'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
2) Former IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions The Golden Lovers (Former AEW World Champion Kenny Omega & NJPW's Kota Ibushi)
Trending
It took a couple of different stories to help AEW grow to prominence. One of those was the saga of the Golden Lovers.
After his stint in WWE developmental didn't go as planned, Kenny Omega wanted to travel to Japan and wrestle someone who inspired him - Kota Ibushi. The two men had such a spectacular match that it created a bond and led to a tag team called The Golden Lovers.
They went on to huge achievements, including the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships.
The Golden Lovers eventually went their separate ways, with Omega joining NJPW and aligning with the Bullet Club. This took his career to new heights, with the Cleaner winning the IWGP Heavyweight, Intercontinental, Junior Heavyweight, and United States Heavyweight Championships.
Despite brief interactions between Omega and Ibushi, they never crossed paths or physically interacted. It wasn't until Cody Rhodes tried to use Ibushi to get in Omega's head.
This eventually led to the emotional reunion of the two men in January of 2018. They went on to have some outstanding tag team bouts against The Young Bucks, Will Ospreay, and Hiroshi Tanahashi.
Kenny Omega's signing with All Elite Wrestling signaled another splitting of the Golden Lovers, with Kota Ibushi remaining with New Japan Pro Wrestling. Many fans call their entire journey one of the greatest storylines in wrestling history.
Based on the emotional pathos of their first reunion, another one in AEW may leave fans in tears and provide moments to cherish for years to come.
1) AEW building blocks, The OG Elite (Kenny Omega, The Young Bucks, Hangman Adam Page & Cody Rhodes)
There was only one group that could be above The Golden Lovers. The faction that AEW has been built on is The Elite.
In January 2019, the Elite announced the introduction of All Elite Wrestling. The original members are Kenny Omega, Cody Rhodes, Hangman Adam Page, and The Young Bucks.
The last time these men were all together was all the way back in 2019.
In early 2020, Cody Rhodes slowly separated himself from the group. The American Nightmare formed the Nightmare Family and found himself in a multitude of feuds. Cody hasn't crossed paths with The Elite since.
Hangman Adam Page set his sights on the AEW World Championship right from the start. When he failed at this goal, he had a crisis of confidence that led to him wanting to leave The Elite stable.
In-fighting and betrayals ensued before The Young Bucks officially excommunicated Page from the faction.
Since losing the title to Hangman at Full Gear 2021, Kenny Omega has been out of action, recovering from various injuries.
The Elite only has The Young Bucks and Adam Cole officially active in their ranks despite a loose association with reDRagon and Brandon Cutler. When Omega, Cody, and Hangman finally reunite the original group, it will be a historic moment that fans will never forget.
