Frankie Kazarian

2.3.1. Initial Run and X Division Championship (2003-2005)

Kazarian joined Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) in the summer of 2003 after meeting TNA personnel on a World Wrestling All-Stars tour. He quickly set his sights on the TNA X Division Championship. He was a participant in the first-ever Ultimate X match on August 20, 2003, alongside Michael Shane and Chris Sabin, a match ultimately won by Shane. Kazarian's initial stint with TNA was interrupted by a hiatus between October 2003 and March 2004.

Upon his return, Kazarian seized the opportunity to win the X Division title on March 31, 2004, defeating The Amazing Red for the vacant championship, which had been stripped from Chris Sabin due to injury. He held the title until June 9, 2004, when he lost it to A.J. Styles.

In June 2004, Kazarian and Shane formed a tag team, informally known as "Shazarian," managed by Traci Brooks. They claimed that A.J. Styles' holding the X Division Championship, then the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, and then returning to win the X Division Championship again was illegal, based on an obscure TNA rule. On July 28, 2004, they faced Styles in an Ultimate X match, where both Kazarian and Shane simultaneously took possession of the title belt, leading to them being declared co-champions. They defended the co-championship in a twenty-two-man Gauntlet for the Gold match on August 11, 2004. Kazarian entered at number one and was one of the final three participants, before being eliminated by The Amazing Red.

At November's Victory Road pay-per-view, Kazarian again started at number one in a 20-man X Division Gauntlet and was the last man eliminated. Throughout late 2004 and early 2005, Shazarian competed in the TNA tag team division. Although his TNA contract expired in September 2004 and was not renewed, he continued working for the company on a per-appearance basis. The duo engaged in a feud with the 3Live Kru and NASCAR analyst Jeff Hammond. This rivalry culminated in a tag team match at Against All Odds on February 13, 2005, where Kazarian was pinned by Hammond after Shane accidentally superkicked him.

2.3.2. World Wrestling Entertainment (2005)

On February 25, 2005, Kazarian departed TNA and signed with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). He was assigned to Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW), WWE's developmental territory. He made his WWE television debut on the July 16 episode of Velocity under the name "The Future Frankie Kazarian," defeating Nunzio. He remained undefeated through July and August, securing victories against notable opponents such as Scotty 2 Hotty, Funaki, and Paul London.

However, on August 15, Kazarian announced his departure from WWE, having requested his release two days prior. He later explained that he asked for his release because he felt the company had no plans to revitalize its cruiserweight division, a sentiment that led to his decision.

2.3.3. Return to TNA and Serotonin (2006-2007)

Kazarian returned to TNA on July 16, 2006, at Victory Road, in a losing effort against TNA X Division Champion Senshi. Following this, he briefly resumed his tag team with Michael Shane (who was now known as "Maverick" Matt Bentley due to name trademark issues) before they disappeared from television.

They later resurfaced with a new goth-inspired look, joining Johnny Devine to become subservient to Raven, forming the stable known as "Serotonin." As part of this group, his name was shortened to simply "Kaz." Kaz eventually became the first member of Serotonin to openly rebel against Raven. He turned on Raven on June 21, 2007, by attacking fellow stablemates, Havok and Martyr, costing Raven a match against Chris Harris.

2.3.4. As "Kaz" (2007-2008)

Following his split from Serotonin, Kazarian reverted to using his former ring attire and entrance video, both of which initially displayed his full "Kazarian" name. However, these were later updated to feature only the shortened "Kaz," although some references to "Kazarian" remained on the TNA website. He then entered a brief feud with Robert Roode over Roode's treatment of Ms. Brooks.

Kaz next participated in the 2007 Fight for the Right Tournament, which he won by defeating Christian Cage in a ladder match at Genesis. On the subsequent episode of Impact!, Kurt Angle narrowly defeated Kaz to retain the TNA World Championship.

At the 2007 Turning Point pay-per-view, he teamed with Booker T to defeat Christian Cage and Robert Roode. He then began a storyline where he attacked Dustin Rhodes and stole items from Rhodes' alter ego, "Black Reign." Kaz defeated Black Reign at Final Resolution. Following this, Kaz and Black Reign competed in a Four Corner Mouse Trap match, which Kaz won, but Black Reign managed to retrieve his items by hitting Kaz with his "Darkness Falls" weapon. On February 23, Kaz defeated Rellik, but was then attacked by Black Reign and Rellik. Eric Young attempted to intervene but became too scared. At Destination X, Kaz and Young defeated Black Reign and Rellik, leading to Kaz and Young (now performing as "Super Eric") forming a tag team.

At Lockdown 2008 on April 13, they won the Cuffed in a Cage match. On the April 17 episode of TNA Impact!, Kaz and Young defeated the TNA World Tag Team Championship holders AJ Styles and Tomko and The Latin American Xchange (LAX) in a triple threat tag team match for the titles, with "Super Eric" pinning Styles. However, Jim Cornette later vacated the titles, stating that since Young was signed to the match and claimed to be a different person than "Super Eric," "Super Eric's" involvement constituted outside interference.

Following a loss to LAX in a Deuces Wild Tournament qualifying match, Kaz participated in and won the Terror Dome Match at Sacrifice, becoming the number one contender for the X Division Championship and also taking Kurt Angle's place in the triple threat match for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship. Samoa Joe retained the title in this match. On the June 5 episode of Impact!, Kaz won a future TNA World Heavyweight Championship match in the first-ever X Division King of the Mountain Match. He then failed to win the X Division Championship at Slammiversary, losing to the champion, Petey Williams. The following Thursday on Impact!, he unsuccessfully challenged Samoa Joe for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship.

Kaz led Team TNA in the 2008 World X Cup and reached the final round at Victory Road, but lost after performing a leg drop on Daivari from the top of the Ultimate X structure. On July 21, 2008, TNA's official website announced Kaz's release, which was later revealed to be a storyline. In a subsequent interview with Karen Angle, he claimed to have lost his passion for wrestling after failing to defeat Kurt Angle for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship and letting down his company in the World X Cup finals, leading to his decision to leave.

2.3.5. As "Suicide" (2008-2010)

In late 2008, Kazarian returned to TNA Wrestling as a masked wrestler named Suicide, a character prominently featured in Midway's TNA Impact! video game. He debuted at Final Resolution in December 2008 as a face, swinging to the ring on a cable and attacking the Motor City Machine Guns. At Destination X, Suicide won the TNA X Division Championship in his debut match, an Ultimate X contest. Due to an injury to Kazarian, the Suicide character was portrayed by Christopher Daniels for several weeks, with Daniels in the costume when the character won the X Division Championship.

Daniels subsequently feuded with the Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin)), who, on the April 30 episode of Impact!, accused him of being Suicide. Jay Lethal and Consequences Creed joined these accusations on the May 7 episode. On May 14, The Motor City Machine Guns and Lethal Consequences attempted to unmask Suicide, but Daniels intervened, helping Suicide clear the ring. At Slammiversary, Suicide retained the TNA X Division Championship against Shelley, Sabin, Lethal, and Creed in a King of the Mountain match. On the July 16 episode of Impact!, Suicide lost his X Division title to Homicide after Homicide cashed in his "Feast or Fired" briefcase.

After a few weeks of absence, Suicide returned at Hard Justice to compete in the Steel Asylum match, which he lost due to interference from D'Angelo Dinero. On the August 20 episode of Impact!, Suicide attacked Dinero after his match, igniting a feud between them. Dinero defeated Suicide in a grudge match on the September 17 Impact! and again at No Surrender in a Falls Count Anywhere match. The following week on Impact!, Suicide finally defeated Dinero in a street fight. On the October 15 episode of Impact!, Homicide stole Suicide's costume and claimed to know his true identity.

On the December 3 Impact!, Suicide made peace with Dinero and joined him, Matt Morgan, and Hernandez in their conflict with Rhino, Team 3D, and Jesse Neal. At Final Resolution, Morgan, Hernandez, Dinero, and Suicide defeated Neal, Team 3D, and Rhino in an eight-man elimination tag team match. Gerdelman made his final television appearance as Suicide on the February 11, 2010, episode of Impact!, losing to Matt Morgan in an 8 Card Stud Tournament qualifying match.

2.3.6. Fortune (2010-2012)

On the February 18, 2010, episode of Impact!, Gerdelman returned as Kazarian, teaming with Amazing Red and Generation Me (Jeremy Buck and Max Buck) in an eight-man tag team match, where they defeated X Division Champion Doug Williams, Brian Kendrick, and The Motor City Machine Guns after Kazarian pinned Williams. The following week, he defeated Kendrick to earn a shot at the X Division Championship at Destination X. However, Kazarian received his title shot earlier on the March 8 Monday night Impact! in a three-way match that also included Daniels, with Williams retaining the title by pinning Daniels. At Destination X, Kazarian defeated Daniels, Kendrick, and Amazing Red in a four-way ladder match to earn another X Division Championship opportunity.

At Lockdown, Kazarian defeated Homicide and Shannon Moore in a three-way steel cage match to win the vacant TNA X Division Championship for the fourth time (counting his reign as Suicide). Douglas Williams had been stripped of the title due to being unable to attend the event. Upon Williams' return two weeks later, he refused to hand over the physical X Division Championship belt to Kazarian, demanding a match for it. At Sacrifice, Kazarian lost the X Division Championship to Williams without ever physically holding the belt.

On the subsequent episode of Impact!, Kazarian began a heel turn, winning an X Division battle royal to earn the number ten spot in the TNA rankings for a World Title shot, impressing Ric Flair. The heel turn was completed the following week when Flair interfered in his match with Jay Lethal, leading to a roll-up victory for Kazarian. After the match, Flair's associate A.J. Styles attacked Lethal, causing an argument with Kazarian, who wanted to finish Lethal himself. This distraction allowed Lethal to dropkick both of them out of the ring. At Slammiversary VIII, Kazarian lost his spot in the rankings to Kurt Angle.

On the following Impact!, Ric Flair, aligned with Kazarian, Styles, Desmond Wolfe, Robert Roode, and James Storm, announced the reformation of the Four Horsemen under the new name "Fortune." Flair stated that each member had to earn their spot, with Kazarian needing to become the Barry Windham of the group. Flair booked Kazarian and Styles in a tag team match against Samoa Joe and Rob Terry at Victory Road to foster peace between them. Kazarian and Styles won due to outside interference from Desmond Wolfe, earning their spots in Fortune. On the July 22 Impact!, Kazarian helped Styles defeat Rob Terry to win the TNA Global Championship. The following week, the Fortune lineup was completed with the addition of Robert Roode and James Storm. However, on August 12, Douglas Williams and Matt Morgan were also added to Fortune, as the stable attacked EV 2.0, a group of former Extreme Championship Wrestling performers. Leading up to Bound for Glory, the stable's name was officially tweaked to "Fortune." At Bound for Glory, Kazarian, Styles, Morgan, Roode, and Storm were defeated in a Lethal Lockdown match by EV 2.0 members Tommy Dreamer, Raven, Rhino, Sabu, and Stevie Richards.

On the subsequent Impact!, Fortune formed an alliance with Hulk Hogan's and Eric Bischoff's new stable, Immortal. The following week, Kazarian was tasked with ending Mr. Anderson's World Heavyweight title aspirations in an Ultimate X match. Kazarian won the match with Fortune's help, but Anderson still earned a title shot against Immortal's Jeff Hardy. Tensions rose between Kazarian and Douglas Williams when Williams felt overlooked in Fortune, while Kazarian considered himself, Styles, Roode, and Storm the "Core Four." On the November 4 Impact!, Flair ordered them to settle their differences in the ring. Kazarian won due to a miscommunication between Williams and James Storm, and Flair made them shake hands. At Turning Point, the seemingly reunited Fortune defeated EV 2.0 in a ten-man tag team match, resulting in Sabu's release from TNA. However, on the November 18 Impact!, Williams turned on Fortune and joined Matt Morgan, reigniting his feud with Kazarian. Williams then scored back-to-back pinfall victories over Kazarian in an eight-man elimination tag team match and a singles match. On the December 23 Impact!, Kazarian defeated Jeremy Buck, Max Buck, and Robbie E in a four-way match to become the number one contender for Jay Lethal's X Division Championship. On January 9, 2011, at Genesis, Kazarian defeated Lethal to win the X Division Championship for the fifth time.

On January 31, at the tapings for the February 3 episode of Impact!, Fortune turned face by attacking Immortal during a TNA World Heavyweight Championship match between Mr. Anderson and Jeff Hardy. Ric Flair, who was out with a torn rotator cuff, returned at the February 14 tapings and turned on Fortune, joining Immortal. On March 13 at Victory Road, Kazarian successfully defended the X Division Championship in an Ultimate X match against Jeremy Buck, Max Buck, and Robbie E. On April 17 at Lockdown, Kazarian, Roode, Storm, and Christopher Daniels (who replaced an injured A.J. Styles) defeated Immortal representatives Ric Flair, Abyss, Bully Ray, and Matt Hardy in a Lethal Lockdown match. On May 16, at the tapings for the May 19 episode of Impact Wrestling, Kazarian lost the X Division Championship to Abyss. On June 12 at Slammiversary IX, Kazarian failed to regain the title from Abyss in a three-way match that also included Brian Kendrick. In September, Kazarian began a feud with Jeff Jarrett over his and his wife Karen's treatment of her new assistant, Traci Brooks. In late 2011, Fortune disbanded after both Christopher Daniels and Bobby Roode turned on their stablemates.

2.3.7. Bad Influence (2012-2014)

On the January 5, 2012, episode of Impact Wrestling, Kazarian and A.J. Styles were defeated in the finals of the Wild Card Tournament by Magnus and Samoa Joe when Kazarian abandoned Styles and left the ringside area with Christopher Daniels, turning heel. Over the next few weeks, Daniels appeared to be holding something over Kazarian, who seemed reluctant to follow his bidding. On February 12 at Against All Odds, Kazarian defeated Styles in a singles match. On the February 23 Impact Wrestling, Kazarian attacked Styles during his Television Championship match with Robbie E, allowing Robbie to retain. The following week, Kazarian defeated Styles in a gauntlet match; if Styles had won, Kazarian would have had to explain his alliance with Daniels.

On March 18 at Victory Road, Kazarian and Daniels were defeated by Styles and Mr. Anderson. The rivalry continued on April 15 at Lockdown, where their respective teams clashed in the annual Lethal Lockdown match, with Styles' and Anderson's team defeating Kazarian's and Daniels' team. During Styles' absence, Kazarian and Daniels set their sights on the TNA World Tag Team Championship, attacking champions Magnus and Samoa Joe on the April 26 episode. On May 10, Kazarian revealed he initially allied with Daniels to prevent him from exposing Styles' secret but changed his mind after learning what it was. Daniels then revealed a series of photographs suggesting a relationship between Styles and TNA president Dixie Carter. Three days later at Sacrifice, Kazarian and Daniels defeated Magnus and Samoa Joe to win the TNA World Tag Team Championship, marking Kazarian's second reign with the title. Later, Kazarian and Daniels cost A.J. Styles his match with Kurt Angle, who then turned on them to save Styles.

On June 10 at Slammiversary, Kazarian and Daniels lost the TNA World Tag Team Championship to Styles and Angle. On the June 21 Impact Wrestling, Styles and Carter revealed that Kazarian and Daniels had lied about their relationship by introducing a pregnant woman named Claire Lynch, whom they had been helping overcome addictions. The following week, Kazarian teased dissension with Daniels but then revealed he was still on Daniels' side, helping them defeat Styles and Angle to regain the TNA World Tag Team Championship. Daniels then admitted they lied about Claire but claimed Styles was the father of her unborn baby.

The team, billed as "The World Tag Team Champions of the World," successfully defended their titles against Devon and Garett Bischoff on August 8. Three days later at Hardcore Justice, Kazarian unsuccessfully challenged Devon for the TNA Television Championship. On August 23, the Claire Lynch storyline concluded with her revealing she was not pregnant and exposing Daniels' and Kazarian's blackmail plot against Styles. On September 6, they successfully defended the TNA World Tag Team Championship against Chavo Guerrero Jr. and Hernandez. Three days later at No Surrender, they had another successful title defense against A.J. Styles and Kurt Angle. On October 14 at Bound for Glory, Kazarian and Daniels lost the TNA World Tag Team Championship to Chavo Guerrero Jr. and Hernandez in a three-way match, which also included A.J. Styles and Kurt Angle. They received a rematch on November 11 at Turning Point but were again defeated by Guerrero and Hernandez.

On December 9 at Final Resolution, Kazarian was defeated by James Storm in a singles match, and again on the January 3, 2013, episode of Impact Wrestling, starting a rivalry between the newly christened "Bad Influence" and Storm. On March 10 at Lockdown, Bad Influence unsuccessfully challenged Austin Aries and Bobby Roode for the TNA World Tag Team Championship in a three-way match. In April, Kazarian and Daniels teased a Fortune reunion to battle the Aces & Eights stable, but A.J. Styles and Bobby Roode declined to join them. Bad Influence faced Austin Aries and Bobby Roode in a number one contenders match on May 9, which ended in a no contest after special guest referee James Storm superkicked both Aries and Daniels. On June 2 at Slammiversary XI, Bad Influence failed to capture the TNA World Tag Team Championship from Chavo Guerrero Jr. and Hernandez in a fatal four-way elimination match. On June 13, Kazarian and Daniels defeated Gunner and Storm in a non-title match to qualify for the 2013 Bound for Glory Series. Kazarian began the series with losses to Magnus and A.J. Styles. On July 11, Kazarian and Bobby Roode defeated Austin Aries and Christopher Daniels to qualify for the BFG series gauntlet match later that evening, where Kazarian was the first eliminated by A.J. Styles. On August 8, Kazarian and Daniels intentionally got counted out in a BFG series match to gain two points each, and then allied with Bobby Roode. The following week at Impact Wrestling: Hardcore Justice, Kazarian defeated A.J. Styles, Austin Aries, and Jeff Hardy in a ladder match, with interference from Daniels and Roode, earning twenty points in the BFG Series.

At the Bound for Glory pre-show, Bad Influence were defeated by Eric Young and Joseph Park in a tag team gauntlet match to determine the number one contenders for the TNA World Tag Team Championship. After their elimination, Bad Influence attacked Park, causing him to bleed, which subsequently led to Abyss appearing. Over the following weeks, Bad Influence mocked Park and attempted to reveal his true identity, eventually exposing that Park's law firm had closed 15 years prior. On December 12, Bad Influence were defeated by Park and Young when Young caused his own partner to bleed, resulting in Park transforming into Abyss and securing the victory. On December 26, Bad Influence were again defeated by Park in a Monster's Ball Handicap match.

On March 2, 2014, Bad Influence, as part of a group of TNA wrestlers, participated in Wrestle-1's Kaisen: Outbreak event in Tokyo, Japan, defeating Junior Stars (Koji Kanemoto and Minoru Tanaka). On March 9, at TNA Lockdown, Bad Influence and Chris Sabin were defeated by Wrestle-1's The Great Muta, Sanada, and Yasu in a six-man interpromotional steel cage match. On April 12, at TNA One Night Only's X-Travaganza 2, Bad Influence were defeated by The Wolves (Eddie Edwards and Davey Richards) in the EC3 Invitational Ladder match. On April 23, Daniels announced his departure from TNA, effectively dissolving the team. On May 11, it was reported that Kazarian had also worked the final dates of his contract with TNA.

While active in TNA, Bad Influence also appeared in other promotions. On January 24, 2014, they defeated The Ballard Brothers (Shane and Shannon Ballard) at Big Time Wrestling's Battle Royal. On April 5, they competed in two events: first, defeating The Bravado Brothers (Harlem and Lancelot Bravado) at Dragon Gate USA's Mercury Rising, and then defeating The Irish Airborne (Dave and Jake Crist) at WrestleCon. On June 6, Bad Influence debuted in Tommy Dreamer's House of Hardcore, defeating Outlaw Inc. (Eddie Kingston and Homicide), and the following day, at HOH 5, they defeated Petey Williams and Tony Nese. In November and December 2015, The Addiction participated in New Japan Pro-Wrestling's 2015 World Tag League, finishing with three wins and three losses, failing to advance from their block.

2.3.8. Second Return to Impact Wrestling/TNA (2021-present)

On the July 29, 2021, episode of Impact, Kazarian made a surprise return to Impact Wrestling (formerly TNA), attacking The Elite (Kenny Omega, Doc Gallows, and Karl Anderson). The following week, he teamed with Eddie Edwards and Sami Callihan to defeat The Elite. He made another appearance in May 2022, wrestling Chris Sabin.

Kazarian later returned at Victory Road as part of the X Division Triple Threat Revolver match, earning a shot at Mike Bailey's title at Bound For Glory. At this event, Kazarian defeated Bailey to win the X-Division Championship for the sixth time in his career. On the October 20, 2022, episode of IMPACT, Kazarian announced he would invoke Option C, vacating the X Division Championship in exchange for an opportunity to challenge Josh Alexander for the Impact World Championship, but he was defeated. At Hard To Kill, Kazarian confirmed his official signing with Impact Wrestling.

On March 24, 2023, at Sacrifice, Kazarian teamed with Rich Swann and Steve Maclin, losing to Time Machine (Alex Shelley, Chris Sabin, and Kushida). On April 16, at Rebellion, Kazarian was part of Team Dreamer, which won a 10-wrestler Hardcore War against Team Bully. On June 9 at Against All Odds, Kazarian defeated Eddie Edwards. However, at Slammiversary on July 15, and again at Emergence on August 27 in a "Back to School" match, Kazarian was defeated by Eddie Edwards.

On January 13, 2024, at the "Countdown to TNA Hard to Kill", Kazarian teamed with Eric Young in a losing effort against The System (Eddie Edwards and Brian Myers). On the January 18 episode of TNA Wrestling, Kazarian and Young were defeated by The Grizzled Young Veterans (James Drake & Zack Gibson). Following the match, Kazarian turned heel by attacking Young, declaring that 2024 would be "his year." Two weeks later, Kazarian explained his actions, stating that he saved TNA when he re-signed in 2023 but, after a career as a "soldier," he now vowed to be remembered as a "king," a term he used to describe Young. On February 23, at No Surrender, Kazarian was defeated by Young and later attacked the referee in frustration. TNA Director of Authority Santino Marella suspended Kazarian for his actions. However, Kazarian continued to target Young, costing him his world title match against Moose at Sacrifice. On April 20, at Rebellion, Kazarian defeated Young in a Full Metal Mayhem match.

On the June 18 episode of WWE NXT, Kazarian made a one-off return appearance, participating in a Battle Royal for a shot at the NXT Championship, where he eliminated his on-screen rival Joe Hendry. In October 2024, at Bound for Glory, Kazarian won the 20-person Intergender Call Your Shot Gauntlet, earning a championship match of his choosing for up to one year.

2.5.1. SoCal Uncensored (2019-2021)

In January 2019, it was revealed that Kazarian would be one of the first wrestlers to sign with All Elite Wrestling (AEW), a new promotion founded by wrestlers Cody Rhodes and The Young Bucks. SoCal Uncensored (SCU), consisting of Kazarian, Christopher Daniels, and Scorpio Sky, made their debut at Double or Nothing, defeating Strong Hearts (CIMA, El Lindaman, and T-Hawk) in a six-man tag team match.

On the October 30, 2019, episode of AEW Dynamite, Kazarian and his SoCal Uncensored teammate Scorpio Sky made history by becoming the inaugural AEW World Tag Team Champions. They held the championship until January 21, 2020, when they lost it to Kenny Omega and "Hangman" Adam Page at Chris Jericho's Rock 'N' Wrestling Rager at Sea Part Deux: Second Wave. Following this, SCU initiated a feud with The Dark Order. On the March 18, 2020, episode of Dynamite (the first show without a live audience), Kazarian and Daniels were attacked by The Exalted One of The Dark Order, Brodie Lee. As Scorpio Sky began to distance himself from SCU, Kazarian returned to teaming with Christopher Daniels. Kazarian also ventured into singles competition, facing and losing to Jon Moxley on the May 6, 2020, episode of Dynamite.

On September 30, 2020, Kazarian and Scorpio Sky reunited as a tag team, but were unsuccessful in their challenge against FTR for the AEW World Tag Team Championships. On December 2, 2020, at Winter Is Coming, Kazarian lost a singles match to Chris Jericho. At AEW Blood and Guts, Kazarian and Daniels defeated The Varsity Blondes (Brian Pillman Jr. and Griff Garrison), The Acclaimed (Anthony Bowens and Max Caster), and Jurassic Express (Jungle Boy and Luchasaurus) to earn a shot at the AEW World Tag Team Championships. On May 14, 2021, Kazarian and Daniels failed to defeat The Young Bucks for the titles, which resulted in the mandated disbandment of the SoCal Uncensored tag team.

2.5.2. The Elite Hunter (2021-2023)

In June 2021, Kazarian returned to AEW with a new persona, labeling himself 'The Elite Hunter.' He began attacking members of The Elite, often interfering in their matches when they attempted to cheat, and frequently aiding Eddie Kingston, Pac, and Penta el Zero M. This new role led to a match at Fyter Fest (Night 2), where Kazarian lost to Elite member Doc Gallows.

In 2022, Kazarian engaged in a feud with his former tag team partner Scorpio Sky over the TNT Championship. This rivalry culminated when Sky turned on Kazarian, hitting him with the TNT Championship belt after defeating him on the May 13, 2022, episode of AEW Rampage. At Double or Nothing on May 29, 2022, Sky, Paige Van Zant, and Ethan Page defeated Kazarian, Sammy Guevara, and Tay Conti in a six-person tag team match. As a result of this loss, Kazarian and Guevara forfeited their right to further challenge Sky for the TNT Championship.

At the Impact Wrestling Hard to Kill pay-per-view in January 2023, Kazarian cut a promo announcing his departure from AEW and his signing with Impact Wrestling. It was reported that Kazarian had requested his release from AEW in November 2022, which was amicably granted. His final match for AEW took place on the December 26, 2022, episode of AEW Dark: Elevation, where he lost to Konosuke Takeshita. Reports indicated that Kazarian was well-regarded by AEW officials and fellow talent, and that he "did business the right way" by losing to Takeshita before his departure. Sources also suggested that Kazarian would be welcomed back to AEW if he ever chose to return.