Anthony Ogogo Reveals Near Misses with AEW’s Blackpool Combat Club and Inner Circle
Former Olympic boxer and AEW wrestler Anthony Ogogo recently revealed he was considered for membership in two of the promotion’s prominent factions: the Blackpool Combat Club and the Inner Circle. Ogogo shared these insights during an interview with ITR Wrestling, detailing how close he came to joining both groups.
Potential Role with The Inner Circle
Ogogo disclosed that AEW President Tony Khan initially envisioned him as a bodyguard and member of Chris Jericho’s Inner Circle. Khan believed a mentorship opportunity with Jericho would be beneficial for Ogogo’s development. “With Jericho, I was supposed to be Jericho’s bodyguard, part of his Inner Circle group. That was supposed to be me. I think Tony Khan’s idea was for me to work with Jericho and learn from Jericho,” Ogogo explained. Jake Hager filled the role, due to his pre-existing relationship with Jericho from their time in WWE.
Ogogo expressed his respect for Jericho, acknowledging the veteran’s willingness to share knowledge. “Especially in the early years, he was the learning tree and I would always ask questions and he’d teach me stuff. He’d always watch my matches and give me critique and say ‘Do this, don’t do that.’ He’s the man who knows how to get over so Jericho is someone I definitely learned a lot from,” he stated.
Training for the Blackpool Combat Club
The conversation too touched on Ogogo’s training with Bryan Danielson and William Regal, with the intention of him joining the Blackpool Combat Club. “At that point, I was being groomed to join the Blackpool Combat Club before it became the Blackpool Combat Club and it never really materialized. So, I trained all this time with Danielson and Regal and put in all those hard work in to learn,” Ogogo said.
He highlighted the distinct guidance he received from both wrestlers, noting Danielson’s expertise in connecting with audiences and Regal’s instruction in classic British wrestling style. “Regal taught me this classic school British wrestling big guy, tough styles…Just as you do the impact stuff doesn’t mean you can’t learn the intricate stuff,” Ogogo added.
Ogogo praised Danielson’s ability to create memorable moments, referencing the “Yes!” chants as an example of his understanding of audience engagement. “He (Danielson) taught me so much, again, not just wrestling stuff, but how to get over. He got this thing [(he Yes chants) over. And when someone does a move, or a quote, and it transcends outside of wrestling, that guy knows what he’s talking about,” Ogogo remarked.
Recent Activity and Faction History
Ogogo, who debuted in AEW in 2021 after being trained by Cody Rhodes, QT Marshall, and Dustin Rhodes, recently competed on ROH TV tapings in Jacksonville, Florida – his first match since November 2024.
The Blackpool Combat Club was originally formed in 2022 with Jon Moxley, Wheeler Yuta, Bryan Danielson, and Claudio Castagnoli, managed by William Regal. Regal departed AEW for WWE in 2023, and a dispute between Danielson and Moxley in 2024 led to the formation of the Death Riders.