WWE TLC 2017: Will Finn Balor, AJ Styles Form A New Bullet Club?
WWE TLC 2017 is tonight, and one of the most intriguing matches pits AJ Styles vs. Finn Balor. This will be the first time the former Bullet Club members have ever locked up.
WWE TLC 2017 kicks off tonight from Minneapolis, Minnesota. In recent days the card has seen some serious shakeups due to illness spreading through the locker room. One of the bouts that were altered was Bray Wyatt vs Finn Balor. But never fear wrestling fans, Vincent Kennedy McMahon saved the day! It was announced that Finn Balor would now be facing AJ Styles in a match that will be undoubtedly better than the originally planned bout. Are there possibly some more sinister undertones to the booking?
Recently the WWE has been in a bit of a war with a new foe. No, it isn’t Ring of Honor. No GFW/TNA/Impact hasn’t stepped up to the plate. The WWE’s latest enemy is The Bullet Club. Most wrestling fans are up to date with the back and forth between the faction and wrestling giant, but things changed when the WWE took the legal route. After the BulletClub “invaded” Raw, The Young Bucks were served with a cease and desist letter. After poking and prodding the bear that is the WWE, the Young Bucks were finally bitten. They could no longer perform the “Too Sweet” or “Suck It” hand gestures.
The odd thing about the invasion being the final straw for the WWE is they literally did the exact same thing to WCW during the Monday Night War. And if you watch anything the WWE produces today about their invasion, everyone involved ridicules WCW for doing exactly what WWE did. Not allowing the invaders into the building and then taking legal action against them. Now back to the matter at hand and TLC. Some may look at the match, see it’s between two of the best in the company and not think twice. But anyone could’ve filled that spot for Bray Wyatt, why AJ?
Balor and Styles change the wrestling business
Opening the history books could give us some insight into what may have led to this pairing. Finn Balor was a founding member and the original leader of the BulletClub. He was the original kingpin to the gang. Under his rule, they were a vicious and violent gang that would take out anyone in front of them. Years later, AJ Styles would make his way to NJPW and on his first night, become the new leader of the BulletClub.
WWE.com
Following Styles’ lead, the group would continue its pack mentality, eliminating anyone and everyone that would try and stop their rule. Fast forward and both men are now stars in the WWE. Finn is on Raw and Styles on SmackDown Live, and both are key figures in their respective programs. But again, was it a simple thought process of two great wrestlers, or was it more? To me on the outside, that’s all that it is. But once I looked deeper I could see something more under the surface. Both men will absolutely be throwing up the ‘Too Sweet,” as they can do so freely.
This feels like it could be VKM sending a message to the Bullet Club that he has their guys and he can do whatever he wants with them. They can use the gestures and mannerisms all that they want with no punishment. So if the Bullet Club wants to go to war, Vince has his own version. With not only Balor and Styles on the payroll, the WWE also have founding member Karl Anderson, Luke Gallows and now Adam Cole. So while the Bullet Club is thriving and running the world outside of the WWE, McMahon has just as many members at his disposal.
The Club Reborn
The WWE tried a version of the Bullet Club, even going as far as calling the group “The Club.” The trio of Styles, Gallows, and Anderson did their best but they weren’t given the true green light to do what they do best. Now with things escalating to a fever pitch, the WWE may rekindle the idea with a “Superstar Shakeup.” Send Styles back to Raw, reform The Club, add in Balor and eventually call up Cole.
Next: WWE TLC 2017: 3 Reasons Why Finn Balor Should Defeat AJ Styles
This would effectively create an NWO Hollywood/NWO Wolfpac scenario but not under the same umbrella. Again, this could just be a match for the sake of having two great wrestlers together. But I wouldn’t put it past Vince McMahon to have the ulterior motive of taunting the Bullet Club.