Ace Austin believes there could be a major AEW collision ahead involving the Bang Bang Gang and the newly arrived AEW World Trios Champions, The New Level.
The New Level, comprised of Kofi Kingston and Austin Creed, made an immediate impact after arriving in All Elite Wrestling. Aligning with Swerve Strickland in their debut, Kingston and Creed captured the AEW World Trios Championship with Strickland. The group has already put the titles on the line during an episode of Dynamite, establishing The New Level as a prominent force early in its AEW run.
During a Highspots virtual signing, Ace Austin was asked about Kingston now being part of AEW. Austin, who is part of the Bang Bang Gang, made it clear that he has followed Kingston’s career for a long time. He also offered a prediction that the two groups may find themselves on opposing sides in the future.
“Oh yes he is! Yes, he is. I have a feeling the Bang Bang Gang will encounter The New Level. I was enthralled by Kofi from when he first came in. I liked his look and I liked the colors and I liked the way that he worked. So, yeah, yeah, big time Kofi, I would say.”
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Austin’s comments point to both personal admiration and a potentially intriguing AEW matchup. The Bang Bang Gang is made up of Jay White, Austin Gunn, Colten Gunn, Juice Robinson, and Ace Austin. With Kingston and Creed now connected to Strickland as champions, there is already a natural high-stakes setting for any future encounter between the two sides.
Ace Austin’s Kofi Kingston Appreciation Goes Back Years
Before discussing the possibility of a confrontation, Austin explained that Kingston was one of the wrestlers who stood out to him when he was younger.
“I was a huge, huge fan of Kofi Kingston when I was young.”
That appreciation was rooted in elements of Kingston’s presentation as well as his in-ring style. Austin specifically recalled being drawn to Kingston’s look, his colorful presentation, and the way he performed. For a wrestler such as Austin, whose own career has often been defined by athleticism, confidence, and a distinctive visual identity, it is notable that he singled out those aspects of Kingston’s work.
Kingston’s arrival in AEW creates the possibility of fresh interactions with a roster that includes wrestlers who watched him rise earlier in their own lives and careers. Austin is now one of those peers rather than simply a fan observing from afar. His remarks carried a clear sense of enthusiasm about Kingston being in the company, even as he looked ahead to a possible competitive showdown.
There is no announced match between the Bang Bang Gang and The New Level. However, Austin’s belief that the factions will encounter one another gives AEW a potential direction to explore, especially with the Trios Championship attached to The New Level’s current position.
The New Level Arrives With Championship Momentum
The New Level did not take long to enter the championship picture. Kingston and Creed debuted alongside Strickland and became AEW World Trios Champions, immediately placing the trio near the center of AEW programming. Their subsequent title defense on Dynamite ensured that their reign was not limited to a single statement-making arrival.
The group’s connection to Strickland is particularly significant. Strickland has been a major presence in AEW, while Kingston and Creed bring their own established chemistry as a team. Their union gives the champions a blend of experience, speed, familiarity, and star power. It also puts other three-man units on notice, whether they are established teams or factions capable of selecting three representatives from a larger lineup.
That is where the Bang Bang Gang becomes an interesting possible challenger. Jay White, Austin Gunn, Colten Gunn, Juice Robinson, and Ace Austin provide the group with multiple possible combinations. The faction does not lack personalities who could make a claim for a title opportunity, and its depth allows it to approach a trios situation from several angles.
Austin’s statement did not specify which three Bang Bang Gang members might face Kingston, Creed, and Strickland. It also did not confirm whether a title match is imminent. Still, the fact that he raised the possibility at all suggests he sees The New Level as a group that could eventually be directly relevant to his faction’s path in AEW.
Why the Bang Bang Gang Matchup Stands Out
A match between the groups would offer several compelling contrasts without requiring either side to abandon what makes it distinct. The New Level currently holds the championships, and their early run has positioned them as a newly formed unit with immediate credentials. The Bang Bang Gang, meanwhile, has an expanded lineup filled with wrestlers accustomed to operating under one banner while retaining individual identities.
On a stylistic level, Ace Austin’s high-risk ability could make him an especially natural opponent for Kingston and Creed. Austin’s comments also add a personal wrinkle. He spoke about Kingston with genuine respect, but admiration can become motivation when the opportunity is to face a wrestler who made an impression years earlier.
For Kingston, a potential match would represent another new chapter in AEW following The New Level’s successful debut. For Creed, it would create an opportunity to further define the team’s role alongside Strickland against a faction with considerable numbers and experience. For Strickland, it would mean defending the Trios Championship against opponents who can bring different strengths depending on which members the Bang Bang Gang selects.
Jay White’s presence would also loom over any rivalry involving the Bang Bang Gang, regardless of whether he competed in a trios match. White, Austin Gunn, Colten Gunn, Juice Robinson, and Ace Austin collectively give the group a broad range of options. That depth can be an asset in a division where alliances and combinations can change from one match to another.
The New Level, however, has already shown that its central trio is not merely a theoretical alliance. Kingston, Creed, and Strickland entered AEW competition together, won the titles together, and successfully defended them. That early momentum gives them a foundation that any prospective challengers would have to address.
No Match Confirmed, but Austin Has Put the Idea on the Table
At this stage, Austin’s comments are not an announcement. No AEW World Trios Championship match involving the Bang Bang Gang and The New Level has been confirmed. His statement was a prediction, framed around the feeling that the factions will eventually cross paths.
Even so, the possibility has clear appeal. The champions have quickly become an important trio in AEW, while the Bang Bang Gang possesses enough members to create uncertainty around who would step forward. That uncertainty can be valuable in a faction-based rivalry, particularly when a championship opportunity may be at stake.
Austin’s longtime admiration for Kingston also gives any future interaction a straightforward human element. He was captivated by Kingston’s early presentation and work, and he now shares a roster with the wrestler he once watched closely. If Austin’s prediction proves correct, respect may remain part of the story, but the Trios Championship would ensure that competition comes first.
For now, The New Level continues its AEW run as champion, while the Bang Bang Gang remains one of the factions capable of making its presence felt across the roster. Austin has made his own expectation clear: he believes an encounter between the groups is coming. Whether that meeting develops into a championship challenge, a larger faction conflict, or simply a first confrontation remains to be seen.
Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.