David Finlay’s surprise arrival in AEW has already led to an official announcement from the company.
Finlay shocked viewers during the March 4, 2026 episode of AEW Dynamite when he appeared after the tag team match between Darby Allin and Orange Cassidy against Gabe Kidd and Clark Connors. After Allin and Cassidy secured the victory, Finlay stormed the ring and attacked both men, joining Kidd and Connors to stand tall and reveal a new alliance.
Shortly after the segment aired, AEW President Tony Khan took to Twitter to confirm the group’s status with the company. In the post, Khan officially welcomed the trio to AEW and confirmed their faction name.
“They made their presence known on Wednesday Night #AEWDynamite tonight, and now it’s official: The Dogs @GabeKidd0115 @ClarkConnors @THEdavidfinlay are All Elite!”
The announcement included promotional artwork featuring Finlay alongside Kidd and Connors with the message “AEW The Dogs Are All Elite,” signaling that the trio will be presented as an official unit moving forward.
The Dynamite appearance came just after reports surfaced about Finlay’s free agency following the expiration of his New Japan Pro-Wrestling contract. Earlier reports had indicated that there had been communication between Finlay and WWE, but that he was not currently part of the company’s creative plans.
“Sources in WWE have said while there has been contact between David Finlay and WWE, he isn’t factored in to creative plans at the moment.”
Additional reporting from Fightful Select also revealed how quickly the AEW move came together.
“We’re told that the David Finlay deal came together in the last week. Finlay was looking to move on from New Japan Pro Wrestling and wanted to work in the United States.”
With Khan now confirming the group as officially All Elite, Finlay, Kidd and Connors appear set to move forward in AEW as a newly formed faction known as The Dogs.
Do you think The Dogs could become one of the top factions in AEW with David Finlay leading the group? Let us know what you think and share your feedback in the comments.