It varies by continuity (for example in the JG1, it's Skywarp who becomes Cyclonus) but in the American G1 cartoon universe, it's clearly Bombshell.
If I remember correctly (I haven't watched the G1 movie in some time), the problem comes from the change of character positions between shots, causing confusion and thus it not being clear who is who.
Then in that case let the war of Who Became Cyclonus begin! I call being the commander of the Skywarp Became Cyclonus army.
Here we go again ladies and germs. How about Cyclonus, Scourge, the huntsmen and the armada are all beings torn into the g1 movie universe by Unicron from a parallel dimension, by using the bodies of all fallen deceptions simultaneously as a sacrifice. The old guard are all dead, and Unicron's troops are not related to them. There. That solves that problem...
"Constructed from the cast-off chassis of deactivated Decepticon warriors, Cyclonus was programmed by Unicron to be loyal only to Galvatron. Powered by nuclear engines, and a small fragment of his creator's supernatural power, Cyclonus wields enough might to sterilize the surface of an inhabited world by himself. He never unleashes this power without his commander's leave, however, and he focuses all of his energy on ensuring that Galvatron is obeyed without question by those under his command." I like the implication there that, save Galvatron, these new guys weren't just straight upgrades, but more along the lines of Frankenstein's monster.
According to bios, he is constructed from the bodies of cast off Decepticon warriors. This was probably done because it is still a debated topic. As to whom he was before exactly, I like to believe that he was Skywarp, at least internally and perhaps some of Bombshell's parts. The original line "Cyclonus, and his armada" was said because the concept was that, like Scourge has his Sweeps, Cyclonus was to have copies of himself as well. An armada of Cyclonus jets. Think of it the same way that in Beast Machines there is Tankor, Thrust, and Jetstorm and each of them command an army of copy bodies like them. The concept for the Cylconus copies was dropped however, even after they filmed two Cyclonus bots being created. When Galvatron returns to his ship, you see ONE Cyclonus, Scourge, and 3 Sweeps. I made a video last year about it here:
JG1 and western G1 are two similiar but different continuities. For example, Headmasters ignores the very last episode of the western cartoon. Cyclonus being Skywarp was implied in a Takara prose story which is not canon to the american version. So a thing that is true in one continuity doesn't necessarily mean it is also true in the other. no
This is why I prefer IDW. I don't have to wonder who became who, Cyclonus, Scourge and Galvatron are their own characters, always have been.
What Seeker Did Unicron Turn Into Cyclonus/What Do You Think Of The Universe Toy? in transformers is skywarp cyclonus,is thundercracker sourge,is the insecticons sweep Who are cyclonus and scourge? the great Cyclonus debate If Cyclonus,Scourge meet Skywarp,Thundercracker face to face? Debates caused by animation errors FansP.insecticons mean skywarp is cyclonus Cyclonus was Skywarp: 2012 debate Who were Cyclonus and Scourge in their previous lives? Wouldn't It Have Been A Lot Easier If... (Original Movie Question) Transformers the movie question IT'S THE 2014 "Who Is Cyclonus?" THREAD! Who Became Cyclonus? This one ranks right up there with "Rumble and Frenzy: Who is red and who is blue?" and "What's the real origin of the Constructicons?" among the most annoylingly discussed to death arguments in the entire history of the Transformers fandom. Can anyone dig up more old threads? There's still plenty of room left in the list above!
