The landscape of professional wrestling is often defined by its volatility, where the lines between personal animosity and professional alliance blur until they are indistinguishable. In the high-octane environment of All Elite Wrestling, few stories carry as much emotional weight as the tumultuous journey of Eddie Kingston. Known for wearing his heart on his sleeve and his scars as badges of honor, the Mad King has navigated a career defined by loyalty, betrayal, and an unrelenting fighting spirit. Now, as the promotion prepares for the upcoming special event, AEW Collision: Maximum Carnage, a ghost from Kingston’s past has re-emerged to reshape his future. On January 17, 2026, the wrestling world will witness a moment many thought would never happen again: the formal reunion of Eddie Kingston and Ortiz as a tandem. Their objective is clear, but the path to get there has been anything but simple. They are set to collide with the Grizzled Young Veterans, a duo that has quickly become one of the most polarizing and dangerous entities on the roster. This match is not merely a contest for ranking position or momentum; it is a collision of ideologies and a test of whether old wounds can truly heal under the pressure of combat.
To understand the significance of this reunion, one must look back at the chaotic scene that unfolded during the Zero Hour of AEW Worlds End. The night was already buzzing with anticipation, and Eddie Kingston had just survived a grueling, physical encounter against Zack Gibson. It was a match that exemplified Kingston’s style—heavy strikes, technical struggle, and a refusal to stay down. While Kingston emerged victorious, the celebration was short-lived. The Grizzled Young Veterans, consisting of Gibson and his longtime partner James Drake, proved that they are never more dangerous than when they are perceived to be at a disadvantage. Following the bell, the duo launched a calculated and vicious assault on the exhausted Kingston. The numbers game was firmly in their favor, and it appeared that the Mad King was destined for a trip to the hospital rather than a celebration. However, just as the situation reached its most dire point, a familiar face stormed the ring. Ortiz, who had been absent from the immediate orbit of Kingston for quite some time, made a thunderous return to save his former comrade. The sight of Ortiz clearing the ring and standing side-by-side with Kingston sent a shockwave through the arena, signaling that the dynamics of the locker room had shifted overnight.
The history between Eddie Kingston and Ortiz is deeply rooted in the gritty streets of the independent wrestling scene and their shared time in various incarnations of the Latin American Xchange. When they arrived in AEW, they were seen as brothers-in-arms, part of a tight-knit circle that valued respect above all else. However, the pressures of the industry and the internal friction of the Inner Circle faction eventually took their toll. The year 2022 served as a turning point for their relationship, marking a period of real-life tension and on-screen dissolution. While the specifics of their fallout were often the subject of locker room rumors and speculation, the result was undeniable: two men who once considered themselves family had become strangers. Kingston moved on to achieve incredible heights as a singles competitor, capturing titles and headlining major events across the globe. Ortiz, meanwhile, navigated his own path, dealing with the departure of his longtime tag team partner Santana and carving out a space for himself as a resilient underdog. For years, the idea of them sharing a corner seemed like a distant memory, a relic of a different era in the company’s history.
The upcoming match at Maximum Carnage represents more than just a tactical response to an attack; it is a psychological experiment. On the most recent episode of Collision, the tension between the two sides reached a boiling point during a segment that highlighted the deep-seated resentment fueling this feud. The Grizzled Young Veterans, ever the masters of psychological warfare, have made it clear that they view Kingston and Ortiz as relics of a past that no longer exists. Zack Gibson and James Drake pride themselves on being "proper" tag team wrestlers—men who move with synchronized precision and clinical efficiency. To them, the reunion of Kingston and Ortiz is a desperate attempt to recapture lost glory, a fragile alliance held together by nostalgia rather than genuine chemistry. During their verbal exchange, the Liverpool-born duo mocked the idea of loyalty, suggesting that Kingston’s volatile nature would inevitably lead to him turning on Ortiz, or vice versa, the moment things get difficult in the ring.
For Kingston, this match is a chance to prove that his growth as a performer hasn’t stripped away his roots. He has always been a man who values the "old school" way of doing things, where a handshake means something and a friend’s back is always covered. By accepting Ortiz back into his world, Kingston is taking a massive emotional risk. The wrestling world knows that Eddie is a man of extremes; when he loves, he loves deeply, and when he feels betrayed, the fallout is catastrophic. The question hanging over the January 17 episode of Collision is whether Kingston can truly let go of the grievances from 2022. If he spends the match looking over his shoulder, wondering if Ortiz is truly committed, the Grizzled Young Veterans will exploit that hesitation with surgical precision. Gibson and Drake do not win matches through brute force alone; they win by finding the smallest crack in their opponents’ armor and prying it open until the entire structure collapses.
Ortiz, on the other hand, finds himself in a position of needing to reclaim his identity. For a long time, he was defined by his associations—first with Santana, then with the Inner Circle, and then by his conflict with Kingston. By making the save at Worlds End, he took the first step toward a new chapter. He isn’t just Eddie Kingston’s sidekick; he is a world-class athlete who has participated in some of the most violent and memorable matches in the history of the promotion. A victory at Maximum Carnage would solidify his return as a major player in the tag team division. It would also serve as a message to the rest of the roster that the "Proud and Powerful" spirit is still very much alive, even if the name on the marquee has changed. The synergy between his high-energy, unpredictable offense and Kingston’s deliberate, punishing style could create a hybrid approach that the Grizzled Young Veterans aren’t prepared for.
The Grizzled Young Veterans are perhaps the most dangerous opponents possible for a reunited team. Having traveled the world and captured gold in nearly every promotion they have stepped foot in, Gibson and Drake are the quintessential "tag team’s tag team." They don’t care about the fans’ approval or the emotional narrative of their opponents. Their focus is entirely on the "Ticket to Mayhem" and the systematic destruction of their rivals’ limbs. They represent a stark contrast to the raw, unfiltered emotion of the New York-born duo. While Kingston and Ortiz fight with their hearts, the Veterans fight with their heads. They will likely target Kingston’s historically injured back or Ortiz’s legs to neutralize their explosive movements. For the Grizzled Young Veterans, this match is an opportunity to jump to the front of the line for a title shot by dismantling one of the most beloved figures in the company and his returning partner.
As the date of January 17 approaches, the atmosphere surrounding AEW Collision: Maximum Carnage is becoming increasingly electric. This event is being positioned as a showcase of the grittier side of the AEW roster, and no match embodies that theme more than this tag team encounter. Fans are debating whether this reunion is a permanent shift or a temporary alliance of convenience. In the world of wrestling, "one night only" often turns into a career-defining run, but it can just as easily end in a heartbreaking betrayal. The audience in attendance and those watching at home will be looking for every subtle cue—every blind tag, every saved pinfall, and every look shared between the two—to see if the bond has truly been restored.
The tactical breakdown of the match suggests a clash of styles that will be fascinating to watch. Kingston’s "King’s Road" style of wrestling, influenced by the legends of All Japan Pro Wrestling, involves absorbing tremendous amounts of punishment and delivering even more in return. Ortiz brings a level of agility and street-fight cunning that complements Kingston’s power. If they can stay on the same page, they have the potential to overwhelm Gibson and Drake through sheer tenacity. However, the Grizzled Young Veterans are masters of "cutting the ring in half." They are experts at isolating a single opponent and preventing a tag, a strategy that has frustrated even the most seasoned teams. If they can keep Ortiz away from Kingston, they can pick the Mad King apart, exploiting the fatigue he has shown in recent weeks following his heavy schedule of high-stakes matches.
Ultimately, the result of this match will have far-reaching implications for the AEW tag team division. A win for Kingston and Ortiz would immediately position them as top-tier contenders, potentially setting up a run toward the championship. It would also provide a sense of closure to a dark chapter in their personal histories, proving that redemption is possible even in the cutthroat world of professional wrestling. For the Grizzled Young Veterans, a win would be the ultimate "I told you so," proving that their disciplined approach is superior to the emotional outbursts of their opponents. It would solidify their status as the gatekeepers of the division, the men who break dreams as easily as they break bones.
As the clock ticks toward Maximum Carnage, the anticipation continues to build. Eddie Kingston and Ortiz are walking into a storm, but they are doing it together for the first time in years. Whether they emerge from that storm as a revitalized force or as two men further divided remains to be seen. On January 17, the ring will become a place of reckoning. The Grizzled Young Veterans are ready to provide the carnage, but Kingston and Ortiz are looking for something much more profound: a chance to prove that some bridges are worth rebuilding, no matter how much they once burned. The fans are ready, the stakes are set, and the history books are waiting for the next chapter of this complex, gritty, and deeply human saga.
