The rivalry really began at Global Wars in May when, during Jay Lethal’s World Title defence against returning ROH legend and hometown hero Colt Cabana, Bullet Club members The Young Bucks interfered with two Bullet Club t-shirts in hand. Then the lights went out. As they came on, former ROH World Champion Adam Cole was standing between The Young Bucks. As the crowd in Chicago erupted, Cole directed The Bucks to superkick both Lethal & Cabana. All three men destroyed everyone and everything at ringside including Kevin Kelly & Mr Wrestling 3 before the new Bullet Club left Michigan in the wake of truly shocking events.
After the events in Chicago, the Bullet Club grew by another member as Adam Page joined the group with Adam Cole taking centre stage as the American Leader of the Japanese faction. Jay Lethal, however, was looking to continue his dominance over the ROH roster but Cole and the Bullet Club wasn’t going to let this happen.
On a recent ROH TV episode, Adam Cole tried to prevent former partner and now long term foe Kyle O’Reilly from becoming the next ROH World Champion. Cole announced that as long as he remained in Ring Of Honor then O’Reilly would never be Champion. As ROH dedicated an entire hour of this show to the World Title match, Cole and The Young Bucks took out Kyle O’Reilly and injured his shoulder in the process. ROH matchmaker Nigel McGuiness had backup matches in place as O’Reilly received treatment in the locker room.
Former World Champion McGuiness announced that he had The Bullet Club removed from the arena following the incident, as Kyle O’Reilly declared himself fit enough to wrestle for the title. Lethal tried to prevent this, but proceeded to defeat the former Tag Team Champion before The Young Bucks & Adam Cole again interfered, attacking Kyle O’Reilly post match one more time.
Lethal and reDRagon member Bobby Fish came to ringside to make the save. McGuniness however, proceeded to announce that as of the actions from The Club, Adam Cole would never receive a World Title shot for as long as McGuiness is the ROH Matchmaker.
Cole’s response to McGuiness’s announcement was a three-on-one attack on Lethal with The Young Bucks. The Bullet Club members proceeded to humiliate Lethal by cutting off his braids and shaving his head bald. Saturday, at Aftershock in Philadelphia, McGuinness reversed his decision and announced that Jay Lethal would defend the title against Adam Cole at Death Before Dishonor XIV when Lethal begged McGuinness to agree to the match. After listening to the fans, the ROH Matchmaker agreed that Lethal will face Cole for the coveted Ring Of Honor World Title in Sin City on Friday, August 19th.
Will Jay Lethal continue his reign as World Champion? Or will Adam Cole reclaim what he’s been chasing for two years since losing the title to Current IWPG Intercontinental Champion Michael Elgin?
Whatever happens at Death Before Dishonor XIV, one thing’s for sure. This rivalry will make for an incredible match as ROH & NJPW link up again for another great night of wrestling.