David Finlay made a surprise debut on the March 4, 2026 episode of AEW Dynamite, attacking Orange Cassidy and Darby Allin after their tag team victory. He reunited with Gabe Kidd and Clark Connors to form The Dogs faction. Tony Khan announced that all three have officially signed with AEW.
On the March 4, 2026 episode of AEW Dynamite, Clark Connors and Gabe Kidd faced Orange Cassidy and Darby Allin in a tag team match, with Cassidy and Allin emerging victorious. Immediately after the match, David Finlay appeared and attacked the winners using his signature shillelagh, while Connors and Kidd joined in the assault. This marked Finlay's debut in All Elite Wrestling, where he reunited with his former New Japan Pro-Wrestling allies Kidd and Connors, previously known as Bullet Club War Dogs, now rebranded as The Dogs.
Finlay, a two-time IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion who spent over a decade in NJPW, had become a free agent on February 16, 2026. He had also competed in TNA Wrestling, Ring of Honor, and made a one-off appearance in AEW on June 8, 2022, against "Hangman" Adam Page. Sources indicate that Finlay's deal with AEW was finalized in the last week before his debut, as he sought opportunities to work in the United States following his departure from NJPW.
Regarding his decision not to join WWE, reports from Bodyslam.net state that WWE offered Finlay a contract to begin in NXT but would not adjust the terms. Despite recent discussions with WWE, including mentions in creative meetings, and family ties—his father Fit Finlay is a WWE producer and his brother Brogan Finlay performs as Uriah Connors in NXT—Finlay chose AEW to align with Kidd and Connors.
Tony Khan confirmed the signings on social media, posting: "They made their presence known on Wednesday Night #AEWDynamite tonight, and now it’s official: The Dogs @GabeKidd0115 @ClarkConnors @THEdavidfinlay are All Elite!" AEW tweeted about the moment: "THAT’S @THEDAVIDFINLAY WITH THE SHILLELAGH!" Fightful Select noted the trio's immediate impact on the roster.
