Tag: The Righteous

Former AEW/ROH Tag Team The Righteous Wrapping Up Indie Dates, Could Be WWE-Bound

It looks like The Righteous may be on the move again. According to Fightful Select, Vinny and Dutch have begun letting promoters know that they’re finishing up their independent dates in the coming months, fueling speculation that a WWE signing could be right around the corner.

This isn’t the first time WWE has circled the duo. Back in December 2022, both men took part in a tryout alongside KC Navarro and Kylie Rae. Unfortunately for all involved, that same period saw Vince McMahon force his way back into the company, triggering a hiring freeze that effectively slammed the brakes on WWE’s recruiting efforts for several months.

Since then, Vinny and Dutch found a home in AEW/ROH, where they made their presence felt before eventually parting ways earlier this year. With their release now behind them, the door appears open for the long-rumored WWE run.

Interestingly, several notable names have been backing The Righteous along the way. Former WWE star Elijah (known to fans as Elias) is said to have worked on vignettes with them, while the late Bray Wyatt had reportedly gone to bat for their signing after that 2022 tryout.

If the rumors prove true, WWE could be on the verge of adding a duo with both unique presentation and proven experience. For fans of The Righteous, it might just be a matter of when, not if, they make their way onto the company’s stage.

AEW/ROH Releases The Righteous’ Dutch and Vincent Amid Roster Shakeup

As WWE continues to make waves with its recent round of talent cuts, AEW has followed suit with a few notable departures of its own. The latest names to exit Tony Khan’s roster are Dutch and Vincent of The Righteous, a dark and enigmatic tag team best known for their work in Ring of Honor (ROH).

According to PWInsider, Dutch and Vincent were quietly released last week. While they made their initial AEW debut at Supercard of Honor 2023, the pair were better known to longtime fans of the Sinclair-era ROH, where they previously held the ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Championships. Since AEW’s acquisition of ROH, The Righteous primarily competed on ROH on Honor Club, with occasional appearances on AEW Collision.

Their final match under the AEW/ROH umbrella came just last month, teaming with Ariya Daivari and Tony Nese to secure a win in eight-man tag action. Interestingly, that appearance also marked their first match in ROH since their December defeat in a brutal Double Bullrope match at Final Battle against Sammy Guevara and Dustin Rhodes.

The Righteous aren’t the only ones departing AEW recently. EJ Nduka, who also worked ROH dates, confirmed his exit and appeared to take a subtle swipe at AEW leadership on the way out. Earlier in the year, bigger names like Malakai Black, Miro, Rey Fenix, and Ricky Starks also parted ways with the company, all eventually landing in WWE.

Reports from March suggest more exits may be on the horizon as contracts expire. Wrestlers like Zak Knight, Nick Comoroto, and Abadon are all rumored to be on shaky ground, and Saraya has already left following the conclusion of her deal.

As AEW continues to reshape its roster, it’s clear the promotion is entering a transitional phase—one that could have major implications across both AEW and ROH brands moving forward.