Important Update On Reports Of WWE And Rights To The Bullet Club, Backstage Notes, The Young Bucks
- There is a lot of talk going around online about WWE purchasing the rights to New Japan Pro Wrestling's popular stable The Bullet Club. As far as we know, WWE has not purchased those rights. This comes after the reports of Bullet Club members AJ Styles, Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson, plus rival Shinsuke Nakamura, reportedly signing with WWE soon.
The rumors apparently come from a Twitter joke that Pro Wrestling Tees made about having to pull their Bullet Club merchandise due to WWE. They later clarified the tweet as a joke but it sounds like a lot of people didn't pick up on their follow-up. The rumors were then furthered when Rob Feinstein of RF Video mentioned on Facebook that WWE had purchased the rights to use the Bullet Club logo. We're not sure if Feinstein was reporting a scoop he heard or just repeating the rumors that started from the Pro Wrestling Tees tweet.
The Wrestling Observer Newsletter reported today that it's believed WWE is interested in pushing new "Balor Club" t-shirts for WWE NXT Champion Finn Balor, due to the worldwide success of NJPW's "Bullet Club" t-shirts. For those unaware, Balor was the leader of The Bullet Club before he left NJPW and signed with WWE. Balor teasing The Bullet Club in WWE on social media this week has added to the speculation.
As noted earlier today, The Observer also reported that there are now rumors of Bullet Club members Tama Tonga and Bad Luck Fale coming to WWE as well. Word from NJPW is that The Bullet Club would remain with Kenny Omega as the top heavyweight star, Fale and Tonga as the top foreign tag team, and then IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions The Young Bucks, as well as other members. That does not mean Fale and Tonga won't be coming in, but apparently that's the impression going around Japan.
The Bucks have been tweeting about "The Elite" and recently spoke about them and Omega being "the elite" of The Bullet Club. They also have new "Elite" t-shirts for sale on Pro Wrestling Tees. Below are recent tweets from Matt Jackson:
Remember the day it all started. This is going to get crazy. #theELITE pic.twitter.com/py1scJ4ViO
? The Young Bucks (@MattJackson13) January 6, 2016
Love it. Hate it. Who cares. #BulletClub changed the business & transcended wrestling.
? The Young Bucks (@MattJackson13) January 7, 2016