The Dark Order Explained

Article Name:The Dark Order
Type:S
Members:See below
Names:The Dark Order
Billed:The Keep
Debut:May 25, 2019
Years Active:2019–present

The Dark Order is a professional wrestling stable currently wrestling in All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and consisting of Evil Uno, John Silver, Alex Reynolds, and Brodie Lee Jr. The stable also sometimes utilizes masked henchmen dubbed "creepers" who, when the group is being portrayed as villainous, will join them in beatdowns and other disruptive acts.[1]

The group debuted with Uno and Stu Grayson as its first members in May 2019, during the inaugural Double or Nothing pay-per-view. In March 2020, Mr. Brodie Lee made his AEW debut and was revealed as the leader (and "exalted one") of the stable. Several wrestlers were added to the group during this period, and Lee would ultimately win the TNT Championship in August 2020. However, when he died four months later, AEW hosted the Brodie Lee Celebration of Life; this saw the group turn into heroic characters and name Lee's eight-year-old son their honorary new leader.

Background

See also: Super Smash Brothers (professional wrestling) and Beaver Boys. Uno and Grayson previously teamed together as the Super Smash Brothers and were known primarily for their work in Chikara and Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG). Reynolds and Silver previously teamed together as the Beaver Boys, and were known for their work in Combat Zone Wrestling (CZW). Both tag teams were one-time PWG World Tag Team Champions.

Uno and Grayson were first shown at the end of a Being The Elite episode, when The Young Bucks teased the signing of the Super Smash Brothers.[2]

Professional wrestling career

All Elite Wrestling (2019–present)

On May 25, 2019, at Double or Nothing, Uno and Grayson were repackaged and made their surprise debut as The Dark Order.[3] After Best Friends (Chuck Taylor and Trent) defeated Angélico and Jack Evans, Uno and Grayson appeared ringside after the lights went out, and attacked everyone alongside their masked henchmen (referred to as "creepers").[4] On July 13, at Fight for the Fallen, they made their AEW in-ring debut in a three-way tag team match defeating Angélico, Evans and Jurassic Express (Jungle Boy and Luchasaurus), advancing to All Out for an opportunity at a first round bye in the AEW World Tag Team Championship tournament.[5] On August 31, at All Out, they defeated Best Friends to receive a first round buy-in for the AEW World Tag Team Championship tournament.[6] They were unsuccessful in the tournament, losing to eventual winners SoCal Uncensored on the October 23 episode of Dynamite.[7]

On November 20, the first of a series of Dark Order vignettes began airing, and in doing so, introduced the spokesman for the stable,[8] who communicated to Alex Reynolds through a hotel television.[9] Then, John Silver and Alex Reynolds joined the Dark Order.[10] On the January 1, 2020 episode of Dynamite, "The Exalted One" was revealed as the title of the Dark Order's mysterious off-screen leader.[11]

The stable's first feud was with SoCal Uncensored, and saw the Order try to recruit Christopher Daniels following his loss to Sammy Guevara.[12] During the following weeks, The Dark Order faced SoCal Uncensored[13] [14] [15] including a victory at Revolution, where Uno and Grayson defeated Kazarian and Scorpio Sky in a tag team match.[16] On the March 18, 2020 episode of Dynamite, Mr. Brodie Lee made his AEW debut and was revealed as The Exalted One and the leader of The Dark Order, beating up Daniels and Kazarian.[17] Then, Lee would have several squashes against other wrestlers. Also, on the April 22, 2020 episode of Dynamite, Preston Vance joined the stable as 10.[18] On June 5, it was revealed that Alan Angels had been recruited as a new member of the Dark Order under the moniker of 5. He would later debut on the June 9, 2020 episode of AEW Dark.

In May, Colt Cabana began a losing streak as Brodie Lee tried to recruit him into The Dark Order. On the June 10 episode of Dynamite, after Cabana lost to Sammy Guevara, Lee came out to help Cabana to his feet and once again offer him a spot in the Dark Order. Later on in the night, Cabana was seen heading into Lee's office.[19] The following week, Cabana was handed an envelope by Lee that stated they will team together against Joey Janela and Sonny Kiss. At the same time, Brodie Lee extended a hand to Anna Jay after her loss to Abadon. Cabana and Lee would defeat Janela and Kiss after Cabana got the pin on Janela.[20] Over the next few weeks, Cabana would begin a winning streak teaming with members of the Dark Order as he was slowly recruited into the group over time.[21] Anna Jay would later make her first appearance alongside the Dark Order on the July 29 episode of Dynamite.[22] On the August 22 edition of Dynamite, Brodie Lee defeated Cody for the AEW TNT Championship and later gave him back the shattered pieces of the prototype TNT title.[23] On the following episode of Dynamite, after a victory celebration, the Dark Order extended an invitation to Tay Conti to join the group.[24] At All Out on September 5, Lee, Cabana, Evil Uno and Grayson were defeated by Matt Cardona, Scorpio Sky, Dustin Rhodes and Q. T. Marshall in an eight-man tag team match.[25] Lee lost the TNT Championship back to Cody on the October 7 episode of Dynamite.[26] The Dark Order would then more heavily pursue the recruitment of Hangman Page, whom they had made advances towards previously.[27]

In the days prior to Brodie Lee's death on December 26, 2020,[28] his older son, Brodie Jr., nicknamed "Negative 1", was signed to All Elite Wrestling and became a member of his father's faction at the age of 8, with AEW stating that he can start to perform for the company when he becomes an adult if he so wishes.[29] The December 30 episode of AEW Dynamite, known as the "Brodie Lee Celebration of Life", featured Dark Order members winning every match.[30] Following this, Dark Order transitioned into babyfaces as they continued their storyline involving Hangman Page where Silver and Reynolds teamed with Page on several occasions while also still trying to recruit him into the group.[31] [32] [33] However, on the January 20, 2021 episode of Dynamite, Page would politely rebuff their offer, as he felt that he did not work well in groups.[34] At the Revolution event on March 7, Page defeated Matt Hardy; the Dark Order subsequently came down to the ring to celebrate with him.[35] At Fight for the Fallen, Page teamed with the Dark Order to face Omega, the Young Bucks and The Good Brothers (Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson) in a 10-man tag team elimination match, where if Page and the Dark Order won, they would receive matches for the world and tag team championships, respectively.[36] Page and the Dark Order were defeated, with Page being the last man eliminated on his team.[37]

On the June 15, 2023 episode of ROH TV, where The Dark Order had been appearing most frequently in 2023, John Silver confirmed that Stu Grayson had left the group and joined a rival faction, The Righteous with Vinny Marseglia.[38]

Independent circuit (2019)

Following Double or Nothing, Uno and Grayson were booked for some independent shows, usually against AEW contracted wrestlers, before the premiere of AEW Dynamite in October 2019. This began at Pro Wrestling Guerilla's Sixteen, on July 26, marking their first appearance in the company since 2013, when they were known as the Super Smash Brothers. They defeated Best Friends (Chuck Taylor and Trent) by disqualification, when Trent hit a low blow in retaliation for the Dark Order doing the same when the referee was down.[39] On August 7, at an Oriental Wrestling Entertainment (OWE) show in Toronto, they defeated Strong Hearts (El Lindaman and T-Hawk).[40] The next day, they appeared at a Progress Wrestling show in the same city, but were defeated by Aussie Open (Kyle Fletcher and Mark Davis), in a three-way match, also involving The Butcher and The Blade (Andy Williams and Pepper Parks).[41]

Professional wrestling character

Stu Grayson described The Dark Order as a Scientology-like cult.[42] As part of the gimmick, the stable has tried to recruit people from outside of professional wrestling.[43] The stable also has a website, joindarkorder.com.[44] During the early days of the stable, Dark Order received a bad reception after a "cold debut" and a "disastrous main-event angle that saw one of The Dark Order's "minions" go viral for throwing blatantly fake punches."[42] Evil Uno and Stu Grayson agreed that the incident hurt their image until Brodie Lee was revealed as the leader of the faction.[45]

Members

Founding member(s)
LLeader(s)

Current

MemberNumberPortraitTenureRef
1 - present
3 - present
4 - present
-1 - present

Associates

Associates!colspan="2"MemberTenure
December 16, 2020 - May 28, 2023
August 3, 2020 - February 16, 2022

Former

MemberTenure
†L -
5June 9, 2020[46] - June 29, 2022[47]
8 -
99July 7, 2020 - July 20, 2022
10[48] - [49]
2 -,
,
[50] -

Part-time

MemberTenureRef(s)
"Creepers" August 1, 2019 - August 27, 2020
Unnamed SpokesmanNovember 20, 2019 - June 3, 2020
8April 1, 2020[51]
9April 1, 2020
August 5, 2020

Timeline

Sub-groups

Former

AffiliateMembersTenure Type
2019–2022,
2023		Tag team
TayJayAnna Jay
Tay Conti		2020–2022Tag team

Championships and accomplishments

Notes

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Staff . AEW . #TheDarkOrder is #AllElite @EvilUno & @stu_dos . February 1, 2024 . Twitter.com.
  2. Web site: Staff . AEW . April 15, 2019 . "Spellbound" - Being The Elite Ep. 147 . July 11, 2019 . YouTube.com . Being The Elite.
  3. Web site: Staff . AEW . June 10, 2019 . The Dark Order have their sights set on #AEW's tag team division . July 11, 2019 . YouTube.com . All Elite Wrestling.
  4. Web site: AEW Double or Nothing live results: Kenny Omega vs. Chris Jericho. Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Dave. Bath. May 25, 2019. March 11, 2019.
  5. Web site: AEW Fight for the Fallen live results: Young Bucks vs. Rhodes brothers. Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Arya. Witner. July 13, 2019. March 11, 2019.
  6. Web site: AEW All Out live results: First World Champion crowned. Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Justin. Knipper. August 31, 2019. March 11, 2019.
  7. Web site: AEW Dynamite live results: Moxley vs. PAC, tag tournament semifinals. Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Ethan. Renner. October 23, 2019. March 11, 2019.
  8. Web site: 11/20 AEW DYNAMITE TV REPORT: Keller's report on Moxley vs. Darby Allin, Jericho big announcement, Nick Jackson vs. Fenix, Private Party vs. Santana & Ortiz. Pro Wrestling Torch. Wade. Keller. Wade Keller. November 20, 2019. March 11, 2019.
  9. Web site: 12/11 AEW DYNAMITE TV REPORT: Keller's report on Cody & Marshall vs. Butcher & Blade, Bucks vs. Santana & Ortiz, MJF responds to Cody, Swole vs. Sakura. Pro Wrestling Torch. Wade. Keller. Wade Keller. December 12, 2019. February 4, 2020.
  10. Web site: AEW Dynamite live results: Jericho vs. Jungle Boy, Tag title match. Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Ethan. Renner. December 18, 2019. March 11, 2019.
  11. Web site: 1/1 AEW DYNAMITE TV REPORT (Updated): Keller's report on Omega & Bucks vs. Pac & Lucha Bros., Cody vs. Darby, Moxley vs. Trent, Dustin vs. Guevara, Riho vs. Rose vs. Baker vs. Shida. Pro Wrestling Torch. Wade. Keller. Wade Keller. January 1, 2020. March 11, 2019.
  12. Web site: 1/8 AEW DYNAMITE TV REPORT: Keller's report on Riho vs. Statlander, Moxley responds to Jericho's offer, Page & Omega vs. Private Party, Cody & Dustin vs. Lucha Bros., Memphis Wrestling tribute. Pro Wrestling Torch. Wade. Keller. Wade Keller. January 8, 2020. March 11, 2019.
  13. Web site: 2/5 AEW DYNAMITE TV REPORT: Keller's report on Moxley vs. Ortiz, Cody takes ten lashes, Omega & Page & Bucks vs. Butcher & Blade & Lucha Bros., Baker vs. Sakazaki. Pro Wrestling Torch. Wade. Keller. Wade Keller. February 5, 2020. March 11, 2019.
  14. Web site: 2/11 AEW DARK TV REPORT: Dark Order vs. Jurassic Express, Jimmy Havoc vs. Sonny Kiss, Riho vs. Nakajima, Golden vs. Shida. Pro Wrestling Torch. Zach. Graham. February 11, 2020. March 11, 2019.
  15. Web site: 2/19 AEW DYNAMITE TV REPORT: Keller's report on Moxley vs. Jeff Cobb, Cody vs. Wardlow in a cage, Tag Team Battle Royal, Omega & Hangman vs. Lucha Bros.. Pro Wrestling Torch. Wade. Keller. Wade Keller. February 19, 2020. March 11, 2019.
  16. Web site: AEW Revolution live results: Chris Jericho vs. Jon Moxley. Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Ethan. Renner. October 23, 2019. March 11, 2019.
  17. Web site: Staff . TNT . The Exalted One Brodie Lee makes his AEW in-ring debut . February 1, 2024 . YouTube.com.
  18. Web site: Preston Vance Has Joined the Dark Order. Gallagher. Marilee. 2020-04-23. Last Word on Pro Wrestling. en-US. 2020-04-23.
  19. Web site: Tees . David . AEW Dynamite 6/10/20 Results: AEW TNT Championship Defense, FTR's In-Ring Debut & More! . February 1, 2024 . Fightful.com.
  20. Web site: Staff . AEW . AEW Dynamite 6/24/20 Results: Orange Cassidy Confronts Chris Jericho, FTR vs. SCU & More! . February 1, 2024 . Fightful.com.
  21. Web site: Tees . David . AEW Fyter Fest '20 Night 2 Results: Tag Team Title Match, Chris Jericho vs. Orange Cassidy & More! . February 1, 2024 . Fightful.com.
  22. Web site: Staff . AEW . 30 July 2020 . AEW DYNAMITE Results for July 29, 2020 . February 1, 2024 . Allelitewrestling.com.
  23. Web site: Staff . AEW . 23 August 2020 . AEW Dynamite Results for August 22, 2020 . February 1, 2024 . Allelitewrestling.com.
  24. Web site: Staff . AEW . 28 August 2020 . AEW Dynamite 8/27/20 Results . February 1, 2024 . Allelitewrestling.com.
  25. Web site: Powell. Jason. AEW All Out results: Powell's live review of Jon Moxley vs. MJF for the AEW Championship, Kenny Omega and Hangman Page vs. FTR for the AEW Tag Titles, Hikaru Shida vs. Thunder Rosa for the AEW Women's Title, Chris Jericho vs. Orange Cassidy in a Mimosa Mayhem match. Pro Wrestling Dot Net. September 5, 2020. September 5, 2020.
  26. Web site: 10/7 AEW Dynamite results: Barnett's live review of 30 years of Chris Jericho celebration, Brodie Lee vs. Cody in a dog collar match for the TNT Championship, Brian Cage vs. Will Hobbs, Chris Jericho and Jake Hager vs. Luther and Serpentico, Serena Deeb vs. Big Swole. Jason. Powell. Pro Wrestling Dot Net. October 7, 2020. October 8, 2020.
  27. Web site: AEW Dynamite Results for November 25, 2020. All Elite Wrestling. AEW Staff. November 25, 2020. November 27, 2020.
  28. Web site: Staff . ESPN . December 26, 2020 . The wrestling world mourns the loss of Brodie Lee . December 26, 2020 . ESPN.
  29. Web site: Tony Schiavone Reveals AEW Signed Eight-Year-Old Brodie Lee Jr. To A Contract. Fightful. Jeremy. Lambert. December 29, 2020. December 29, 2020.
  30. AEW. 1343741768093855744. Watch the Brodie Lee Celebration of Life episode of #AEWDynamite this Wednesday LIVE on TNT Drama at 8e/7c. Tickets are ONLY available by emailing ticketing@boldeventsjax.com or calling 904-633-2000. All Elite Wrestling. December 28, 2020. December 28, 2020.
  31. Web site: Tessier. Colin. Anna Jay On How The Dark Order Has Changed: 'We're Probably Nice Guys Now'. "I think now we’re even more like a family on-screen and off-screen. So I feel like we kind of have to go in that direction…. We’re probably nice guys now…". January 17, 2021. January 17, 2021. Mandatory.
  32. News: Wilkins . Rob . AEW Dynamite 12/16/2020 Results: Kenny Omega vs. Joey Janela No DQ Match, Sting Appearance, + more . January 21, 2021 . Fightful . December 16, 2020 . en.
  33. News: Wilkins . Rob . AEW Dynamite 01/20/21 Results: Inner Circle 3-Way Tag Match, appearance from Sting, Omega, and more . January 21, 2021 . Fightful . January 20, 2021 . en.
  34. Web site: AEW Dynamite Results – 1/20/21 (Sting, Jon Moxley, Inner Circle 3-way). WrestleView. Josh. Boutwell. January 20, 2021. January 22, 2021.
  35. Web site: Powell. Jason. AEW Revolution results: Powell's live review of Kenny Omega vs. Jon Moxley in an Exploding Barbed Wire Death Match for the AEW Championship, Young Bucks vs. Chris Jericho and MJF for the AEW Tag Titles, surprise debut, Face of the Revolution ladder match for a TNT Title shot. Pro Wrestling Dot Net. March 7, 2021. March 7, 2021.
  36. Web site: 7/21 AEW Dynamite results: Barnett's live review of Fyter Fest Night Two with Jon Moxley vs. Lance Archer in a Texas DeathMatch for the IWGP U.S. Championship, Britt Baker vs. Nyla Rose for the AEW Women's Championship, Chris Jericho vs. Shawn Spears, Orange Cassidy vs. The Blade, Darby Allin vs. Wheeler Yuta. Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Jake. Barnett. July 21, 2021. July 21, 2021.
  37. Web site: 7/28 AEW Dynamite results: Powell's live review of Fight For The Fallen with "The Painmaker" Chris Jericho vs. Nick Gage in a No DQ match, Adam Page and Dark Order vs. The Elite in an elimination match, FTR vs. Santana and Ortiz, Lance Archer vs. Hikuleo for the IWPG U.S. Championship. Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Jason. Powell. July 28, 2021. July 28, 2021.
  38. Web site: Ringofhonor Staff . ROH - Ring of Honor Wrestling . #DarkOrder @SilverNumber1, @YTAlexReynolds & @EvilUno are ready for a FIGHT! Watch #ROH #HonorClubTV on http://WATCHROH.com . February 1, 2024 . Twitter.com.
  39. Web site: PWG Sixteen results: Incredible six-man tag match. Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Dave. Meltzer. Dave Meltzer. July 27, 2019. March 11, 2019.
  40. Web site: OWE Results 8.10.19: SCU and CIMA in Action, More. 411Mania.com. Jeremy. Thomas. August 11, 2019. March 11, 2019.
  41. Web site: PROGRESS Results From Toronto: WALTER Defends PROGRESS Unified World Title. 411Mania.com. Joseph. Lee. August 9, 2019. March 11, 2019.
  42. Web site: Thompson . Brett . 4 September 2020 . Now a star with AEW, the wait is over for Brodie Lee . February 1, 2024 . Espn.com.
  43. Web site: Lambert . Jeremy . Sinbad Joins The Dark Order On Being The Elite, Brodie Lee Bans Twitch In Shot At WWE | Fightful News . February 1, 2024 . www.fightful.com.
  44. Web site: Home. Joindarkorder.
  45. Web site: García Trigo . Gonzalo . 18 June 2021 . Evil Uno y Stu Grayson hablan sobre el incidente de los puñetazos falsos en AEW Dynamite . February 1, 2024 . Solowrestling.mundodeportivo.com.
  46. Web site: Staff . AEW . #JOINDARKORDER @Alan_V_Angels WAKE UP YOUR MIND jointhedarkorder.com . February 1, 2024 . Twitter.com.
  47. Web site: NASON . JOSH . 28 June 2022 . Dark Order's Alan '5' Angels likely done with AEW as contract expires . February 1, 2024 . F4wonline.com.
  48. Web site: Lee . Brodie . You are one of us now . February 1, 2024 . Twitter.com.
  49. Web site: Krotchsen . Billy . COMPLETE AEW RAMPAGE SPOILERS FROM CHICAGO, WHAT HAPPENED AFTER TAPING | PWInsider.com . February 1, 2024 . Www.pwinsider.com.
  50. Web site: Khan . Tony . Tony Khan announces return of Stu Grayson . February 1, 2024 . Twitter.com.
  51. Web site: Khan . Tony . Welcome back to AEW, @stu_dos! After a great match last night on #AEWDynamite in his return, he's more motivated than ever, and now it's official: Stu Grayson is All Elite, again . February 1, 2024 . Twitter.com.
  52. Web site: Staff . AEW . August 13, 2020 . AEW TNT Championship . August 26, 2020 . Allelitewrestling.com.
  53. Web site: Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 2020. The Internet Wrestling Database. November 13, 2020.
  54. Web site: Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 2021. The Internet Wrestling Database. October 7, 2021.

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