The Inner Circle

A Dominant Faction

Inner Circle

Inner Circle is the faction that is comprised of Chris Jericho, Sammy Guevara, Jake Hager, Santana and Ortiz. This stable was formed on the very first episode of Dynamite.

Following that, the Inner Circle became the most dominant faction in AEW.

Chris Jericho won the AEW Championship at All Out against Hangman Adam Page.

On the next pay-per-view, Full Gear, the Inner Circle stood tall. Proud and Powerful defeated the Young Bucks. Later in the show, Jericho defeated Cody for the AEW World Championship by technical submission.

MJF's begins to dismantle the Inner Circle

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On an episode of Dynamite, MJF approached Jericho about him joining the Inner Circle. After negotiating, it was decided that if MJF defeats Chris Jericho on the 2020 Full Gear, MJF and Wardlow would join the Inner Circle. Though the match was set, not every member of Inner Circle was pleased with this decision.

Sammy Guevara strongly opposed MJF's involvement in the faction and therefore left the stable. Following that, MJF was on his way to kick Jericho out of the faction but the members of Inner Circle stood by him and instead disbarred MJF.

On that very moment, MJF revealed his new faction Pinnacle which entailed MJF, Shawn Spears, Wardlow and FTR. This led to Inner Circle turning face for the first time.

Inner Circle vs. Pinnacle

Inner Circle and Pinnacle were booked to face on the first ever Blood and Guts where Pinnacle defeated Inner Circle by submission. Following that, Chris Jericho challenged Pinnacle at a Stadium Stampede match at the 2021 Double or Nothing pay-per-view where Inner Circle secure victory.

Chris Jericho wanted a one-on-one match with MJF on which MJF agreed, but applied a condition where Jericho had to overcome '5 Labors of Jericho'. He had to face four opponents of MJF's choosing who were Shawn Spears, Nick Gage, Juventud Guerrera and Wardlow. After defeating all of them, Jericho got the opportunity to face MJF where he was banned to use Judas Effect in that match. Taking advantage of the situation, MJF captured victory over Jericho.

After that, Jericho demanded a rematch against MJF on the 2021 All Out where Jericho put his career on the line. Chris won that match, putting an end to the year-long rivalry.

End of Inner Circle

After ending the with Pinnacle, Inner Circle collided with the American Top Team at the Full Gear event where Inner Circle defeated them in a 10-Man Street Fight.

After a few involvements of Eddie Kingston in the Inner Circle, Jericho turned on Ortiz and Santana as he realized that they would betray him for Eddie. Due to this, Sammy voluntarily quit the group while Hager stayed with him. This was the end of the Inner Circle.

In the next week, Chris revealed his new faction called Jericho Appreciation Society which included Chris Jericho, Jake Hager, Matt Menard, Daniel Garcia and Angelo Parker. Sammy Guevara and Tay Conti were the additions to the faction.