In a move that signals All Elite Wrestling’s strong confidence in their future, The Gates of Agony (now known simply as GOA)—Bishop Kaun and Toa Liona—have officially signed new long-term, multi-year contracts with AEW as reported on August 7, 2025. The news was first broken by Fightful Select, confirming speculation that followed cryptic social media posts from Kaun and Liona featuring AEW President Tony Khan. Captions like “The Journey Continues” and “ALL Elite: The Sequel #Quest4Gold” immediately sparked fan buzz. Reports indicate that the new deals were brokered with assistance from Steve Kaye of Paragon Talent Agency, a frequent representative for high-profile wrestling talent.
Kaun and Liona’s journey in AEW dates back to 2022, when they debuted as The Gates of Agony at ROH Supercard of Honor XV under the Tully Blanchard Enterprises (TBE) banner alongside Brian Cage. Just a few months later, on the July 6 episode of Rampage, they made their AEW television debut, defeating Jonathan Gresham and Lee Moriarty. Their imposing presence quickly made them fixtures across both AEW and ROH programming.
In July 2022, TBE was purchased by Prince Nana and rebranded into The Embassy, with Gates of Agony continuing their dominance as part of the newly aligned faction. That trajectory hit a high point in December 2022, when Kaun, Liona, and Cage captured the ROH World Six‑Man Tag Team Championships at Final Battle. Over the following months, they defended the titles successfully on ROH programming and at major crossover events like Supercard of Honor and Death Before Dishonor.
September 2023 brought a setback when they dropped the Six‑Man Titles at AEW Grand Slam, but they bounced back in November 2023 by regaining them from The Elite. That reign was capped off with another successful title defense at Final Battle 2023. However, their title run ended once again in January 2024, when they were dethroned by Bullet Club Gold.
In a major turning point for their character development and factional alignment, May 2024 saw Kaun, Liona, and Cage violently turn on Swerve Strickland—officially disbanding The Mogul Embassy and rebranding themselves as Cage of Agony. Though their alliance with Cage remained briefly intact, tensions would eventually split the trio as GOA began asserting themselves once again in the tag team division.
In April 2025, GOA unsuccessfully challenged The Hurt Syndicate for the AEW World Tag Team Championships on Dynamite: Spring BreakThru. That loss, however, only intensified their hunger—and their focus. In recent months, GOA aligned themselves with Ricochet, becoming the muscle of his new faction. This renewed positioning has given them significant screen time and storyline importance as AEW builds toward Forbidden Door 2025 and beyond.
The timing of their new contracts couldn’t be more calculated. With Brian Cage reportedly sidelined due to injury and Ricochet’s faction gaining momentum, AEW is clearly investing in GOA’s future as a major force in both the tag team and trios divisions. Whether through championship pursuits or violent faction warfare, Kaun and Liona have proven themselves to be long-term players in AEW’s growing roster.
From ROH gold to AEW dominance, from factional bloodlines to standalone credibility—GOA’s path has been anything but forgettable. With new contracts now signed and the backing of AEW leadership confirmed, Bishop Kaun and Toa Liona are positioned not just as enforcers, but as future champions. Their “Quest for Gold” is far from over. In fact, it may just be beginning.
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