WWE has done very little to hide the fact that they want you to associate their new signees, Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows, with the faction Anderson co-founded in New Japan Pro Wrestling, the Bullet Club.
Lots of Tweets last week hashtagged the group name, and a video from this weekend made it even more explicit - and name checked past Club leaders, NXT champion Finn Bálor and #1 contender to the WWE title, AJ Styles. But on television, all we had to go on was Anderson & Gallows attack of the Usos on Raw last Monday. The duo pulled a similar trick on some enhancement talent at SmackDown, but it didn't make the show.
That changed, as the introduction of a Bullet Club-like group into WWE now seems like a real possibility.
First, Anderson & Gallows walked in on a Mauro Ranallo interview of Styles, and the three men excitedly reconnected, taking the interview over from Ranallo to introduce his "brothers" to the WWE Universe.
It's @AJStylesOrg! Karl Anderson! Luke Gallows!!
— WWE (@WWE) April 19, 2016
Getting the band back together? #RAWUK pic.twitter.com/EJqAQ7DIkk
Then, after Styles had gone eye-to-eye with Roman Reigns, the man he'll face for the WWE World Heavyweight championship at Payback in two weeks, the man known as Machine Gun (Anderson, the shorter of the two) and the former Straight Edge Society members (Gallows, taller) jumped the Big Dog.
#LukeGallows and #KarlAnderson just attacked @WWE World Heavyweight Champion @WWERomanReigns! #RAW @AJStylesOrg https://t.co/NIHnmKRcZw
— WWE (@WWE) April 19, 2016
The Phenomenal One looked surprised to see his old teammates, and rushed backstage to assure the champ he had nothing to do with the attack by Gun & Gallows. Roman, referencing their attack on his cousins Jimmy & Jey, did everything short of calling AJ a liar.
Reigns, fighting champ that he is, isn't phased by this. He promises to beat the trio "One versus all". Styles looks frustrated and perplexed as Roman walks away.
"Bring all your friends ... it's ONE vs ALL!" - @WWERomanReigns to @AJStylesOrg #RAWUK pic.twitter.com/xdjnnn9Q92
— WWE (@WWE) April 19, 2016
There are a lot of ways WWE can go with this, all of them interesting for one reason or another.
Do they essentially turn AJ, a guy who's gotten over on wrestling ability and populist appeal? If they do, are they thinking it will help with the loud segments of their fanbase who don't show any signs of embracing Roman?
Is this misdirection for someone else to be pulling the strings on Anderson & Gallows? If so, is it the NXT champ? A McMahon (seeing as how Shane has been AJ's biggest supporter)?
Can they turn this into the Reigns' heel turn for which so many of his critics have been begging?
Perhaps the most important question is, will you keep watching to find out?