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American Alpha was a professional wrestling tag team in WWE, composed of Chad Gable and Jason Jordan. The team was formed in May 2015 in WWE’s developmental brand NXT. They held the NXT Tag Team Championship once before being promoted to the SmackDown brand in July 2016, where they also held the SmackDown Tag Team Championship once. The team disbanded in July 2017 following Jordan’s transfer to the Raw brand.

History

Formation and NXT Tag Team Champions (2015–2016)

Jordan and Gable after becoming NXT tag team champions at TakeOver: Dallas

Nathan Everhart signed with WWE in 2011 and was assigned to its developmental territory, Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW), where he performed under the ring name Jason Jordan.[1] After FCW was rebranded as NXT in 2012, Charles Betts joined WWE in 2013 and performed there under the ring name Chad Gable.[2][3]

Starting in May 2015, Gable began a storyline with Jordan, in which he tried to convince Jordan to form a new partnership, following the dissolution of Jordan’s team with Tye Dillinger. After nearly two months of coaxing, Jordan finally agreed to a tag team match with Gable as his teammate. On the July 15 episode of NXT, Gable and Jordan were successful in their official debut together against the team of Elias Samson and Steve Cutler.[4] On September 2, Gable and Jordan competed in the first round of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic tournament, beating the team of Neville and Solomon Crowe. After defeating the Hype Bros, they would get eliminated from the tournament by the team of Baron Corbin and Rhyno. Originally a heel tag team, their fighting spirit, and resiliency against their larger opponents won them many fans and began a gradual babyface turn for the pair. On the November 18 episode of NXT, Gable and Jordan would call out main roster tag team The Ascension and defeat them. On the December 2 episode of NXT, Gable and Jordan would face another pair of former NXT Tag Team Champions the Vaudevillains and defeat them as well. At NXT TakeOver: London, Gable and Jordan were successful in a fatal-four-way tag team match which was taped for the December 23 episode of NXT. On the January 8 tapings of NXT, the team of Gable and Jordan began using the name American Alpha.[5]

American Alpha squared off with Blake and Murphy on two separate occasions on the January 27 and February 24 episode’s tapings, where they were successful both times, as well as teaming with Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady against them and Dash and Dawson on the February 17 episode, where they victoriously emerged.[5]

American Alpha faced off with the Vaudevillains on the March 16 episode of NXT in a number one contender’s match where they emerged victorious, earning them an NXT Tag Team Championship match against Dash and Dawson, now called “The Revival”, at NXT TakeOver: Dallas. The pair won the NXT Tag Team Championship at the event. They defeated the Vaudevillains on the April 20 episode of NXT.[6] On June 8 at NXT TakeOver: The End, American Alpha lost the titles back to The Revival, ending their reign at 68 days. After the match, they were assaulted by the debuting Authors of Pain (Akam and Rezar),[5] who were managed by legendary manager, Paul Ellering.[7]

The pair subsequently failed to win back the NXT Tag Team Championship after being defeated by the Revival in a two out of three falls match on the July 6th episode of NXT before wrestling their final match on the brand on July 20, where they were defeated by the Authors of Pain.[5]

SmackDown Tag Team Champions (2016–2017)

In the 2016 WWE draft, American Alpha was promoted to the SmackDown brand, making their debut on the August 2 episode of SmackDown Live with a victory over the Vaudevillains.[8] On September 6, the duo defeated the Usos in the semifinals of the inaugural SmackDown Tag Team Championship tournament; however, a post-match attack by the Usos resulted in a storyline knee injury to Gable, forcing American Alpha to withdraw from the tournament finals.[9] They represented Team SmackDown at Survivor Series on November 20, where they were defeated in a 10-on-10 tag team elimination match.[10] On the December 27 episode of SmackDown Live, American Alpha captured the SmackDown Tag Team Championship from the Wyatt Family in a four-way tag team elimination match.[11]

After defeating the Wyatt Family in a rematch to retain their titles on January 10, the pair would go on to defend their titles in a tag team turmoil match at Elimination Chamber successfully against The Ascension, Usos, Vaudevillians, Breezango and Heath Slater & Rhyno, entering fourth and eliminating the Usos and Ascension, despite an attack by the Usos after their elimination, continuing their feud. American Alpha would defeat the Ascension on the following SmackDown in a rematch and then Breezango the week after, being confronted by the Usos after both matches.[5]

On the March 21st episode of SmackDown Live, American Alpha lost the SmackDown Tag Team Championships to The Usos after suffering a non-title match loss to the pair the prior week. After making their Wrestlemania debut at WrestleMania 33 where both were unsuccessful in winning the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal they failed in their championship rematch to the Usos, being attacked by Primo and Epico afterwards, who defeated them the following week. American Alpha got revenge by defeating the duo the following week in a beat the clock challenge match, although their time was beaten by Breezango (Fandango and Tyler Breeze). This was their last televised match as a tag team.[5]

Separation and Aftermath

In June 2017, Gable began performing as a singles competitor on the SmackDown brand.[12][13] During the July 17 episode of Raw, Jordan was revealed as the illegitimate son of Kurt Angle in a scripted storyline and was subsequently moved to the Raw brand, effectively disbanding the team.[14] Jordan retired from in-ring competition in 2018 following a neck injury; he has since served as a backstage producer for WWE. As of April 2026, Gable remains an active in-ring performer for the company.

In other media

American Alpha made their video game debut in WWE 2K17[15][16] and they later appeared in WWE 2K18.[17][18] Both Gable and Jordan are also present in WWE 2K19 but the American Alpha team is not present by default.[19][20]

Championships and accomplishments

References

  1. ^ Varsallone, Jim (June 6, 2017). “Jason Jordan, WWE SmackDown at BB&T Center in South Florida”. Miami Herald. Archived from the original on August 16, 2025. Retrieved April 6, 2026.
  2. ^ Zaccardi, Nick (November 4, 2013). “Olympic wrestler Chas Betts joins WWE”. NBC Sports. Archived from the original on January 19, 2025. Retrieved April 6, 2026.
  3. ^ Murphy, Jan (March 27, 2017). “American Alpha making the most of WWE opportunity”. The Kingston Whig-Standard. Archived from the original on February 20, 2025. Retrieved April 6, 2026.
  4. ^ Trionfo, Richard (July 15, 2015). “WWE NXT REPORT: SASHA VERSUS CHARLOTTE, ZAYN UPDATE, MAIN EVENT FOR TAKEOVER ANNOUNCED, HAS JASON JORDAN FINALLY FOUND A TAG TEAM PARTNER HE CAN TRUST, AND MORE”. PWInsider. Retrieved July 18, 2015.
  5. ^ a b c d e f Staff, Cagematch.net. “American Alpha (Matches)”. Cagematch.net. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
  6. ^ Caldwell, James. “4/1 “NXT Takeover: Dallas” Results – CALDWELL’S Complete Live Report”. Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved April 1, 2016.
  7. ^ Caldwell, James. “6/8 “NXT Takeover” Results – CALDWELL’S Complete Live Report on “The End”“. Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved June 8, 2016.
  8. ^ Ruse, David (August 3, 2016). “American Alpha: Who are the WWE Smackdown new boys?”. Sky Sports. Archived from the original on October 9, 2016. Retrieved April 6, 2026.
  9. ^ “Smackdown Tag Title Finals canceled – new match set for Backlash”. Pro Wrestling Torch. September 6, 2016. Archived from the original on September 10, 2016. Retrieved September 6, 2016.
  10. ^ Burdick, Michael (November 20, 2016). “Sheamus & Cesaro win the 10-on-10 Traditional Survivor Series Tag Team Elimination Match”. WWE. Archived from the original on November 21, 2016. Retrieved November 20, 2016.
  11. ^ Fiorvanti, Tim (December 28, 2016). “American Alpha wins SmackDown tag team championships”. ESPN. Archived from the original on June 25, 2023. Retrieved April 6, 2026.
  12. ^ Keller, Wade (June 20, 2017). “KELLER’S WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT 6/20: Fallout from Money in the Bank with Baron Corbin and the controversial Carmella win, Daniel Bryan returns”. Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved June 20, 2017.
  13. ^ McNeill (July 4, 2017). “McNEILL’S WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT 7/4: John Cena Returns, Rap Battle, Naomi-Lana III & Battle Royal”. Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
  14. ^ Keller, Wade (July 17, 2017). “KELLER’S WWE RAW REPORT 7/17: Reigns vs. Joe to earn Universal Title shot at Summerslam, Angle mystery revealed”. Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved July 17, 2017.
  15. ^ Staff, Thesmackdownhotel.com. “Jason Jordan WWE 2K17 Roster”. Thesmackdownhotel.com. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
  16. ^ Staff, Thesmackdownhotel.com. “Chad Gable WWE 2K17 Roster”. Thesmackdownhotel.com. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
  17. ^ Staff, Thesmackdownhotel.com. “Jason Jordan WWE 2K18 Roster”. Thesmackdownhotel.com. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
  18. ^ Staff, Thesmackdownhotel.com. “Chad Gable WWE 2K18 Roster”. Thesmackdownhotel.com. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
  19. ^ Staff, Thesmackdownhotel.com. “Jason Jordan WWE 2K19 Roster”. Thesmackdownhotel.com. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
  20. ^ Staff, Thesmackdownhotel.com. “Chad Gable WWE 2K19 Roster”. Thesmackdownhotel.com. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
  21. ^ a b “Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 2017”. The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved August 31, 2017.
  22. ^ Meltzer, Dave (January 25, 2016). “January 25, 2016 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: 2015 Observer Awards Issue”. Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Campbell, California: 30. ISSN 1083-9593.
  23. ^ “NXT Tag Team Championship”. WWE. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
  24. ^ “WWE Tag Team Championship”. WWE. Retrieved April 5, 2026.