Team Taz has been around for nearly a year in All Elite Wrestling (AEW). It was on July 21, 2020, that Ricky Starks officially aligned with Taz and Brian Cage, officially forming the team and becoming a new force in AEW. But Team Taz really dates back further, as the debut of Cage in AEW at Double or Nothing on May 23 showed that Taz was not simply going to be an announcer any longer. And since their creation, they have grown in size by adding Taz’s son Hook and “Powerhouse” Will Hobbs to their ranks. For much of their time on screen, they have proven to be the most entertaining aspect with Taz putting down the smack and the wrestlers being the ones leaving their mark in the ring.
But the problem is that despite their impressive overall record as a group, they have continuously failed in their biggest opportunities. Whether it be Cage’s AEW World Championship match against Jon Moxley that saw Taz throw in the towel, or his TNT Championship match against Darby Allin at New Year’s Smash where Allin escaped, or finally the major battle between Team Taz and the team of Sting and Allin. It all remained the same — they came up short. And recently, this has led to cracks in the group with Cage and Starks being at each other’s necks while Hook says nothing and Hobbs seemingly stays out of it. Those cracks have seemed to seal back together for the time being and it could be good timing as they enter a feud with Christian Cage.
It was Christian who Taz offered a spot to in Team Taz, but Christian declined due to the fact that he saw Team Taz on the way down rather than up, which he believed he was going. This of course angered Taz and led to him having Will Hobbs beat Christian down on the most recent episode of Dynamite. As a result, the two men will square off on Dynamite and this could be what Team Taz needs to get back on the same page, but that’s not enough to walk out of this feud successful. They need a win, a dominant win to reestablish they are a serious group in AEW. Otherwise, they’re in danger of no longer being a threat at all. Truthfully, there is no one better to get the better of right now for Team Taz, as a win of this fresh new feud against Christian can help them shake off the major losses — especially to the 62 year old Sting — and set themselves back up for major success.
Since stepping into AEW, Chrisitan Cage has been portrayed as not only a legend but the main event player trying to show everyone that he can still go at the top of his game. “The Instant Classic’s” match with Frankie Kazarian gave a look at what he was trying to accomplish which seriously was “outwork everyone.” Well, that doesn’t mean he is going to beat everyone, nor should he. And the young guns of Brian Cage, Starks, and Hobbs all deserve the shine and it could start next week with Hobbs shocking the world.
The loss to Sting and Allin derailed the momentum Team Taz had began to rebuild for themselves in that feud. Yes, Sting is a legend in the wrestling world and some would love to just get a rub from that type of build and match, but it didn’t feel like Team Taz came out of the match or feud with any winners. Instead they were near disbandment, blaming each other for their failures and looking like chumps rather than the champs they should be (FTW Championship doesn’t count). That’s why the destruction of a different legend like Christian can make up for all of that.
It’s rare a single group has three talents capable of being world champions. Team Taz, as they stand, has exactly that. Cage has been one before in IMPACT Wrestling, while fans are awaiting the rise of Starks to the main event, which is coming. Hobbs has everything it takes to be a star. The beatdown of Christian displayed that. If the feud with Christian comes down to it, major wins for two of the three men, and keeping the group together would be what’s best for everyone.
Christian losing a feud to three excellent professional wrestlers isn’t something that will hurt him, but Team Taz leaving this feud with anything less than dominance and recognition is exactly what will see the group come to an end — which is not best for anyone on the team. Rehabilitate the group. Have this be the launching point for Team Taz to becoming one of, if not the best factions in the company. They have the talent, now they simply need the defining win. It’s time to finally allow Team Taz to fully stand out in AEW.
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