Tama Tonga Recalls Jeff Jarrett Joining Bullet Club, NJPW Thinking It Would Help Internationally

Bullet Club was well-established as one of the top acts in New Japan Pro-Wrestling in 2014 with AJ Styles reigning as IWGP Heavyweight Champion.

But NJPW thought the group needed a little something more to help push them to the next level outside of Japan. 

“New Japan thought the appeal, to go international, [Bullet Club] needed somebody that they trusted that they have done business with before. Jeff Jarrett, as head of TNA, had done business with New Japan. Jeff Jarrett wasn’t doing anything at the time, he was building Global Force Wrestling,” said Tama Tonga on Tama’s Island. “New Japan just didn’t realize the impact we had made and they thought Jeff Jarrett was the way. That ended up being a flop. What really extended our reach internationally was, we had foot soldiers that were running the Indie scene around America and they were a hot commodity, which was the Young Bucks. Once they ran around representing Bullet Club, the awareness grew rapidly. Plus, Gallows, Anderson, and I were doing Indie shows around the south east and spreading Bullet Club awareness. That’s what helped us grow internationally.”

Jarrett didn’t last long in the group, joining in August 2014 and making his last appearance in January 2015, though his actual time involved and impact on the group is far less. 

When asked if Jarrett ever recruited Tama for Global Force Wrestling, Tama said, “He didn’t want to pay me what I wanted, which was probably too high because I thought I was worth more than I was. They put me in their little magazine and said I was apart of it and I was like, ‘What the F? Come on.’ I’ll let this one slide ol’ slick Jeff Jarrett.”

Global Force Wrestling was the company founded by Jarrett in 2014 that never got off the ground. Jarrett is currently involved in a lawsuit with Anthem over the GFW master tapes. You can find more information on the lawsuit by clicking here. 

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