WWE Reportedly Set To Sign Ex-AEW Stable; Why They Must Join SmackDown

One of the most unique groups in pro wrestling in recent years has been Vincent and Dutch's The Righteous. The pair have been taking bookings on the indie circuit since asking for and receiving their AEW releases in May.

Fightful Select reports that the pair have "told some promoters" that they will be "finishing up" their bookings in the coming months. This is because it's believed they are "likely to be signed by WWE".

It's thought that WWE have long been interested in signing The Righteous, who are former six-time ROH World Tag Team Champions. Should they indeed join the company, they could breathe new life into the tag division, especially on NXT, where there has been a lack of interest this year.

That said, we saw The Motor City Machine Guns skip the developmental brand and head to SmackDown to work with DIY. While Vinny and Dutch don't have the in-ring abilities of those two teams, their cult-like gimmicks would be a massive hit with fans on the main roster.

WWE Must Fast-Track The Righteous To SmackDown For Wyatt Sicks Feud

Every WWE fan remembers where they were when The Wyatt Sicks made their chaotic debut on RAW back in June 2024. Bo Dallas, serving as Uncle Howdy, and his group wreaked havoc in gorilla position backstage in one of the most shocking segments in WWE history.

It feels as though WWE's creative team have struggled to find the best way to book the group since its debut, failing to capitalise on the red-hot interest garnered from incredible post-debut vignettes involving Dallas and his stablemates being interviewed. There's only so much storytelling you can do with a unique gimmick against teams that don't require fictional production.

That's why WWE should use The Righteous to not only help bolster the SmackDown tag team scene but help The Wyatt Sicks get fans back on course. Dexter Lumis and Joe Gacy (Mercy The Buzzard and Huskus the Pig Boy) may be the reigning WWE Tag Team Champions, but the group as a whole is not clicking with fans a year after their debut.

The Righteous would be a dream acquisition for the creative team to position against The Wyatt Sicks, as both utilize equally eerie imagery to create interest. There are undeniable shades of the late, great Bray Wyatt's creative genius in Vinny and Dutch's character portrayal.

Perhaps the storyline could pit Dallas up against the duo who try to brainwash his allies and take control of the stable. If they needed a third partner, they could also use WWE's partnership with TNA to bring Elias back, given that he has previously been a member of The Righteous Ones.