Kyle Fletcher shares the story of where Aussie Open‘s original name came from.
Fletcher and Davis started teaming up together in 2017. The duo competed together around the United Kingdom for various companies. They were originally called The Aussie Assault before they eventually got their current name.
Speaking on AEW Unrestricted, Fletcher was asked about the origin of The Aussie Assault name.
“Oh, god. It was literally just like, we got thrust together in a tag team, we didn’t have a name, at all,” Fletcher said. “There was one show where [the booker] was like, ‘We need a name, we need something. I’m gonna call you something.’ We’re like, ‘Uh, okay,’ and I literally don’t think we knew what we were getting announced as until we were getting announced as it. It was literally that one show they said it.
“I’m pretty sure that next weekend or whatever, we were like, ‘We need a better name than that. Come on, let’s start brainstorming. I don’t want to be called Aussie Assault anymore, come on.’ So that’s that story.”
Aussie Open has won tag team titles all over the wrestling world. They were the inaugural NJPW STRONG Openweight Tag Team Champions. Plus, they are former IWGP Tag Team Champions. The duo relinquished the NJPW titles in May because Davis suffered an injury.
Aussie Open’s ‘Elite’ Decision
In the same interview, Fletcher discussed Aussie Open’s decision to sign with All Elite Wrestling. They had already competed for AEW/ROH on multiple occasions before they officially signed. He stated that they wanted stability, and they chose to make the move to AEW.
“We’d worked for Tony quite a lot,” Fletcher said. “We worked at AEW, and we really enjoyed the environment there, the backstage environment. We really enjoyed the people there, there’s a lot of people on the roster that I would love to wrestle. That was a big thing. Then also the fact that there is still a New Japan relationship was also a big deal, the fact that AEW guys have been able to do New Japan stuff.
“Because we already have that connection and it was very much like a, when we were in discussions, ‘How do you feel about us still doing New Japan stuff?’ Then we spoke to both sides, and they were like, ‘Yeah, of course, that’s not an issue. That is still something you can do.’ That was a big part of the decision, but then also we love the environment at AEW. There’s a lot of exciting matchups there, and the nationwide TV exposure I’d a big deal as well, so a lot of different thinking, thought process went into it. But very happy with the decision.”
Aussie Open will challenge for the ROH World Tag Team Championship at ROH Death Before Dishonor. Check out the card here.
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