Fightful Select dropped a scoop on Thursday, August 7, that Kaun and Toa Liona have signed long-term contracts to remain with All Elite Wrestling. This is a great move for both the promotion and two talented performers who have the look and ability to be breakthrough acts in All Elite Wrestling.
Known collectively as The Gates of Agony, Kaun and Liona have found some success while being in AEW. They are two-time Ring of Honor Six-Man Tag Team Champions, both as a part of Mogul Embassy with Brian Cage. Since breaking away, they’ve recently entered into a new on-screen partnership with Ricochet. This is the perfect type of pairing for all three men, as it should lead to some title victories and important angles down the line.
In signing Kaun and Liona, AEW secures a group that can be effective both as a duo, and as singles performers. Both Liona and Kaun look the part. They do an exceptional job presenting as physical threats to anyone who’d stand against them on the roster. Their in-ring abilities are serviceable as well. They may not be to the ilk of some of the top performers on the roster, but Liona and Kaun can certainly work well enough to be mid-card performers in AEW, and upper-to-main event level performers in Ring of Honor.
Gates of Agony were recently mentioned in another developing story about The Hurt Syndicate. According to reporting from Fightful, MVP did not want to see the team of Bobby Lashley and Shelton Benjamin drop the titles to FTR. Instead, the report mentions that MVP was looking for a younger or fresh team like Gates of Agony. MVP is right in that stance. One of the big reasons why AEW’s tag team division fell out of focus was all the attention paid to teams like The Young Bucks and FTR. Giving a team like GOA the opportunity to run with the titles would be big for them, especially as the side men to Ricochet.
If All Elite Wrestling is truly rebuilding its tag team division, signing Gates of Agony to long-term deals goes a long way in establishing that future. They are a duo who can hold those titles and also stand out as singles performers. This is the right move for all parties involved.