cody ain’t signed in New Japan. Adam Page and Marty Scurll ain’t signed with New Japan. From my understanding, a lot of them are becoming free agents at the end of this year. So, let’s see, who really is Bullet Club?”
As Bad Luck Fale recently explained, the rift in Bullet Club started when Kenny Omega took over. Things came to a head in July in San Francisco, when Fale, Loa, and Tonga turned on Omega. They invited Cody, who had been feuding with Omega over Bullet Club leadership, to join them. However, Cody turned them down and he too paid the price in San Francisco.
Following San Francisco and the official divide between the two sides, the Bullet Club’s focus turned to All In. Tonga revealed that he was offered a spot on the card, but didn’t accept. “All In, they did a great job—but for me, I was offered a role in it and I turned it down,” said Tonga. “I appreciate them reaching out, but I’m good.”
The recruitment of new talent is a priority for Tonga right now. The Firing Squad consists of just him, Fale, Loa, and Taiji Ishimori. Meanwhile, the “ROH Bullet Club” is Omega, Cody, Young Bucks, Scurll, Page, Chase Owens, and Yujiro Takahashi.
“We are expanding and enlisting,” said Tonga. “Inside of Japan, outside, everywhere, this is real. I have been given the green light to recruit, and that is not a storyline. That is real. Inside New Japan, America, the U.K., anywhere in Europe, Africa, India. I’m looking for talent.”
A name at the top of Tonga’s list is the former PAC, better known to WWE fans as Neville. Tonga was quick to comment on Neville’s WWE release in August.
Tonga looks at getting Neville to join Bullet Club as a challenge he’s willing to take head on.
“Kenny Omega did a promo during the G1 and said, ‘Tama, you think you can do better than me? You think you can push Bullet Club to new levels, higher ones than I did? Go ahead and prove it.’ Challenge accepted,” said Tonga “I know Neville and I’ve followed his work. He’s a phenomenal worker and he’s been here in New Japan before, I watched him in the Super Juniors in 2012. I love his work.”
Neville has not publicly said anything since his WWE release.
Tonga and the Bullet Club OGs flexed their muscle on the final night of the G1 tournament when they captured the NEVER Openweight Six-Man Titles from the Young Bucks and Marty Scurll. Tonga and Loa will face the Young Bucks for the IWGP Tag Team Titles at Fighting Spirit Unleashed on Sept. 30.
