Stokely Hathaway made his debut at AEW Double or Nothing 2022, aligning himself with Jade Cargill.
Hathaway, who performed as Malcolm Bivens in NXT, was released by WWE in April 2022 after turning down a new contract.
Speaking to Chris Jericho on Talk Is Jericho, Hathaway explained that he wasn't technically signed to AEW when he made his first appearance.
"I was available and Dax (Harwood) is one of my good friends. We were talking back and forth, and he sent me a screenshot. He was having a conversation with Tony (Khan) and the screenshot was Tony just being like, 'LET'S GO!!!!!!!' in all caps with 37 exclamation marks. That was the beginning of the talks of me coming in. We didn't meet face-to-face until I would say Double or Nothing. I met you [Jericho], and you were like, 'who is this guy?' I walked in and half the people knew me. I was not signed, I was just backstage. I debuted, it was a handshake deal, and it became official a few hours after that," said Stokely.
The relationship between Hathaway and Cargill was an avenue to Hathaway starting The Firm and recruiting The Gunns (Austin & Colten Gunn), Big Bill, Lee Moriarty, & Ethan Page, which eventually led to the return of MJF.
Hathaway remains aligned with Page, Moriarty, & Big Bill on AEW TV.
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