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The Mighty Don't Kneel
The Mighty Don't Kneel
The Mighty Don't Kneel
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The Mighty Don't Kneel (TMDK) are a professional wrestling stable performing in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). The stable consists of leader Zack Sabre Jr., Mikey Nicholls, Shane Haste, Bad Dude Tito, Robbie Eagles, Kosei Fujita, Hartley Jackson, and Ryohei Oiwa; Sabre is the reigning IWGP World Heavyweight Champion in his second reign. The stable was primarily known as a tag team in Pro Wrestling Noah, with Nicholls and Haste being two-time GHC Tag Team Champions.

Key Information

They also worked for Ring of Honor (ROH), Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) and WWE (where they were named TM-61 and The Mighty in NXT). Though best known as a tag team, TMDK has also been a stable, which included, in addition to Nicholls and Haste, fellow Australians Jonah (formerly Jonah Rock), Elliot Sexton, Marcuis Pitt and Slex. TMDK has also been said to stand for "Torture, Murder, Destroy, Kill".[6]

Nicholls and Veryzer were once signed with WWE and were assigned to its developmental territory NXT, Nicholls and Veryzer were renamed Nick Miller and Shane Thorne, while their tag team was renamed TM-61 and later, The Mighty. However, the team would disband in 2018 following Nicholls' release.[7]

History

[edit]

Formation (2010–2011)

[edit]

In the autumn of 2010, Australian wrestlers Mikey Nicholls and Shane Haste passed a tryout held by Pro Wrestling Noah and World League Wrestling (WLW) in the United States, which allowed them to begin training at Noah's dojo.[8][9] They made their debut for the Japanese promotion on 23 February 2011, and began working together under the team name "TMDK".[8][9] The Mighty Don't Kneel originated in the Explosive Pro Wrestling (EPW) promotion where it was a stable also including Jonah Rock and Elliot Sexton, who had been teaming together as SexRock.[10] Rock and Slex have also represented TMDK in Noah.[11][12] Nicholls and Haste then began working regularly for Noah in the promotion's junior heavyweight tag team division, though it was questioned whether the two actually were under the 100 kg (220 lb) weight limit.[13]

Pro Wrestling Noah (2011–2016)

[edit]

On 15 December 2011, Nicholls and Haste received their first shot at the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship, but were defeated by the defending champions, Atsushi Aoki and Kotaro Suzuki.[14] Shortly afterwards, Nicholls and Haste left the junior heavyweight division.[citation needed]

Back in Noah, Nicholls and Haste also began breaking out in singles action, taking part in the 2012 Global League, where Nicholls wrestled KENTA to a draw and defeated Go Shiozaki, while Haste was victorious over Akitoshi Saito and Naomichi Marufuji.[15] In April 2013, Nicholls and Haste took part in their first Global Tag League. Though failing to advance to the finals, they picked up a win over the reigning GHC Tag Team Champions, New Japan Pro-Wrestling representatives Takashi Iizuka and Toru Yano.[16][17] This led to a title match between the two teams on 12 May, where Iizuka and Yano retained their title.[17][18] Earlier that day, Noah had announced that Nicholls and Haste had signed contracts to become officially affiliated with the promotion.[19] A rubber match between Nicholls and Haste and Iizuka and Yano took place on 7 July and saw TMDK emerge victorious and become the new GHC Tag Team Champions.[20][21][22] In September, Nicholls and Haste both began chasing the GHC Heavyweight Championship, but were defeated in back-to-back title matches by the defending champion, KENTA.[23][24][25][26] On 10 December, the Tokyo Sports magazine named Nicholls and Haste the 2013 tag team of the year, with the two becoming the first gaijin team to win the "Best Tag Team Award" since Stan Hansen and Vader in 1998.[27][28] On 25 January 2014, Nicholls and Haste lost the GHC Tag Team Championship to Maybach Taniguchi and GHC Heavyweight Champion Takeshi Morishima.[12][29][30]

On 10 January 2015, Nicholls and Haste defeated Dangan Yankies (Masato Tanaka and Takashi Sugiura) to win the GHC Tag Team Championship for the second time.[31] They lost the title to K.E.S. (Davey Boy Smith Jr. and Lance Archer) on 11 February.[32] On 28 December 2015, Noah announced that Nicholls and Haste would leave the promotion following their contracts expiring at the end of the year.[33] On 11 February 2016, Noah announced that Haste and Nicholls would return to the promotion the following month to take part in a five-show-long farewell tour, entitled "Departure to the World".[34] Their final Noah match took place on 10 March and saw them defeat Naomichi Marufuji and Mitsuhiro Kitamiya.[35][36] In February 2016, it was reported that Nicholls and Haste would join WWE's NXT brand following their Noah farewell tour the following month.[37] WWE confirmed the signings on 25 March 2016.[38]

Independent circuit (2012–2016)

[edit]

In early 2012, Nicholls and Haste traveled to the United States, where they worked for several promotions, including Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW),[39] Ring of Honor (ROH),[40] and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA).[41] In ROH, they won a one-night tournament to earn a match against the Briscoe Brothers at the Showdown in the Sun pay-per-view.[40][42]

New Japan Pro-Wrestling (2014–2015)

[edit]

On 20 December 2014, Haste and Nicholls made their debut for New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), when they, along with Naomichi Marufuji, were revealed as Toru Yano's tag team partners at Wrestle Kingdom 9 in Tokyo Dome on 4 January 2015.[43] They would go on to win the match, defeating Suzuki-gun (Davey Boy Smith Jr., Lance Archer, Shelton X Benjamin and Takashi Iizuka).[44]

WWE (2015–2018)

[edit]

In June 2015, Nicholls and Haste took part in a WWE tryout camp.[45] In February 2016, it was reported that Nicholls and Haste were scheduled to join WWE's NXT brand following their NOAH farewell tour.[37]

On 25 March 2016, WWE confirmed the signings of both Nicholls and Haste. They began training at the WWE Performance Center in April, while working for the promotion's developmental branch NXT.[46] During the 19 May NXT tapings, Haste and Nicholls were renamed Shane Thorne and Nick Miller, respectively, while TMDK was renamed TM-61, where TM is derived from their respective last names (Thorne and Miller) while 61 is from Australia's dialing code (+61).[1] They debuted on the 25 May episode, losing to Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa.[47]

On the 7 October episode of NXT, Thorne and Miller were announced as participants in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. On 12 October, they defeated the team of Riddick Moss and Tino Sabbatelli to advance from the first round of the tournament. Thorne next defeated Roderick Strong in a singles match (due to Strong's partner Austin Aries being unable to wrestle through injury), to proceed his team to the semi-finals, where they went on to defeat SAnitY, thus setting the final against the Authors of Pain. On 19 November at NXT TakeOver: Toronto, TM-61 lost in the final. On the 18 January episode of NXT, Thorne suffered a serious knee injury due to an attack by The Revival (Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder) after TM-61 had defeated them. He had surgery on 25 January, which was expected to put him out of action for seven to nine months. He returned from the injury on 14 September.[48]

On the 3 January episode of NXT, the return of TM-61 was announced. During the following weeks, vignettes of TM-61 were shown. They made their in ring return on 31 January episode of NXT, defeating The Ealy Brothers.[49] TM-61 then entered the 2018 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, being eliminated by the Authors of Pain in the first round. On the 2 May edition of NXT, TM-61 defeated Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford) with a dirty pin, thus turning the duo heel in the process. The following week, they defeated the team of Heavy Machinery (Otis Dozovic and Tucker Knight) with the same tactics. The team was officially renamed "The Mighty", on the 6 June 2018 episode of NXT. On the 20 July episode of NXT, they were defeated by War Raiders. In July, they started a feud with Street Profits with both teams losing matches to each other. On the 19 September episode of NXT, The Mighty defeated Street Profits.

On 14 December 2018, Miller was removed from the "WWE NXT" section of WWE.com, confirming his release and disbanding the team.[7]

Return to NJPW (2022–present)

[edit]
Bad Dude Tito (left) and Zack Sabre Jr. (right) at Collision in Philadelphia 2023.

On the 6 March 2022, episode of NJPW Strong, Shane Haste interfered in the tag team match between FinJuice (David Finlay and Juice Robinson) and the pairing of Jonah (formerly Jonah Rock) and Bad Dude Tito. He attacked Robinson while the referee was distracted, allowing Tito to hit a frog splash on Robinson for the win.[50] This saw the reformation of TMDK, with Haste and Jonah tagging together. On the 3 April episode of NJPW Strong, Haste caused a disqualification loss to FinJuice after he struck Robinson with a steel chair. Robinson challenged TMDK and Tito to a Chicago Street Fight at Windy City Riot, alongside a mystery partner.[51] At the event, TMDK and Tito were defeated by FinJuice and their partner, revealed to be Brody King.[52] On 14 May, at Capital Collision, Mikey Nicholls was reunited with Haste, leaving CHAOS in the process. TMDK and Bad Dude Tito defeated the United Empire, with Nicholls pinning Kyle Fletcher for the win. After the match, Tito, who had been tagging with Jonah since the start of the year, officially joined TMDK.[53] Haste and Nicholls then entered a tournament to become the inaugural Strong Openweight Tag Team Champions, but were defeated in the semi-final to the pairing of Christopher Daniels and Yuya Uemura.[54]

On 20 June, Jonah was announced as being part of G1 Climax 32.[55] He would be accompanied by Tito, with both wrestlers being used in undercard tag team matches throughout the tournament.[56]

Following Jonah's exit from the group due to his return to WWE, Zack Sabre Jr. would officially join the stable after his victory to become NJPW World Television Champion at Wrestle Kingdom 17.[57] During the following New Year Dash!! show on 5 January, NJPW confirmed on social media that Kosei Fujita would also join the stable.[58] On 21 March, at the New Japan Cup 2023 Finals, Robbie Eagles announced that he will challenge Hiromu Takahashi for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship at Sakura Genesis on 8 April 2023. During the same night he would also be announced as the newest member of TMDK, thus leaving Chaos in the process.[59] At the event, Eagles lost to Takahashi.[60]

On 15 August 2024, during G1 Climax 34, Jackson returned to NJPW for the first time in eighteen years, replacing the injured Kosei Fujita and partnering Sabre as a mystery partner in a tag team match against Bullet Club War Dogs (David Finlay and Gedo). Post-match, in a backstage promo, Sabre announced that Jackson is now a member of TMDK.[61][62][63][64] On 18 August, Sabre won the G1 Climax 34.[65] On 29 September, at Destruction in Kobe, Ryohei Oiwa joined TMDK.[66][67] On October 14 at King of Pro-Wrestling, Sabre defeated Naito to win the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.[68] On 4 November, at Power Struggle, Eagles and Fujita won the Super Junior Tag League.[69]

Championship reigns (2025–present)

[edit]

At Wrestle Kingdom 19 on January 4, 2025, Ichiban Sweet Boys (Fujita and Eagles) defeated defending Champions Intergalactic Jet Setters (Kushida and Kevin Knight), Catch 2/2 (TJP and Francesco Akira), and Bullet Club War Dogs (Clark Connors and Drilla Moloney) in a four-way Tokyo Terror ladder match.[70] On February 11, 2025 at The New Beginning in Osaka, Sabre Jr. lost the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship to Hirooki Goto.[71] On April 29 at Hizen no Kuni, Ichiban Sweet Boys lost the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship to Spiritech (Master Wato and Yoh).[72] On June 1, 2025, Fujita defeated Yoh in the final of the Best of the Super Juniors, earning an IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship match against El Desperado.[73] At Tanahashi Jam on June 29, 2025, Sabre regained the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship from Goto.[74] On July 6 at New Japan Soul: Night 9, Fujita lost the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship match to El Desperado.[75] From July 21, 2025 till August 18, 2025, Oiwa and Sabre Jr. both participated in G1 Climax 35 (A and B Block respectively), with Oiwa failing to advance out of his block with a record of 4–5,[76] while Sabre Jr. won his block with a 7–2 record and advanced directly to the semifinals, where he lost to Konosuke Takeshita.[77]

Other media

[edit]

Miller and Thorne made their video game debut in WWE 2K18 and later appear in WWE 2K19.[78][79]

Members

[edit]
I-II Leader(s)
* Founding member(s)

Current

[edit]
Members Tenure
Mikey Nicholls/Nick Miller* 16 May 2008 – 14 December 2018,
14 May 2022 - present
Shane Haste/Shane Thorne* 16 May 2008 – 14 December 2018,
6 March 2022 - present
Bad Dude Tito 14 May 2022 - present
Zack Sabre Jr. (II) January 4, 2023 - present
Kosei Fujita January 5, 2023 - present
Robbie Eagles March 23, 2023 - present
Ryohei Oiwa September 29, 2024 - present
Hartley Jackson August 15, 2024 - present

Former

[edit]
Members Joined Left
Jonah Rock/Jonah
(I) 		8 March 2013
20 March 2022 		25 March 2016
19 December 2022
Elliott Sexton 18 February 2018[citation needed] 18 February 2018[citation needed]
Slex 8 June 2013
14 May 2016[citation needed] 		26 July 2013
10 May 2019[citation needed]
Marcius Pitt 2 November 2013 25 March 2016

Sub-groups

[edit]
Affiliate Members Tenure Type
Ichiban Sweet Boys Robbie Eagles
Kosei Fujita 		2023–present Tag team

Championships and accomplishments

[edit]
Zack Sabre Jr. as NJPW World Television Champion

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

The Mighty Don't Kneel

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
The Mighty Don't Kneel (TMDK) is a professional wrestling stable primarily competing in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), led by technical specialist Zack Sabre Jr. and anchored by the Australian tag team of Shane Haste and Mikey Nicholls. Formed originally as a tag team in the Australian independent circuit in the early 2010s, TMDK has evolved into a multifaceted group known for its blend of hard-hitting power and submission-based grappling, emphasizing resilience and dominance in both singles and tag team divisions. The stable's core duo of Haste and Nicholls first rose to prominence in Pro Wrestling Noah, where they captured the GHC Tag Team Championship twice—first on July 7, 2013, by defeating Tōru Yano and Takashi Iizuka, and again on January 10, 2015, by defeating and —and were honored as Tag Team of the Year by Tokyo Sports magazine in 2013. In March 2016, the pair signed with , rebranding as TM-61 and competing in NXT, where they challenged for the but were hampered by injuries and creative shifts until Nicholls' release in December 2018 and Haste's in November 2021. Following brief tenures in promotions like Impact Wrestling and , Haste and Nicholls revived TMDK as a during NJPW's Strong Style Evolved event on March 26, 2022, initially incorporating allies like (formerly Jonah Rock). A pivotal expansion occurred on January 4, 2023, at , when aligned with the group after defeating to become the inaugural NJPW World Television Champion, accepting their signature orange T-shirt and assuming leadership to replace the departing . The stable has since broadened its roster to include promising LA graduates Ryohei Oiwa and , Australian compatriots and , and heavy hitter , fostering a mix of veterans and rising stars. TMDK's achievements underscore its status as a powerhouse faction, with Sabre Jr. securing the twice (2023 and 2024) and the twice, including his second reign from June 29 to October 13, 2025, defended successfully as recently as September 2025. In the tag division, Haste and Nicholls claimed the and NJPW STRONG Openweight Tag Team Championship in 2024, while other members like Oiwa have debuted in prestigious events such as the . The group's motto, "The Mighty Don't Kneel," reflects their unyielding approach, contributing to TMDK's role in elevating NJPW's international and multi-man competition landscape.

History

Origins as TM-61 tag team (2014–2016)

Shane Haste (born Shane Sinclair) and (born Michael Nicholls) formed the core of the known as TM-61 in 2014 on the Australian independent wrestling circuit, building on their prior collaborations and shared training background to develop a hard-hitting style centered on power-based maneuvers and coordinated double-team attacks. Their partnership emphasized physicality and synergy, drawing from their experiences in local promotions where they honed a reputation for intense, teamwork-driven matches. They first captured the on July 7, 2013, defeating CHAOS (Takashi Iizuka and ), and were named 2013 Tag Team of the Year by Tokyo Sports. Early appearances included bouts in promotions like (MCW), where the duo, billed under the TMDK banner, competed in high-profile tag matches against established Australian teams, such as their match against Hard Way Inc. at MCW New Horizons in June 2013, which ended in disqualification. By mid-2014, they transitioned to greater international exposure through tours with in , where they captured the for a second time on January 10, 2015, by defeating Dangan Yankees ( and ), marking their first major title reign as a unit and solidifying their status as formidable foreigners in the promotion. TM-61 made their (NJPW) debut on January 4, 2015, at , where they joined and to defeat (Takashi Iizuka, , , and Davey Boy Smith Jr.) in an eight-man tag match. This entry into NJPW highlighted their aggressive approach against top competition, with the team adopting the motto "The Mighty Don't Kneel" to embody their unyielding, powerhouse identity during appearances. Throughout 2015, they participated in the World Tag League, finishing with a competitive record that built their reputation as hard-nosed Australian challengers to NJPW's established tag divisions.

WWE tenure and hiatus (2016–2021)

In early 2016, Shane Haste and Mikey Nicholls signed with WWE and were assigned to the NXT brand under the tag team name TM-61, an abbreviation of their prior stable moniker The Mighty Don't Kneel due to trademark considerations. They made their NXT television debut on the May 25 episode, introducing themselves as a high-impact Australian duo aiming to dominate the tag division. Throughout the year, TM-61 engaged in undercard feuds, including victories over teams like The Hype Bros and The Vaudevillains, establishing their aggressive style rooted in power moves and technical precision. TM-61's most prominent storyline came in the 2016 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, where they advanced by defeating and in the first round on the of NXT, followed by a semifinal win over (Sawyer Fulton and Alexander Wolfe) on the November 9 episode. This propelled them to the finals at : Toronto on November 19, where they fell to the in a hard-fought match, with suspended in a shark cage above the ring. The team also clashed with The Revival in a heated rivalry, culminating in a non-title win for TM-61 on the January 18, 2017 of NXT. However, the match against The Revival marked a turning point, as (Haste) suffered a severe injury immediately afterward due to a post-match attack by Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder, requiring and sidelining him for seven to nine months. This injury forced TM-61 into an extended hiatus, stalling their momentum amid broader creative challenges in NXT's competitive tag division. Thorne returned in late 2017, but the duo struggled to regain traction, participating in the 2018 only to be eliminated early by the . In mid-2018, TM-61 turned and rebranded as The Mighty, adopting a more arrogant persona, but internal frustrations and limited opportunities persisted. Nick Miller (Nicholls) requested and received his release from on December 14, 2018, just two weeks after the birth of his first child, prioritizing family time in Australia over continued travel demands. Thorne remained with , transitioning to singles competition in NXT before joining the main roster's Retribution faction as in 2020, while the effectively disbanded. From 2019 to 2021, Nicholls took a family-oriented break before resuming sporadic independent bookings, including title defenses in Australian promotions like Pro Wrestling (EPW), where he captured and held the EPW Championship in 2021. He made occasional international appearances, such as in Impact Wrestling storylines and events. Thorne's commitments limited his indie work until his own release on November 19, 2021. The drastically curtailed live events and travel from 2020 onward, confining Nicholls to domestic Australian shows and preventing any team reunions, as global restrictions hampered cross-promotional opportunities and delayed their collective return to prominence.

Reformation and Jonah leadership in NJPW (2021–2023)

Following their individual hiatuses after leaving , Shane Haste and returned to NJPW in 2022, reforming TMDK by recruiting Rock (billed as ) from the independent circuit, where he had been active following his own release in 2021. made his NJPW debut at on November 13, 2021, confronting and attacking the tag team (David Finlay and ) after their match, immediately positioning himself as a destructive singles force aligned with the stable's ethos. The stable officially reformed as a unit on the March 6, 2022, episode of , when Haste debuted by interfering in a match to help Jonah and Bad Dude Tito defeat via disqualification, marking TMDK's resurgence as a faction in NJPW's American expansion. Under Jonah's leadership, the group adopted the full moniker "The Mighty Don't Kneel," drawing stylistic influences from the Bullet Club's rebellious attitude while carving out their own identity rooted in unyielding dominance. Jonah emerged as the focal point, billed as an unstoppable powerhouse who refused to bow to NJPW's established hierarchy, leading to high-profile singles pushes including his participation in the tournament, where he notched key victories such as against . TMDK's early storylines centered on feuds with Chaos and , amplifying the stable's anti-authority narrative as they targeted veteran groups to assert their presence. Nicholls officially joined the fold on May 14, 2022, at Capital Collision, teaming with Haste, , and for an eight-man tag victory over (Aaron Henare, , Mark Davis, and ), completing the Australian trio and intensifying rivalries with . The group emphasized themes of Australian pride, with , Haste, and Nicholls frequently highlighting their shared heritage in promos and entrances as a united front against NJPW's Japanese-centric power structures. Throughout 2022, TMDK remained active in major events, including the World Tag League, where Haste and Nicholls teamed up to post a strong 6-2 record and 12 points, establishing their tag team credibility despite not advancing to the finals. Jonah continued his singles momentum with impactful performances in multi-man matches and tournaments, while the stable formed initial sub-groups such as the Haste-Jonah tag pairing for NJPW Strong bouts against teams like FinJuice. Jonah's tenure ended abruptly in October 2022 when NJPW removed him from scheduled appearances at Royal Quest II amid contract disputes, leading to his departure from the promotion by year's end as he signed with WWE.

Zack Sabre Jr. era and expansion (2023–present)

In early 2023, following Jonah's departure from (NJPW) to return to , —real name Lucas Matthew Eatwell—joined The Mighty Don't Kneel (TMDK) as its new leader after defeating for the at on January 4. This transition marked a shift from the stable's power-based foundation under Jonah to a more technically oriented approach, with Sabre Jr. integrating his submission-heavy style shortly after leaving . Bad Dude Tito, already recruited as TMDK's first American member in 2022, solidified the group's international presence under the new leadership, contributing his brawling prowess to multi-man matches throughout the year. By 2024, TMDK expanded further with the additions of Kosei Fujita in January 2023 and Ryohei Oiwa in September 2024, enhancing the stable's depth across junior and heavyweight divisions. Fujita, a young powerhouse, accepted Sabre Jr.'s invitation to join immediately after the leadership change, while Oiwa—returning from an excursion—debuted as TMDK's "mysterious member" at Destruction in Kobe, targeting established stars like Shingo Takagi for the NEVER Openweight Championship. Robbie Eagles, who initially aligned with TMDK in March 2023 for tag team opportunities, became a full-time member by 2025, bolstering the group's junior heavyweight tag division with his aerial and technical skills. These expansions emphasized TMDK's focus on innovative tag team wrestling, blending Sabre Jr.'s British technical mastery with diverse international influences. Under Sabre Jr.'s guidance, TMDK engaged in prominent feuds with House of Torture and Just 5 Guys from 2023 to 2025, often clashing in multi-man tags that highlighted the stable's resilience against underhanded tactics. The group participated in every G1 Climax tournament during this period, with Sabre Jr. achieving singles dominance by winning the 2024 edition outright and securing the B Block in 2025 with a 14-point record, using the victories to pursue the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. By 2024, TMDK distanced itself from any prior Bullet Club associations, operating as an independent force emphasizing self-reliance. In early 2025, during the New Beginning tour, Sabre Jr. defended the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship—captured at King of Pro-Wrestling 2024—against challengers like Hirooki Goto, who ultimately dethroned him on February 11 in Osaka, while other members pursued tag and midcard titles to maintain momentum. As of November 2025, TMDK remains a of NJPW's landscape, spanning junior and heavyweight divisions with a roster including Sabre Jr., Shane Haste, , , Eagles, Fujita, Oiwa, and . The stable's emphasis on innovation—seen in entries like Sabre Jr. and Oiwa's World Tag League campaign—continues to influence NJPW's technical wrestling scene, with Sabre Jr.'s submission expertise driving high-profile defenses and alliances. Cross-promotional appearances, such as Eagles' bouts in , have further elevated TMDK's global profile, positioning it as a versatile unit amid NJPW's evolving faction dynamics.

Members

Current members

The Mighty Don't Kneel (TMDK) currently features a roster blending veteran leadership, tag team expertise, and emerging talent, with at the helm steering the stable's direction in (NJPW) as of November 2025. has served as TMDK's leader since January 2023, when he replaced following the latter's departure to , bringing his renowned technical wrestling style—emphasizing submissions and —to the forefront of the faction's matches. His victory in the 2024 tournament, the first for a non-Japanese wrestler since 2016, significantly elevated TMDK's prestige, leading to high-profile faction bookings and his subsequent reign as IWGP World Heavyweight Champion. Mikey Nicholls, a co-founder of TMDK alongside Shane Haste dating back to their original formation in 2014, anchors the stable's tag division as a powerhouse competitor known for his explosive power moves like the Shellshocked Michinoku Driver. Within TMDK, he provides stability in bouts, often teaming with Haste to defend the group's territorial dominance in and divisions. Shane Haste, Nicholls' longtime partner and fellow co-founder, offers versatility as a high-impact striker and occasional high-flyer, adapting seamlessly across weight classes in NJPW and international tours such as those with . His role includes facilitating junior heavyweight crossovers, enhancing TMDK's reach in trios and tag scenarios while maintaining the duo's legacy as one of Australia's premier wrestling exports. Bad Dude Tito joined TMDK officially in early 2023 after initial alliances in 2022, serving as the stable's primary enforcer with a hard-hitting brawling style honed on circuit and . His aggressive approach has been pivotal in 2025 feuds, including clashes against MLW-affiliated teams like those involving and , solidifying TMDK's reputation as unrelenting aggressors. Hartley Jackson, an Australian veteran with over 25 years of experience, joined TMDK in August 2024 following the , adding heavy-hitting power and mentorship drawn from his training of early members like . As a of the group's physical presence, he contributes to multi-man matches and tag pursuits, leveraging his international background from the NJPW LA Dojo. Ryohei Oiwa and represent TMDK's developmental core, both integrated as young lions to build future potential under Jr.'s guidance; Oiwa returned from and officially joined in September 2024, while Fujita aligned in early 2023. Their roles emphasize mat-based fundamentals and , positioning them for ascension in NJPW's junior and landscapes. Robbie Eagles functions as a part-time aerial specialist for TMDK since his full integration in 2023, contributing high-flying offense in trios matches and junior tag pursuits while balancing appearances across promotions like . His turbocharged style, including the Ron Miller Special and diving attacks, adds dynamic flair to the stable's multi-man strategies in 2025.

Former members

Jonah Rock, known professionally as during his NJPW stint and currently as in , served as the inaugural leader of TMDK upon the stable's reformation in in late 2021. As a dominant powerhouse wrestler standing at 6 ft 0 in and weighing over 300 lb, he brought immense physicality to the group, frequently targeting high-profile teams like and securing key victories, including a notable triumph over that propelled TMDK's early momentum in the promotion. His leadership solidified TMDK as a disruptive force in and main roster events, emphasizing aggressive and multi-man warfare. Jonah departed NJPW on December 18, 2022, returning to for expanded opportunities on the main roster, where he has since competed in prominent storylines and matches. During TMDK's WWE tenure and subsequent hiatus from 2016 to 2021, the group incorporated temporary associates from the Australian to sustain activity outside contracted obligations. Wrestlers such as Elliot Sexton (later Brendan Vink and in WWE) joined as tag partners, contributing to TMDK's legacy through shared Australian roots and collaborative appearances in promotions like NXT, where Sexton was signed alongside in 2019 before his own WWE release in 2021. Similarly, early members Marcius Pitt and Slex participated in events for Explosive Pro Wrestling, providing support in multi-man matches and helping maintain the group's indies presence amid core members' WWE commitments. These non-contracted recruits ensured TMDK's continuity but did not transition to the full NJPW reformation. In the post-Jonah era from 2023 to 2024, TMDK briefly trialed young talents like select Australian prospects, though none were retained long-term as the stable shifted focus under Zack Sabre Jr.'s direction; for instance, figures such as Dustin Connors aligned sporadically in domestic shows but moved to independent pursuits without formal integration.

Sub-groups and alliances

Notable tag teams

The Mighty Don't Kneel's tag team divisions have been central to the stable's identity, beginning with the core duo of Shane Haste and Mikey Nicholls, who competed as TM-61 from 2016 onward during their WWE tenure. This Australian pair combined raw power with explosive speed, executing high-impact maneuvers like the Thunder Valley spike piledriver to dominate international circuits. Their synergy laid the groundwork for TMDK's aggressive ethos, contributing to multiple championship pursuits that elevated the group's profile in promotions like Pro Wrestling Noah and New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). Under the TMDK banner since 2022, Haste and Nicholls evolved their style with heightened aggression and tactical brutality, incorporating street-fight elements while retaining their signature double-team offense. This iteration proved pivotal, as they captured the Openweight Tag Team Championship on April 12, 2024, at Windy City Riot by defeating Guerrillas of Destiny ( and Hikuleo), marking TMDK's first major title win in that division and solidifying the stable's presence in North American strong-style wrestling. Their reign, which lasted until November 8, 2024, underscored the duo's role in expanding TMDK's global reach and defensive prowess in multi-team defenses. They also held the concurrently in 2024. From 2023 to 2025, and formed a dynamic pairing that blended Sabre's intricate technical submissions with Tito's hard-hitting brawling, creating a hybrid approach ideal for NJPW's intense tag divisions. This team debuted prominently in multi-man matches and evolved into key contenders, with notable victories including against and on January 13, 2024, at . Their collaboration enhanced TMDK's versatility, allowing seamless integration with other members in faction warfare and blocks. In 2025, and emerged as a promising junior heavyweight unit within TMDK, dubbed the Ichiban Sweet Boys for their high-flying, acrobatic flair that emphasized aerial dives and rapid chain wrestling. Building on their 2024 victory, this developmental pairing targeted the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship, injecting youthful energy into the stable and fostering cross-generational matches that broadened TMDK's appeal in lighter divisions. As of November 2025, they led in the ongoing 2025 with strong performances, including wins over teams like KUSHIDA and Yuki Yoshioka.

Temporary alliances

During the pre-reformation period from 2014 to 2016, Shane Haste and frequently formed short-term tag partnerships with other Australian independent wrestlers to elevate local events and build their reputation. In promotions like Explosive Pro Wrestling (EPW), they teamed with talents such as Jonah Rock and Slex as part of the original TMDK , which also included members like Elliot Sexton and Marcius Pitt, competing in multi-man tags and showcase matches that highlighted the group's dominance in the Australian scene. These collaborations were strategic, allowing TM-61 to gain exposure against regional stars while establishing TMDK as a powerhouse unit before their transition. The era saw increased inter-faction teams in 2024, with ZSJ partnering with other groups to counter shared threats like House of Torture. TMDK's willingness to form ad-hoc alliances for mutual benefit was evident in various multi-man matches throughout the year. In 2025, TMDK's defended the successfully against at Forbidden Door on August 24, 2025, in London's , highlighting the stable's prominence in cross-promotional events with AEW.

Championships and accomplishments

Team championships

As a collective unit, members of The Mighty Don't Kneel (TMDK) have captured several tag team titles, primarily through the efforts of core members Shane Haste and , with earlier successes involving other affiliates prior to the group's formal NJPW alignment. In the pre-NJPW era, and Jonah Rock, competing as the South Australian Serial Killers, won the MCW Tag Team Championship on April 11, 2015, in , , defeating the previous champions in a match that highlighted TMDK's aggressive invasion style; they held the titles for 154 days before losing them to LAW (Adam Brooks and Dowie James) on September 12, 2015. In NJPW, TMDK achieved significant tag team success with the NJPW STRONG Openweight Tag Team Championship, a title emblematic of the promotion's North American brand. Haste and Nicholls first captured the belts on April 12, 2024, at Windy City Riot in , defeating the Guerrillas of Destiny (El Phantasmo and Hikuleo) in a four-way elimination also involving the West Coast Wrecking and TMDK themselves as challengers; this 58-day reign included one successful defense. Their second reign began on June 9, 2024, at in , where they won both the STRONG Openweight and IWGP Tag Team Championships in a winners-take-all four-way against the Guerrillas of Destiny, United Empire (Great-O-Khan and Francesco Akira), and Bishamon ( and ), marking a pivotal moment for TMDK's tag division dominance. This extended 152-day reign, lasting until November 8, 2024, featured multiple defenses against international challengers, including Hechicero and at in Washington, D.C., on August 30, 2024, establishing a near six-month streak that underscored the duo's technical and hard-hitting prowess. TMDK's pursuit of the IWGP Tag Team Championship began in earnest during 2023, with Haste and Nicholls issuing challenges to the reigning champions, including a high-profile loss to Aussie Open (Kyle Fletcher and Mark Davis) on April 29, 2023, at Wrestling Satsuma no Kuni, which positioned them as credible contenders without securing the gold. Their persistence paid off in 2024, as the aforementioned Dominion victory granted them the IWGP titles alongside the STRONG belts, holding the IWGP straps for 148 days with defenses against teams like Bullet Club (Bad Luck Fale and Caveman Ugg) at King of Pro-Wrestling on October 14, 2024, before dropping them to United Empire (Great-O-Khan and Henare) on November 4, 2024, at Power Struggle. Under Zack Sabre Jr.'s leadership in 2025, TMDK renewed their tag team push, integrating younger members like Ryohei Oiwa into multi-man formats to build toward further collective challenges, though no additional title wins had been achieved by November 2025. In multi-man tournament contexts, TMDK demonstrated team cohesion during the 2024 World Tag League, where Haste and Nicholls competed in the B Block alongside Sabre Jr. and Oiwa in the A Block; while neither duo advanced to the semifinals, their participation included key victories such as Sabre Jr. and Oiwa defeating War Dogs (Gabe Kidd and SANADA) on November 19, 2024, contributing to the stable's overall momentum in NJPW's tag division.
ChampionshipMembersReign DateLengthKey Notes
MCW Tag Team ChampionshipHartley Jackson & Jonah RockApril 11, 2015 – September 12, 2015154 daysPre-NJPW win; defended in Australian independents.
NJPW STRONG Openweight Tag Team (1st)Shane Haste & April 12, 2024 – June 9, 202458 daysWon from Guerrillas of Destiny; 1 defense.
NJPW STRONG Openweight Tag Team (2nd) / IWGP Tag Team Shane Haste & June 9, 2024 – November 8, 2024 (STRONG) / November 4, 2024 (IWGP)152 days (STRONG) / 148 days (IWGP)Double title win at ; multiple defenses including vs. Hechicero/ and Fale/Ugg.

Individual achievements

Zack Sabre Jr., as the leader of TMDK since 2023, has achieved significant individual success that has elevated the stable's profile within NJPW. He first captured the on October 14, 2024, by defeating at King of Pro-Wrestling, marking his initial reign with the top title, which lasted until February 11, 2025. Sabre recaptured the championship for a second reign on June 29, 2025, defeating at Tanahashi Jam, solidifying TMDK's dominance in the heavyweight division. This second reign included successful defenses, such as a victory over at Destruction in on September 28, 2025, before losing the title to on October 13, 2025, at King of Pro-Wrestling. Sabre's title runs highlighted his technical mastery and submission expertise, contributing to TMDK's reputation as a force in NJPW's main event scene. Sabre also won the G1 Climax 34 tournament in 2024, defeating Yota Tsuji in the finals on August 18 at Ryogoku Sumo Hall, earning him a high-profile title opportunity and marking his first G1 victory after eight attempts. In G1 Climax 35 the following year, he topped the B Block with 14 points (7 wins, 2 losses), advancing to the semifinals but losing to Konosuke Takeshita, demonstrating sustained excellence in the annual round-robin event. Additionally, Sabre holds the distinction of being a two-time NJPW World Television Champion, with his inaugural reign beginning in 2023 after winning a tournament to crown the first holder, and a second reign secured in 2024 against Matt Riddle at Windy City Riot on April 12. Other TMDK members have pursued individual accolades that reflect the stable's influence. Jonah Rock, during his leadership of TMDK in 2022, established himself as a formidable powerhouse in NJPW's heavyweight ranks, though without capturing a singles title. Shane Haste and , core members since the reformation, drew on their prior experience—where Haste challenged for the in 2018—to fuel their NJPW careers, though primarily excelling in tag formats. made notable strides in in 2025, contributing to TMDK's expansion into American markets through strong performances against established heavyweights. These efforts underscore how individual pursuits have reinforced TMDK's collective impact without overlapping into group titles.

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