AEW Stars To Be Recruited By HOOK For The Opps

In January 2026, AEW announced that Samoa Joe was sidelined with an undisclosed injury while training to compete in the ring.

This led to HOOK taking over The Opps as their interim leader in Joe’s absence while recovering.

Recently, HOOK informed the fans that he and Katsuyori Shibata were looking to recruit new talent into The Opps while he is in the leadership position.

Here are six AEW stars who could potentially be recruited by HOOK for The Opps.

6. Tommy Billington

Back in 2024, ‘Dynamite Kid’ Tommy Billington made his AEW debut and immediately garnered some attention from the fans.

Due to his background as the nephew of the original Dynamite Kid, Billington showed off great instinct inside the squared circle and brilliant technical ability for someone so young in his career.

Most recently, Billington has formed a tag team with Adam Priest that is regularly featured on Ring of Honor TV.

Looking to recruit another second generation star, HOOK could recruit Billington to bring some more youth into The Opps.

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5. Brian Cage

HOOK is someone who is no stranger to being part of a group during his time in All Elite Wrestling.

The self-proclaimed ‘Greatest Second Generation Wrestler’ was first introduced as a member of Team Taz.

Alongside Powerhouse Hobbs, Ricky Starks and Brian Cage, HOOK was led by his father Taz to be an intimidating force on the AEW roster.

With Cage currently injured, HOOK could open the door for his return and recruit him away from the Don Callis Family into The Opps in a significant move.

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4. Kamille

Another AEW star who has not been seen on the company’s programming for a while is Kamille.

Having last been seen on AEW TV back in November 2024, the former NWA Women’s World Champion was someone who many fans thought was set for some big things in the company.

However, Kamille was introduced as a bodyguard for Mercedes Mone before this alliance broke apart within months.

Kamille returning as the newest member of The Opps would be an impactful way to bring her back in the fold with HOOK wanting to expand the group into the AEW women’s division.

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3. Hyan & Maya World

At the tail end of 2025, Hyan and Maya World stepped up when AEW needed them which led to the duo being signed.

The Texas tandem have been featured on both AEW and ROH TV over the past few months and could gain more exposure.

HOOK may want to expand The Opps into the women’s division and might look at this duo as a pairing that could help the group greatly.

Hyan and Maya World turning heel to join The Opps would help them to create some characters that could earn the spotlight in the newly introduced AEW Women’s Tag Team Championship picture.

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2. Karl Fredericks (Eddy Thorpe)

While most of the names on this list are currently on the AEW roster, there has to be some talent included that could be brought in.

HOOK noted that he sent Katsuyori Shibata over to Japan to recruit some talent and may ask him to tap into some of his former students.

Looking at the list of talent Shibata helped train in the NJPW LA dojo and NJPW Academy, there might not be many with the experience and improvement of former WWE star Eddy Thorpe.

Once again going by the Karl Fredericks name, the former NXT standout could walk into AEW and join forces with his former mentor Shibata in The Opps, bringing even more personality to the faction at a time when they really need it.

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1. Kevin Knight

Speaking of former students of Katsuyori Shibata, one of the notable names that has received the teachings and guidance of ‘The Wrestler’ is Kevin Knight.

Since signing with All Elite Wrestling in early 2025, ‘The Jet’ has gone from strength to strength.

Whether it be as a singles competitor with key wins over Darby Allin and Kazuchika Okada or his tag team efforts with Speedball Mike Bailey in JetSpeed, Knight has been a highlight on AEW television for the past year.

Now that he has won the AEW World Trios Titles alongside Speedball and ‘Hangman’ Adam Page, Knight could turn heel by aligning with his former trainer in Shibata in The Opps to show a different side of himself.

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