The Dogs (professional wrestling)

The Dogs
Tag team
LeaderDavid Finlay
MembersClark Connors
Gabe Kidd
NameThe Dogs
DebutJanuary 31, 2026
Years active2026–present

The Dogs are a villainous professional wrestling stable that predominantly perform in All Elite Wrestling (AEW). The group consists of leader David Finlay, Clark Connors, and Gabe Kidd. They are former one-time AEW World Trios Champions. Kidd also makes appearances in partner promotion New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he is the current IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion.

Background

David Finlay, Clark Connors, and Gabe Kidd first teamed up in 2023 as members of Bullet Club in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), which they joined in the first half of the year.[1][2][3] With in Bullet Club via the War Dogs sub-group, Kidd and Alex Coughlin won the Strong Openweight Tag Team Championship, while Connors and Drilla Moloney won the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship.[3][4] As the fifth and final leader of Bullet Club, Finlay won the NEVER Openweight Championship once and the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship twice.[5][6] At New Year Dash!! on January 5, 2026, Finlay and Yota Tsuji announced the merger of Bullet Club and the Unaffiliated stable, into the Unbound Co. stable.[7] However, Finlay, Connors and Kidd left NJPW and the stable in February and March.[8]

History

In January 2026, Clark Connors and Gabe Kidd began feuding with Darby Allin.[9] The duo of Connors and Kidd would be known as "The Dogs" (a reference to their former NJPW stable, Bullet Club War Dogs).[10] On the March 4 episode of Dynamite, Connors and Kidd were joined by their former Bullet Club leader David Finlay in The Dogs. It was later announced that all three were now signed to AEW.[11] At Revolution on March 15, The Dogs were defeated by Allin, Orange Cassidy, and Roderick Strong in a tornado trios match.[12] On the April 8 tapings of Collision, The Dogs defeated Místico and JetSpeed (Kevin Knight and "Speedball" Mike Bailey) to win the AEW World Trios Championship, marking their first championship in AEW. AEW officially began recognizing this reign when the episode aired on tape delay on April 11.[13][14] They then lost the Trios Title to The Conglomeration (Orange Cassidy, Roderick Strong, and Kyle O'Reilly) at Dynasty on April 12, ending their reign at 4 days, although AEW officially recognizes that their reign only lasted one day.[15][16] During the match, Kidd suffered a legitimate shoulder injury and was later rendered out indefinitely by AEW president Tony Khan in the post-show media scrum.[17]

On June 14 at Dominion 6.14 in Osaka-jo Hall, Kidd announced himself as the newest member of the Death Riders following an attack on Shota Umino, while also keeping his status in The Dogs.[18][19] At Forbidden Door on June 28, Connors and Finlay failed to capture the AEW World Tag Team Championship from Cage and Cope (Christian Cage and Adam Copeland) after Finlay was attacked during the match by his former NJPW rival, a returning Jay White.[20] During the Road to G1 Climax tour on July 6, Kidd defeated Shota Umino to win the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship.[21] On July 26 at Redemption, Connors and Finlay defeated Jay White and his Bang Bang Gang stablemate Juice Robinson in a Double Chain match due to interference from members of the Death Riders.[22] Kidd returned to AEW television on the August 19 episode of Dynamite.[23]

Championships and accomplishments

References

  1. ↑ "NJPW Battle of the Valley Results: Winners, Grades and Reaction to Mercedes Moné". Bleacher Report.
  2. ↑ Rose, Bryan (15 April 2023). "Clark Connors joins Bullet Club at NJPW Capital Collision". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  3. 1 2 Kelly, Andrew (4 June 2023). "Bullet Club Recruits New Members At NJPW Dominion". Cultaholic. Retrieved 2023-06-04.
  4. ↑ Thomspon, Andrew (July 4, 2023). "Clark Connors & Drilla Moloney become IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Champions at NJPW STRONG Independence Day". POST Wrestling.
  5. ↑ "NJPW Dominion 6.4 In Osaka-Jo Hall Results: Sanada vs. Yota Tsuji, IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship Match". SE Scoops. 4 June 2023.
  6. ↑ Renner, Ethan (2024-05-04). "New champions crowned at NJPW Wrestling Dontaku". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved 2024-05-04.
  7. ↑ Ballantyne, Craig (January 5, 2026). "Yota Tsuji Announces New NJPW Faction; Seemingly Ends Bullet Club". SLAM! Wrestling. Retrieved January 5, 2026.
  8. ↑ "The Dogs Explain Why They Decided to Leave NJPW for AEW (Exclusive)". Sports Illustrated. March 12, 2026. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
  9. ↑ MacDonald, Josiah (January 31, 2026). "AEW Collision results: Tommaso Ciampa, Rascalz debut". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved January 31, 2026.
  10. ↑ Lambert, Jeremy (March 3, 2026). "Darby Allin And Orange Cassidy vs The Dogs Added To Dynamite". Fightful. Retrieved March 3, 2026.
  11. ↑ Pulido, Luis (March 4, 2026). "AEW Dynamite Results (3/4/2026)". Fightful. Retrieved March 4, 2026.
  12. ↑ Powell, Jason (March 15, 2026). "AEW Revolution results: Powell's live review of MJF vs. Hangman Page in a Texas Death Match for the AEW World Championship, FTR vs. The Young Bucks for the AEW Tag Team Titles". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved March 15, 2026.
  13. ↑ Carey, Ian (April 9, 2026). "Partial AEW Collision spoilers from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
  14. ↑ Lambert, Jeremy (April 11, 2026). "The Dogs Win AEW Trios Titles On AEW Collision". Fightful.
  15. ↑ Lambert, Jeremy (April 12, 2026). "Kyle O'Reilly Returns At AEW Dynasty, Wins AEW Trios Titles With Conglomeration". Fightful.
  16. ↑ Howard, Ryan (April 12, 2026). "AEW Dynasty 2026 live results: MJF vs. Kenny Omega". Wrestling Observer.
  17. ↑ "Gabe Kidd Out 'Indefinitely' Following Injury At AEW Dynasty". 411MANIA | Wrestling News, WWE & AEW Results. Retrieved April 13, 2026.
  18. ↑ Taylor, Sanchez (June 14, 2026). "AEW Star Gabe Kidd Says He's Part Of The Death Riders Following NJPW Dominion 2026 Return". WrestleTalk. Retrieved June 27, 2026.
  19. ↑ "Roster". www.allelitewrestling.com. Retrieved June 29, 2026.
  20. ↑ Powell, Jason (June 28, 2026). "AEW Forbidden Door results: Powell's live review of Will Ospreay vs. Swerve Strickland, Mercedes Mone vs. Maya World in the Owen Hart Cup finals, 12-man cage match, Kenny Omega vs. Zack Sabre Jr". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved June 28, 2026.
  21. ↑ Thompson, Andrew (July 6, 2026). "Gabe Kidd Spits In Hiroshi Tanahashi's Face, Wins IWGP Global Title At NJPW Road To G1 Climax". Fightful | WWE News, AEW News, Pro Wrestling Backstage News. Retrieved July 6, 2026.
  22. ↑ Powell, Jason (July 26, 2026). "AEW Redemption results: Powell's live review of Kenny Omega vs. Kevin Knight for the AEW World Championship, Will Ospreay and Jon Moxley vs. The Young Bucks". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved July 26, 2026.
  23. ↑ Howard, Ryan (August 19, 2026). "AEW Dynamite live results: Kenny Omega & Will Ospreay take on the Don Callis Family". F4W/WON. Retrieved August 19, 2026.
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