The Death Riders captured the AEW World Trios Championships at All In: London 2024 but fans have been far from impressed with their reign. In an AEW Digital Exclusive, Claudio Castagnoli, one-third of the reign champions, blamed AEW’s roster for why the titles are rarely defended.

“You wanna know why these titles haven’t been defended in over two, three months, huh?… That’s because the pool is so shallow when it gets to the level that we are at. It’s absolutely pathetic!”

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Since winning the titles, the Death Riders have defended the titles just six times, two of these title defenses coming in February 2025. Prior to that, fans would have to go back to the November 7, edition of AEW Collision to see the championships on the line.

These sporadic title defenses have only the issue fans have with the Death Riders and AEW’s top storyline. Many feel the group lacks a clear creative direction, and that their mission to ‘reshape’ AEW has been too vague without clear goals. Fans have also taken issue to the faction briefly aligning with the Learning Tree, a somewhat comedic group that the ultra-serious Death Riders should, in theory, be opposed to in their mission to change AEW.

With a lack of clear challengers and a “pathetic” pool of talent, it remains to be seen how much longer the Death Riders hold the Trios titles. While the group is finally defending the titles more, the lengthy reign has proven an issue for countless fans.

In the main event of the January 22nd episode of AEW Dynamite, Cope continued to build momentum against the Death Riders when he defeated PAC. On the titantron though, the faction was shown attacking the Rock N’ Roll Express. Claudio Castagnoli hit Ricky Morton with a Con-Chair-To and Robert Gibson was laid out as well.

Not finished with their violence, the Death Riders then attacked Cope. While Jay White tried to make the save, he was outnumbered by the Moxley-led gaction. The group left Cope laid out before walking away.

This isn’t the first time that the legendary Rock N’ Roll Express has run afoul of the Death Riders. During the January 4, edition of Collision, the first show of its kind in 2025, Morton and Gibson were tied up backstage. Cope and FTR freed the two wrestling legends but the Death Riders had already fled by then.

Cope returned from injury at AEW Worlds End and immediately set his sights on Moxley and his goons. While a match isn’t confirmed yet, fans can expect a World Championship showdown between the two in due time, perhaps as soon as Grand Slam: Australia next month. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Cope’s feud with the Death Riders and how he plans to retaliate after the assaults handed out on the latest episode of Dynamite.

Dax Harwood Defends Cope Over Criticism Of Steel Cage Injury

AEW taped the January 18 ‘Maximum Carnage’ special of Collision from Cincinnati, Ohio this Thursday. The show featured several top stars such as Adam Page, Jon Moxley, and Kazuchika Okada in action. Below are the complete spoiler results for the episode:

Texas Death Match: Hangman Page def. Christopher Daniels: Weapons such as tables and barbed wire were involved and Daniels was left bloodied. Page pinned the former SCU member to pick up the victory.

Six Men Tag Team Match: Roderick Strong, Adam Cole & Kyle O’Reilly def. The Infantry & ROH Pure Champion Lee Moriarty

Tag Team Match: Brian Cage & Lance Archer defeated Top Flight – The duo of Action Andretti & Lio Rush showed up after the bell and attacked Top Flight following their loss.

Toni Storm Promo: Tony Schiavone interviewed the young rookie following her big win on Dynamite. She claimed that it was finally time for her to meet AEW Women’s Champion Mariah May ‘face to face.’

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The Acclaimed Promo Battle: Max Caster and Anthony Bowens went back and forth on mic. Bowens told Max that he is a ‘cocky piece of shit.’ He claimed that he had everything it takes to be an AEW World Champion. Billy Gunn came out to try and talk some sense but he got berated by Caster. Max claimed that Billy only attached himself to the team so people would chant his name again. Max then asked Bowens to choose between him and Billy and Bowens chose Billy. An angry Caster then announced that The Acclaimed were done before walking out.

Singles Match: Continental Crown Champion Kazuchika Okada def. Tomohiro Ishii

Singles Match: Dustin Rhodes def. Adam Priest

Singles Match: Julia Hart def. Harley Cameron.

12 Men Tag Team Match: Cope, Powerhouse Hobbs, The Outrunners & FTR def. The Death Riders & The Learning Tree – Hobbs was apparently attacked backstage before the match and he initially didn’t show up with his other teammates. The Death Riders tried to kidnap Cope but FTR thwarted their attempt. The two groups then brawled away from the ring leaving the rest of the participants on their own. Powerhouse Hobbs came out selling his leg in the end. He got the hot tag and pinned Bryan Keith with a spinebuster for the win.

AEW taped the November 30 episode of Saturday Night Collision alongside this week’s Dynamite from Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. The tapings featured a number of Continental Classic matches as well as an appearance from the Death Riders. Below are the complete spoilers:

Singles Match – Mina Shirakawa def. Leila Grey: Shirakawa picked up the victory with the Glamorous Driver.

AEW Continental Classic Gold League Match – Will Ospreay def. Juice Robinson: Ospreay was favoring his left shoulder, selling the Corner Brainbuster from Kyle Fletcher at Full Gear. Will picked up the victory with a Hidden Blade.

6 Men Tag Team Match – Private Party & Mistico def. MxM Collection & Johnny TV: Private Party hit their finisher on Johnny TV for the win.

AEW Continental Classic Blue League Match – Kyle Fletcher def. The Beast Mortos: Mortos countered a superplex from Fletcher into a crucifix bomb and almost got the pin. Fletcher hit a lariat and then brainbuster to get the win in the end.

Tag Team Match: The Outrunners def. Iron Savages: Jacked Jameson cut a promo before the Outrunners picked up a quick win over his clients. FTR came out after the bout to shake hands with the duo of Turbo Floyd & Truth Magnum.

Singles Match – Hangman Page def. Wheeler Yuta: Pac and Claudio Castagnoli were shown coming down the stairs into the crowd during the bout. The distraction allowed Yuta to roll Page but he kicked out at two. Hangman finally won the bout with a Dead Eye as Jon Moxley and Marina Shafir joined Pac and Claudio on the stairs. Page continued his attack on Yuta after the bout but the Death Riders just watched. The former AEW champion was about to Pillmanize his opponent when Jay White’s music hit. White forced Page to retreat and then taunted the Death Riders.

AEW Continental Classic Blue League Match – Continental Champion Kazuchika Okada vs. TNT Champion Daniel Garcia: The champion vs champion match ended in a time-limit draw. Okada offered to shake Garica’s hand after but doinked the TNT champion in the face.

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