Finn Balor says Bullet Club generated so much heat in its early days that New Japan Pro-Wrestling had to open a dedicated phone line for fan complaints.
Speaking on Insight with Chris Van Vliet, Balor explained that the faction was never the original plan. After six years as a babyface, he was considering a move to WWE when New Japan offered to turn him heel, which convinced him to stay. The group came together at the suggestion of booker Gedo, who noted that Balor was always around Karl Anderson, Tama Tonga, and Bad Luck Fale. Balor was told to name the group himself. “I went home, brainstormed a couple different names, and landed on Bullet Club,” he said.
The reaction was immediate. Balor recalled fans punching his legs as Fale carried him through the crowd at Korakuen Hall, and said the complaints reached the office. “So many fans were calling the office to complain about Prince Devitt cheating to win matches that they had to set up a separate phone line to take complaints,” he said, calling the run “lightning in a bottle.”
Balor credited those who came after him for the faction becoming a global phenomenon, pointing to AJ Styles taking it to the next level along with the members who followed.
Watch the full interview with Chris Van Vliet below.
