Friendship has been at the core of All Elite Wrestling since its inception.
Cody Rhodes, Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks headed up a group of professional wrestlers whose approach to in-ring storytelling based on the nuances of their squad dynamics garnered an unprecedented non-WWE following without a mainstream presence, prompting Fulham and Jacksonville Jaguars owner Tony Khan to remedy the latter with the 2019 launch of AEW Dynamite.
Over the course of 199 episodes since, the story of Adam 'Hangman' Page's struggles and eventual ejection from Omega and the Bucks' "The Elite" faction launched the two-year storyline that would establish AEW in the market, while the reunited foursome's brutal wars with the Blackpool Combat Club after the BCC's own tribulations with William Regal featured heavy motifs of camaraderie and trust.
Now, the theme of friendship finds itself at the heart of everything AEW does. From the bond set up between CM Punk and current tag team champions FTR, to the captivating current coming together of world champ MJF and Adam Cole that has the wrestling community abuzz, the relatively-new company has turned the theme that led to Dynamite getting an episode number one into the lifeblood of their now five hours of weekly television as Dynamite 200 nears.
With another huge moment for AEW coming up at the end of the month when they run 'All In' at London's Wembley Stadium on Sunday August 27 with over 75,000 tickets already sold, members of the roster have been flying back and forth from the States to England and back again for promotional obligations. And one of them feels that his own kinship with his on-screen allies has been slept on by many who feel an attachment to The Elite, or CMFTR, or even 'Better Than You, Bay-Bay'.
Jeff Jarrett, a decades-long veteran of the sport currently enjoying an in-ring Indian Summer on AEW TV, teams with Jay Lethal and Satnam Singh to face Omega and The Bucks on Dynamite 200. And he reminded DAZN's Chris Hatch in an exclusive sitdown in London's West End that they can match the company's most renowned friendship in the cohesiveness department.
"I woke up this morning to numerous texts, as it was announced overnight," explained Jarrett on Monday. "There's quite the buzz already.
"It's a milestone, the 200th episode, and facing The Elite... they are the founders, the originals. It's pretty special to be facing those guys and in a lot of ways, it's an honour. I've got a lot of respect for what they've done.
"But myself, Jay Lethal and Satnam Singh aren't anywhere close to being your average trios opponents.
"It's the one-year anniversary of Ric Flair's Last Match. And I think that's the first time the world got to see me and Jay as a unit like that. Sonjay Dutt flew down in support of the match, on his off-day. But it goes back to the early 2000s.
"I can't say I recruited Jay, but I scouted him, spotted him, and he was a big part of the roster at TNA.
"Me, Jay, Sonjay, my wife and then Satnam, who I've gotten to know really well over the last few months, the off-screen and personal side of our relationship as a group is really tight, and it shines through to what the fans see.
"And I'll be quite candid about it: I'll never match Kenny Omega, or Nick or Matt Jackson, move-for-move. But, I'll always end up victorious, some way, some how. I call it 'wrestling IQ'. And that's my prediction for Wednesday."
Wrestling fans in select markets can watch AEW Dynamite 200 on DAZN - check here for a full list of countries.
In addition, select major All Elite Wrestling events air live on DAZN PPV in select markets. Watch this space for more info regarding All In, All Out and more.