Gates of Agony

Gates of Agony
Gates of Agony - Toa Liona (left) and Bishop Kaun (right) - at All In in August 2024.
Statistics
Members
Name(s)Gates of Agony
DebutApril 1, 2022
Years active2022–present

Gates of Agony is a professional wrestling tag team consisting of Bishop Kaun and Toa Liona. They are signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and its sister promotion, Ring of Honor (ROH). They are two-time former ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Champions as part of Cage of Agony with Brian Cage.

History

All Elite Wrestling / Ring of Honor (2022–present)

Tully Blanchard Enterprises (2022)

At the ROH pay-per-view Supercard of Honor XV in April 2022, Bishop Kaun and Toa Liona teamed for the first time as "Gates of Agony" to defeat Shinobi Shadow Squad. During the event, Gates of Agony were announced as members of Tully Blanchard's new stable, Tully Blanchard Enterprises, along with Brian Cage.[1] Gates of Agony made their tag team debut for ROH's sister promotion, All Elite Wrestling (AEW), on the July 6 episode of AEW Rampage, defeating Jonathan Gresham (the ROH World Champion) and Lee Moriarty when Gresham turned on Moriarty and joined Tully Blanchard Enterprises.[2][3]

The Embassy / Mogul Embassy (2022–2024)

Main article: the Embassy / Mogul Embassy

On July 23, 2022, at Death Before Dishonor, Prince Nana was announced as having purchased Tully Blanchard Enterprises and folded it into his long-running stable, the Embassy.[4][3] At the event, Cage and Gates of Agony wrestled their first match as a unit, defeating Alex Zayne, Blake Christian, and Tony Deppen in a six-man tag team match.[2] Also at the event, Gresham resigned from ROH, leaving Cage and Gates of Agony as the only wrestlers in the Embassy.[5]

In December 2022 at Final Battle, Cage and Gates of Agony defeated Dalton Castle and the Boys to win the ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Championship. At Supercard of Honor in March 2023, they successfully defended the Championship against AR Fox, Blake Christian, and Metalik. At Death Before Dishonor in July 2023, they successfully defended the Championship against Leon Ruffin, Master Wato, and Ryusuke Taguchi. In September 2023 at Grand Slam, they lost the titles to The Elite.[6]

In April 2023, the Embassy merged with Swerve Strickland's Mogul Affiliates stable to form a new stable, Mogul Embassy.[7] At Forbidden Door, Cage, Gates of Agony, and Strickland defeated Chaos in an eight-man tag team match.[2]

In November 2023 on AEW Dynamite, Cage and Gates of Agony defeated The Elite to regain the ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Championship. At Final Battle in December 2023, they successfully defended the titles against The Mighty Don't Kneel. In January 2024 on AEW Dynamite, Cage and Gates of Agony lost the titles to Bullet Club Gold.[8]

Cage of Agony; tag team (2024–present)

See also: Cage of Agony
Gates of Agony - Toa Liona (left) and Bishop Kaun (right) - delivering a double powerbomb in August 2024

In May 2024, Cage and Gates of Agony attacked Strickland and split from Nana, disbanding Mogul Embassy.[9] Later that month, they dubbed themselves the "Cage of Agony".[10] At Double or Nothing in May 2024, Cage of Agony lost to The Acclaimed and Billy Gunn. At All In in August 2024, Cage of Agony and Undisputed Kingdom lost to Dustin Rhodes, Katsuyori Shibata, Marshall Von Erich, Ross Von Erich, and Sammy Guevara in a 10-man tag team match.[11] In October 2024, Cage joined the Don Callis Family, seemingly disbanding the Cage of Agony and leaving Gates of Agony as a tag team.[12]

New Japan Pro-Wrestling (2023)

In November and December 2023, Gates of Agony wrestled for New Japan Pro-Wrestling, competing in the 2023 World Tag League. The duo finished with four points and thus did not qualify for the semi-finals.[2]

Professional wrestling style and persona

Gates of Agony's finishing move is a double crucifix powerbomb known variously as "Fall from Heaven", "Heaven's Gate", or "Open the Gate".[13]

Championships and accomplishments

Bishop Kaun as the ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Champion

See also

References

  1. ^ Wolstanholme, Danny (April 2, 2022). "Tully Blanchard Enterprises members revealed at ROH Supercard of Honor XV". WrestlingInc.com. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d Kreikenbohm, Philip. "Gates of Agony - matches". Cagematch.net. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  3. ^ a b Rose, Bryan (July 23, 2022). "Prince Nana purchases Tully Blanchard Enterprises at ROH Death Before Dishonor". F4WOnline.com. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
  4. ^ Powell, Jason (July 23, 2022). "7/23 ROH Death Before Dishonor results". ProWrestling.net. Retrieved July 23, 2022.
  5. ^ Garcia, Raphael (July 24, 2022). "Fightful Select reports Jonathan Gresham requests AEW/ROH release". DailyDDT.com. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
  6. ^ a b Kreikenbohm, Philip. "ROH World Six Man Tag Team Championship - title reigns - 10.12.2023 - 20.09.2023: The Mogul Embassy (Brian Cage, Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona)". Cagematch.net. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  7. ^ Nash, Anthony (April 8, 2023). "Mogul Affiliates joins forces with The Embassy on 4/7 AEW Rampage". WrestleZone.com. Retrieved August 27, 2024 – via Yahoo.com.
  8. ^ a b Kreikenbohm, Philip. "ROH World Six Man Tag Team Championship - title reigns - 01.11.2023 - 17.01.2024: The Mogul Embassy (Brian Cage, Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona) (2)". Cagematch.net. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  9. ^ Mueller, Chris (May 8, 2024). "AEW Dynamite results: winners, live grades, reaction and highlights from May 8". BleacherReport.com. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  10. ^ Moynahan, Patrick. "AEW Rampage results (5/25)". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  11. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "Cage of Agony - matches". Cagematch.net. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  12. ^ Tessier, Colin (October 17, 2024). "Brian Cage joins the Don Callis Family on AEW Dynamite". WrestleZone. Retrieved October 17, 2024 – via Yahoo.com.
  13. ^ Kurokawa, James (December 4, 2023). "12/4 NJPW World Tag League report from Kochi, Japan". PWInsider.com. Retrieved September 16, 2024. Gates of Agony hit a double Razor's Edge on Oskar. (I have heard the name of this finishing move as "Open the Gate", "Fall from Heaven" or "Heaven's Gate" over the course of the tour.)
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