AEW
Speculation On If Two Released Big Tag Teams Could Become All Elite
Two big former WWE tag teams could be joining the rival company
On April 24th And May 2nd, WWE and TKO did some housecleaning and released two major tag teams, along with more than a dozen individual wrestlers, from the roster with a 90-day non-compete clause attached to each one. The two high-profile tag teams being The Motor City Machine Guns and The New Day.
Today, July 23rd, The MCMG team of Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin became free agents when their non-compete clause given on April 24th ran out. And with The New Day’s Kofi and Austin Creed being mutually released on May 2nd due to a pay cut dispute, their 90-day compete clause is scheduled to run out within weeks.
On the latest Fightful Select Q&A on July 22nd, Sean Ross Sapp spoke about some of the rumors that have been brewing behind the scenes regarding the two high profile tag teams.
According to Sapp, even though TNA expressed that the Guns “always have a home” there, which is where they made their stake and became a worldwide name, sources across the industry overwhelmingly expect them to sign with AEW. He noted that as being the case, even though any inside updates have been kept quiet and close to the chest. However, all internal signs continue to lean toward the Guns becoming All Elite. Especially with tapings of AEW Dynamite and Collision on July 29th and 30th being in their hometown city of Detroit, MI.
Which brings us to the tag team formerly known as The New Day. Kofi and Austin Creed, as they have to be called now, have been taking ComiCon appearances and signings since their mutual release while they wait out their 90-day non-compete clause, which runs out in late July-early August. As many have previously reported that the team has been heavily pitched, Sapp noted that they are “almost certainly” being brought into AEW. He speculated that they could show up at the upcoming “All In London” PPV on August 30th and “stake a claim” in the rumored, but not yet confirmed, All In Ladder match that is believed to be happening with some of their top tag teams.
As The New Day is most certainly going to become All Elite, that leaves one unfortunate legal detail. Not only does the WWE own the rights to the ring name “The New Day”, they also own most of the intellectual property rights to everything they’ve created, used, done, and even chanted in their previous company. What that means is Kofi and Austin Creed will not only have to come up with a new catchy tag team name, but there’ll be no unicorn horns, no Booty-O’s cereal, and no catchphrases they previously made famous over their long WWE tenure.
However, there is a loophole. Pancakes are considered a breakfast food and therefore cannot be trademarked. Nor can musical instruments, just like they can’t trademark Austin Creed’s musical talent. So, whatever new tag team name they might choose when they come out, Austin Creed can still come out playing the trombone (long as he’s not tooting to their previous WWE theme) while Kofi tosses pancakes into the mouths of the fans.
This upcoming month will likely be very exciting in AEW as, not only are former WWE talent becoming free agents today, but two huge and popular tag teams could very well be close to becoming…
#ALLELITE