{"id":128771,"date":"2024-12-10T09:58:16","date_gmt":"2024-12-10T14:58:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/?p=128771"},"modified":"2025-07-09T14:22:00","modified_gmt":"2025-07-09T18:22:00","slug":"death-riders-aew","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2024\/12\/10\/death-riders-aew\/","title":{"rendered":"How the Death Riders Can Be Different in AEW"},"content":{"rendered":"

The rise of the Death Riders remains one of the biggest storylines in All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and the pro wrestling industry as a whole. Their ascension, born from the ashes of Jon Moxley’s Blackpool Combat Club, has all the potential to reach their former heights. <\/span><\/p>\n

And it rightly should, as this comes off the full-time retirement of Bryan Danielson as far as in-ring action is concerned.<\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019m a fan of this angle. As the following content will demonstrate, this is by no means a criticism of it or the company\u2014far from it. I wanted to share ways that could enhance something exciting that could ripple through the locker room. <\/span><\/p>\n

With Jon Moxley heading this run as the AEW World Champion, he seems ready to steer the company’s creative direction into more progressive territory.<\/span><\/p>\n

Changes Already Made By the Death Riders<\/span><\/h3>\n

In the closing moments of All Out 2024 featured the babyfaces of the company rallying around the ring after chasing out Moxley\u2019s gang, save for Wheeler Yuta. Since then, Yuta has rejoined their ranks, which stars PAC, Claudio Castagnoli, and Marina Shafir alongside Moxley. <\/span><\/p>\n

While it seems like a step back into change for Yuta, he\u2019s already changed by the ever-shifting tides. Rebuffing the Death Riders\u2019 affections, he still partakes in their violence because that\u2019s still all he knows. Doubt is already in his heart, but it\u2019s clashing with what has molded him.<\/span><\/p>\n

Orange Cassidy<\/a> now sports black clothing and an attitude. There\u2019s a fire there that wasn\u2019t crackling its embers before. The company that brought him to highs and lows, successes and defeats, has required him to be more than he aspired to be. <\/span><\/p>\n

Destiny, however, is prolonged. He clutches at his tangerine heart until it bears juice.<\/span><\/p>\n

That\u2019s not even counting the interferences from the top prospects thus far. \u201cHangman\u201d Adam Page, \u201cSwitchblade\u201d Jay White, and Christian Cage are all gunning for the top spot for different reasons. Reasons I\u2019ll go into later.<\/span><\/p>\n

Needless to say, AEW has a lot of paths to traverse on the way to crafting a creative reset. Here are some ways this story can accomplish this.<\/span><\/p>\n

Avoiding the Usual Faction Trajectory<\/span><\/h3>\n