Clark Connors has shed light on an early naming discussion surrounding the group now known as The Dogs in AEW.
Connors, Gabe Kidd and David Finlay arrived in AEW carrying a shared identity that had already been established through their work in NJPW. There, the trio had been associated with the War Dogs name, an offshoot connected to Bullet Club during Finlay’s leadership of the faction. Once the group made its way to AEW television, however, the presentation was streamlined. The War Dogs became simply The Dogs.
Appearing on What Happened When with Tony Schiavone, Connors explained that the wrestlers had initially advocated for a different name: “Raw Dogs.” In his account, the issue was not a lack of enthusiasm from the group itself. Rather, he suggested the name created an obvious complication because of its connection to Monday nights.
“When we came over here, we just became the Dogs, but we really pitched the name Raw Dogs, but I think there was an issue with that whole Monday night thing, but it sounds cool because we’re raw fucking dogs. The Dogs is also a sick name,” Connors said.
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Why The Dogs Became The Dogs
The explanation is straightforward, even if Connors delivered it with the brash attitude that has become central to his on-screen character. “Raw Dogs” would have created an immediate association with WWE Raw, the long-running Monday night program. For a group appearing in AEW, adopting a name that so directly evokes the name of another company’s flagship show would have been an unusual branding choice.
The eventual solution retained the central part of the identity while removing that potential distraction. The Dogs is shorter, easier to present on television and keeps the hard-edged, animalistic language that Connors, Kidd and Finlay had already used in their NJPW work. Connors also made clear that he is satisfied with the final name, calling The Dogs “a sick name” even while acknowledging the group’s original preference.
That distinction matters because wrestling faction names often have to work across several platforms at once. A name must be effective in commentary, on graphics, in merchandise discussions and in live crowd reactions. It also has to immediately communicate something about the performers. In this case, The Dogs continues to signal the group’s aggressive, unruly style without requiring a lengthy explanation of its origins every time the trio appears.
From War Dogs To An AEW Identity
The War Dogs label had a specific place in the broader Bullet Club story in NJPW. The group emerged as an offshoot of Bullet Club, with Finlay taking leadership after Jay White. Over time, Bullet Club’s previous structure gradually came apart and the original branding was ultimately left behind under Finlay’s direction.
Connors, Kidd and Finlay brought that shared history with them when they officially entered AEW. Yet a move between promotions can require a shift in presentation, especially when a name is tied to a particular faction history elsewhere. Reducing War Dogs to The Dogs allowed the performers to maintain continuity while presenting an identity that could stand on its own in AEW.
It is also a useful reflection of how Connors views the act. His comments were not framed as regret over losing the NJPW name. Instead, he spoke as someone who saw the essence of the group as intact. The word “Dogs” remains the foundation of the presentation, preserving the group’s toughness and the confrontational personality that has defined the alliance between Connors, Kidd and Finlay.
That continuity is especially important for wrestlers whose audience may follow them from one promotion to another. Existing fans recognize the connection to the War Dogs era, while viewers seeing the unit for the first time are given a concise introduction. The name does not require detailed knowledge of Bullet Club’s changing internal structure to understand the immediate message: these are dangerous, volatile competitors who are meant to be viewed as a pack.
The Current Connection With Death Riders
On AEW television, The Dogs are currently aligned with the Death Riders. That association has placed Connors, Kidd and Finlay within a larger group dynamic, while still allowing their own collective identity to remain visible.
In wrestling, faction alignments can create multiple layers of recognition. A wrestler can be part of a larger alliance while also retaining the distinct identity of a smaller unit. The Dogs’ current relationship with Death Riders provides precisely that kind of structure. Connors, Kidd and Finlay remain linked by their history together, but their role is also defined by the company they keep on AEW programming.
Connors’ recollection of the proposed name reinforces that The Dogs were thinking about their identity from the moment they made the transition. The eventual name may be more economical than the one they pitched, but it still distinguishes the trio within a crowded faction environment. It tells viewers who these wrestlers are without erasing the individual reputations each man has built.
Finlay’s role is particularly significant because his leadership of the War Dogs-era group was connected to the evolution away from the Bullet Club name in NJPW. Kidd and Connors, meanwhile, give the act a volatile energy that suits the “Dogs” concept. Keeping the designation intact in AEW means the three men are not simply presented as interchangeable allies inside a larger collective.
Branding Can Be Part Of The Story
Connors’ comments are a reminder that wrestling names are rarely accidental. They can carry history, clarify allegiance and shape how a performer is understood before a match even begins. The War Dogs name represented one chapter in NJPW. The Dogs represents the version of that act now operating in AEW.
The rejected “Raw Dogs” idea also illustrates how a seemingly simple creative choice can run into practical realities. The phrase fit the group’s self-image and gave Connors a line he was clearly eager to use. But the proximity to WWE Raw made it a difficult fit for an AEW act. Rather than forcing the issue, the group landed on a version that still carried the intended attitude.
There is no indication from Connors’ comments that The Dogs will be changing its name again. His remarks instead read as a look back at the conversation that took place when the trio arrived. The current title has been adopted, the group is active alongside the Death Riders, and the War Dogs lineage remains part of the background that informs their presentation.
For Connors, Kidd and Finlay, that may be the key point. Whatever the group is called in a given promotion, the objective is to project a united front built on aggression, confidence and a refusal to be easily managed. The name may have been shortened after the original pitch was set aside, but Connors’ message was clear: The Dogs still believe the identity fits them perfectly.
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.