Even before The Pinnacle was formed in AEW, there had been months of rumblings of a group like this coming together, in an attempt to become the second coming of the Four Horsemen. In March of 2021, MJF, FTR, Wardlow, and Shawn Spears joined forces, aided by Tully Blanchard, to form The Pinnacle. With the names and talent involved, they had all the potential to be the driving force of AEW. However, since their formation, they have lost a lot of steam, and are beginning to feel like a wasted opportunity.
The Pinnacle Got Off To A Strong Start
The early days of The Pinnacle began when Tully Blanchard was separately managing both FTR and a struggling Shawn Spears. It took a while for the three to become aligned, but once they did, big teases were being given on TV. With regular interactions with Arn Anderson, in addition to another former Horseman in J.J. Dillon, making an appearance and throwing up the Horsemen hand gesture, it seemed like only a matter of time before new members were added.
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Running parallel to the growing alliance between was Spears and FTR, was the story of MJF entering the Inner Circle. Despite MJF acting as a solo star (apart from having his hired bodyguard, Wardlow, by his side), he managed to weasel his way into joining the Inner Circle by earning the respect of Chris Jericho. His run with the group was entertaining, but it brought a lot of tensions between the other members, who weren’t on board with his membership. As time went on, members of the Inner Circle slowly turned face, right up until Jericho decided to kick MJF out of the group.
However, this had been MJF’s plan all along, as he revealed that he had formed his own group. The lights went out, and when they came back on, FTR, Wardlow, and Spears appeared, with the Inner Circle getting beaten down. The group stood tall to close out Dynamite, making a huge statement in AEW. The following week, they named themselves as The Pinnacle, with a hugely impactful debut.
The Inner Circle Vs Pinnacle Feud Went On For Too Long
What followed was a long and drawn-out feud with The Inner Circle. Whilst it started off well, with personal animosity and entertaining backstage vignettes and videos, harkening back to how the Horsemen were presented, the feud peaked at its first match – Blood and Guts. It was AEW’s version of the War Games match, made famous by The Horsemen. MJF stood tall, bloodied, and alone on top of the structure, making him feel like a star.
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The rivalry went downhill, with a needless rematch which became less vicious, and more comedic. The tensions felt as though they had soothed, and with the teams facing each other in some form or another over many different shows, fans became tired of the repetitive nature of the rivalry. In a company that boasts its long-term storytelling, this was certainly a low point in terms of that, with both factions losing momentum. The feud transitioned into just a singles feud between MJF and Chris Jericho, where Jericho would eventually defeat MJF on PPV, ending their story.
The Pinnacle Don’t Feel Like A Faction Anymore
During the time in which MJF and Jericho were feuding, many of The Pinnacle members drifted apart. Some would take time away from TV, showing up on Dark or Elevation, or else nursing injuries. Wardlow faded back into being the heavy behind MJF, rather than a certified faction member. After just one major feud, The Pinnacle has been rarely seen together as a unit for quite some time.
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FTR has been demoted slightly in that they were hired out by MJF to do business for Andrade, in which they also turned their attention to the Tag Team Titles, and currently feel as though they’re more in cahoots with Andrade and Malakai Black. Spears and Wardlow have largely become lackeys for MJF, with Spears feeling less and less like a big deal as time goes on, due to acting as a punching bag at times. MJF’s recent feuds have been singles programs against the likes of Brian Pillman Jr., Darby Allin, and CM Punk, distancing himself as a member of a faction.
It's true that in AEW, members of groups can have their own identities, working for personal goals and going on different paths, whilst remaining strong. However, The Pinnacle hasn’t truly established itself yet. With them all doing different things, their chemistry hasn’t been able to develop, and they feel weak and pointless as a stable. They are currently a far cry from being anywhere close to what the Horsemen were, which is a shame considering the talents involved, and how promisingly they began. Of course, there is time to fix it and strengthen their standing, but it will take a lot of hard work to achieve it.
