Who Could Lead NJPW’s Next Faction?

Credit: NJPW1972 Twitter

Tama Tonga

An original Bullet Club member, Tama Tonga has risen through the ranks to share the number-two spot with Bad Luck Fale. He has diversified his character and been more open on the mic and on social media. Where there is a problem, as Tama saw with the G1 Climax, he will voice his disdain. When his leader needs checked, he will gladly do so. It’s these kind of qualities that ought to mean his ceiling should be higher than ‘number two.’

As NJPW opens up to the global market, the term gaijin (foreigner) becomes increasingly moot. After all, when Prince Devitt created the Bullet Club, he was an Irishman leading a faction of Americans and Pacific Islanders. However, in its infancy, all of these members acted relatively similarly.

Nowadays, with so many foreigners coming in from all over the globe, Japanese fans will be starting to understand the differences. That’s why I believe Tama Tonga could fracture the Bullet Club and lead a group of Pacific natives. That would include his brothers Tanga Roa and Leo Tonga, as well as BC original Bad Luck Fale. Jay White, another New Zealander, will likely be returning to the fold soon, and ‘Young Lion’ Henare could graduate into the group eventually. Will Ospreay may be British, but he recently outlined his dream to lead the Australian wrestling scene onto the global stage.

Pacific pro wrestling is a clear theme already in NJPW, simply without its own distinct place on the roster. Carving that spot would be a good way of Tama Tonga acting on his clear frustration with the Bullet Club’s direction.