Backstage Update on FTR and Stokely’s New Alliance – After nearly half a year away from television, Stokely Hathaway made his return to AEW on the April 24th episode of Dynamite, stepping into a new role as the manager of Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler, collectively known as FTR.
While Hathaway had been off the road for months, this pairing wasn’t a last-minute creative move. According to Fightful Select, the idea of Hathaway managing FTR had been in the works as early as last year. Before his hiatus, AEW even dropped subtle hints about the potential alliance, with Hathaway seen scouting tag teams and notably observing an FTR match in the background of one of his vignettes.
Plans temporarily changed when The Outrunners (Truth Magnum and Turbo Floyd) gained surprising momentum with AEW audiences. This surge in popularity shifted FTR’s direction toward a storyline with The Outrunners instead, delaying Hathaway’s pairing with them.
Now, the original plan has finally materialized. In addition to his return, AEW updated its official roster page, listing Hathaway simply as “Stokely,” dropping his last name as part of a slight rebrand.
This new alliance could mark a major shift for FTR, who have established themselves as one of the top tag teams in wrestling today. With Stokely by their side, it will be interesting to see how this partnership impacts their trajectory in AEW moving forward.
Backstage Update on FTR and Stokely’s New Alliance
