The Inner Circle is one of the most important stables in AEW history. Let's review the best matches of this faction led by Chris Jericho!

The formation of All Elite Wrestling created several opportunities for all performers. Upstarts such as Darby Allin and MJF showcased their skills and proved that they were main-event caliber competitors.

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On the other side of the spectrum, industry veteran Chris Jericho demonstrated that although he had slowed down in the ring, he was still a top-level performer. On the second episode of AEW Dynamite, The former "Y2J" and "Ayatollah of Rock and Rolla" formally introduced his new stable, The Inner Circle. The group consisted of then AEW World Champion Chris Jericho, Sammy Guevara, Jake Hager, Santana, and Ortiz. In the early days of AEW, The Inner Circle was the premier heel stable, feuding with the likes of Jon Moxley, Cody Rhodes, and The Elite. Throughout the years, members of The Inner Circle have competed in a handful of the best and most entertaining matches in AEW history.

Following poor and constant title changes between Sammy Guevara and Cody Rhodes, many fans were disappointed with the direction of the TNT Championship. Therefore, the three-way match between Guevara, Darby Allin, and Andrade El Idolo that took place on the 3/4/22 edition of AEW Rampage was a positive sign for the title. It showed that the championship could regain the same prestige and relevance it had with previous titleholders, such as Miro and the late Brodie Lee. The match was fantastic as the different styles of all three performers meshed exceptionally well.

A year-long storyline between two of the best talkers in professional wrestling culminated at All Out 2021. Chris Jericho, a man who previously claimed to be "the best in the world at what he does" was involved in a heated rivalry against MJF, a man who has claimed to "be better than you, and you know it".

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After a loss to MJF on the 8/18/21 episode of AEW Dynamite, Jericho challenged his foe to one final match. The villainous MJF agreed. However, it was on the condition that if Jericho lost, he would be forced to retire. Their match at All Out was well-worked and paced, however, the combination of crowd investment and excellent false finishes pushed it to even higher levels of greatness.

In a special episode of AEW Dynamite, The Inner Circle and The Pinnacle were pitted against each other in a Blood and Guts match, AEW's version of the famous War Games match. The Pinnacle, which consisted of MJF, Wardlow, Shawn Spears, and FTR (Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler) was formed after MJF betrayed The Inner Circle. The match itself was bloody and violent.

The leaders of both stables, Jericho and MJF, climbed to the top of the cage and proceeded to inflict more punishment on each other. MJF, with his prized Dynamite Diamond Ring, leveled Jericho with a knockout right hand. The Pinnacle was victorious, as Guevara of The Inner Circle surrendered on behalf of Chris Jericho. MJF, who had threatened to throw Jericho off the steel structure, did so anyway after the match concluded.

Eddie Kingston and Chris Jericho have had vastly different career paths. On one hand, Jericho has been a main-event performer for over two decades, winning world championships and headlining pay-per-views, including WrestleMania. On the other, Kingston has performed on the independents for the majority of his career, only receiving national recognition after his TNT Championship match against Cody Rhodes on the 7/22/20 episode of Dynamite.

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This rivalry revolved around the concept of respect, as Jericho promised he would shake his rival's hand if he were to beat him. At the event, Kingston won, as he forced his opponent to submit, and extended his hand to Jericho, who then refused to fulfill his promise.

Professional wrestling was strange in 2020, to say the least. The lack of fans in attendance due to COVID-19 led to an influx of cinematic matches. These bouts would take place away from the traditional squared circle, rather competitors would fight in a variety of bizarre locations, such as a graveyard or the inner workings of John Cena's mind.

AEW partook in these endeavors also, as The Inner Circle and The Elite, with special member Matt Hardy, would brawl against each other in an empty TIAA Bank Field. Notably, "Hangman" Adam Page arrived while riding a horse. The match was equally comedic as it was violent and concluded after Kenny Omega hit Sammy Guevara with a One-Winged Angel off of an elevated platform.

The Brodie Lee Celebration of Life episode of AEW Dynamite featured several matches that properly paid respect and tribute to the departed wrestler. One of these matches featured various members of The Inner Circle against various members of The Dark Order, the stable that Brodie Lee commanded.

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Throughout the match, the despicable MJF continued to taunt Lee's eldest son, who sat ringside. Brodie Jr. responded when he cracked MJF across the skull with a kendo stick. John Silver won the match for his team with a discus clothesline, one of Brodie's signature moves.

Chris Jericho's first AEW World Championship defense on PPV was quite memorable. His opponent Cody had essentially been the face of AEW, as he had been instrumental in the formation of the company. This made Cody's attempt to dethrone Jericho all the more important, as it would have been his only opportunity. The stipulation for this match stated that if Cody were to lose he would never be able to challenge for the title again. The match itself was competitive, however, MJF, who was Cody's protege at the time, threw in the towel as he could not bear to see his mentor writhing in the Walls of Jericho. This would be a ruse as MJF would turn on Cody and attack him after the match.

Rivalries in professional wrestling can grow from the strangest of places. However, few feuds are as beautifully weird as the one between Santana & Ortiz and Best Friends (Trent Beretta and Chuck Taylor). The animosity between both teams reached its boiling point when the Inner Circle members destroyed an SUV belonging to Trent's mother, Sue. Therefore, the two teams met in a parking lot brawl to finally settle their differences.

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This was a brutal affair that featured several wince-inducing moments. Trent was powerbombed into a windshield. Orange Cassidy, the third member of Best Friends, with a steel chain wrapped around his fist, popped out of a trunk and delivered a Superman punch to Santana. The Best Friends won the match and rode off in Sue's new SUV.

Sammy Guevara and Cody Rhodes have competed in several TNT Championship matches against each other. Their ladder match at AEW Dynamite: Beach Break proved to be their greatest encounter. Guevara risked his own well-being as he leaped from one ladder and hit Rhodes, who was standing on a separate ladder, with a cutter. This would be The American Nightmare's final match in AEW. Guevara won and officially unified both TNT titles.

The Man of 1,004 Holds and even more nicknames has competed in several world title matches throughout his career. Nonetheless, his AEW World Championship match against Jon Moxley has remained one of his best. A simple, but effective story was told brilliantly. Moxley was the valiant contender and Jericho was the cowardly champion. Jericho had attacked Moxley with a spike, leaving him partially blind and in need of an eye patch. At Revolution, Jericho continued to take advantage of his foe's injury. However, Moxley revealed that he had recovered and could see. He then spiked Jericho with the Paradigm Shift to win the AEW World Championship.

Chris Gomes is an aspiring actor and broadcaster with a passion for sports and entertainment. He is a graduate of Rutgers University with a degree in Journalism and Media Studies.