All Elite Wrestling has officially dropped the bombshell wrestling fans have been waiting for, revealing the star-studded lineups for its annual Blood & Guts spectacle. This isn’t just another match; it’s the culmination of one of the most personal and violent rivalries in AEW history, promising a night of unforgettable carnage.
The battle lines have been drawn between two of AEW‘s top factions: The Elite and the Blackpool Combat Club (BCC). Let’s break down the teams heading into the most brutal match in All Elite Wrestling.
What is a Blood & Guts Match?
For those unfamiliar with the mayhem, Blood & Guts is AEW’s modern take on the classic WarGames match. The rules are simple and designed for maximum punishment: two rings are enclosed by a single, massive, roofed steel cage. Two men start the match, with additional competitors entering at timed intervals until all ten are locked inside. The match can only end via submission or surrender once all participants have entered the cage. There are no pinfalls, no count-outs, and nowhere to hide.
Team Blackpool Combat Club
Leading one side of the war is the formidable Blackpool Combat Club, a unit forged in pure, unadulterated violence. Their mission is to toughen up the world of professional wrestling, one broken body at a time. The five-man squad includes:
- Jon Moxley
- Claudio Castagnoli
- Wheeler Yuta
- PAC
- Konosuke Takeshita (with Don Callis)
This group represents surgical brutality, led by the unhinged Moxley and the powerhouse Castagnoli. With the bitter “Bastard” PAC returning and the treacherous Takeshita joining their ranks, the BCC is a well-oiled machine of mayhem ready to dismantle their opponents.
Team “The Golden Elite”
Standing opposite them is a team that has set the wrestling world on fire. Answering the call to battle is the heart and soul of AEW, The Elite. The core four members represent a story years in the making—a reunion of the company’s founding fathers:
- Kenny Omega
- The Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson)
- “Hangman” Adam Page
The reconciliation between these men already added incredible emotional stakes to the match. But they needed a fifth partner to counter the BCC’s onslaught. That partner is none other than the legendary “Golden Star,” Kota Ibushi.
Making his official AEW debut, Ibushi’s arrival is a dream moment for fans worldwide. He is the other half of the iconic “Golden Lovers” tag team with Kenny Omega, a duo whose story is one of the most celebrated in modern wrestling. Their reunion on this stage to fight side-by-side has led to this supergroup being dubbed “The Golden Elite.”
This is more than a fight for supremacy; it’s a war of ideologies, friendships, and betrayals. Mark your calendars for the special Blood & Guts episode of AEW: Dynamite—this is a moment in wrestling history you will not want to miss.
