The AEW Trios Championship matches have not been regular recently, and a current champion has addressed the situation.
Winning the titles of The Patriarchy at AEW All In 2024, Pac, Wheeler Yuta, and Claudio Castagnoli have been on a roll since then. Backstabbing Bryan Danielson and joining hands with Jon Moxley and Marina Shafir to form The Death Riders, the group has inflicted a sense of fear in the locker room.
Known for their violent tactics and teamwork, the trio recently defended their championship against Angelo Parker, Daniel Garcia & Matt Menard on the 22nd February episode of AEW Collision. Before that, their last defense was against The Undisputed Kingdom on the 11th February episode of AEW Dynamite.
With only seven title defenses since winning the gold in August 2024, their final championship match was on 7th November 2024, before again retaining them this year in February. Opening up on the lack of title defenses, one-third champion Claudio Castagnoli shared his thoughts in an AEW Digital Exclusive video.
“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!”
H/t Sescoops
Fans have often expressed their displeasure with The Death Rider’s creative booking online, believing the irregular Trios title matches and a lack of proper creative direction have been harming the faction.
Marina Shafir Opens Up On Her Partnership With Jon Moxley In AEW
Recently, speaking on Chris Jericho on his Talk is Jericho podcast,Marina Shafir opened up on her partnership with Jon Moxley and The Death Riders.
“Months before, there was a leak to the dirt sheets. Somebody was leaking shit and we would have those meetings before the show. One of those meetings, it was, ‘Hey, we’re trying to figure out what indie shows we can work with because I know you guys need reps. Let us know if you want help with that,” she said. “I know a lot of you guys need development.’
After the meeting was done, everyone left, and I went up to Mox and was like, ‘I need help. I know I have something, but if I don’t get help with it, it’ll just be wasted. Maybe you can help me.’ We exchanged info and I got connected with Sami Callihan and Matt Farmer, who runs DEFY. I just started doing shows.
After each match, having a skull session and just watching it back and understand what little shifts need to be made. Moments, transitions. ‘Marina, you really need to work on this, for real.’ [Moxley] just started mentoring me and it evolved into where I am now. I’m not a glittery girl. I wish I had the capacity to be sparkly and showboating, but I just want to f**k girls up. That’s why people appreciate me. I have that, ‘Oh shit. This girl is about to get f***ed up.’
Not many girls have that aura about them. I hate that word, but I have to embrace it because that is what, visually, the main thing people saw about me. I can’t help my b**ch face, my big a** shoulders and my ability to take a beating and get back up every time. That’s what was needed for this.
I felt like I was asking the right questions, and I was getting very productive answers for that stuff. Even the little nuances, we would talk about that. I am Mox’s protector because I have a skillset like no other. I’m pretty much prepared for any situation in real life. People try to touch him when we’re walking out. You’re not touching him. People trying to interfere. You’re not touching him. I don’t mind being a bitch. I feel I take orders very well and I get the job done. If I don’t, I’m repenting and I’m trying to do better next time.”
In other news: A former TNA Champion is on his way to AEW.