Profilin': Austin Aries

Hailing from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Austin Aries is one of the most accomplished independent performers never to work for WWE.  He’s the only man in history to hold the Ring of Honor World Title on more than one occasion, and his other credits include appearances with Total Nonstop Action, CHIKARA, and Dragon Gate USA.  Recently, his name’s been popping up on dirtsheets because his audition tape for WWE’s Tough Enough was evidently rejected.  It’s a shame too, because the national audience would be a lot better off if they were able to get a weekly dose of A-Double.

Austin Aries, whose name is derived from his astrological sign and a tribute to golden age wrestler Austin Idol, wrestled for a number of years in the Midwest before heading to the East Coast and turning himself into a star.  Upon his Eastward migration, Aries competed in the famed Super 8 Tournament of 2004, losing in the finals to fellow indy darling Christopher Daniels.  After his impressive showing at the annual tournament, Aries made his debut in Ring of Honor.  There, he quickly earned the crowd’s disapproval by forming a stable of arrogant young stars alongside Alex Shelly, Roderick Strong, and Jack Evans.  The group, collectively known as Generation Next, displayed an unnerving sense of entitlement and aimed to take whatever they wanted by force.

Within a year of his debut with the company, Aries won the ROH World Title by ending the almost 2-year reign of Samoa Joe.  After a six month run as champion during which he defended the title an astounding 16 times, Aries dropped the belt to CM Punk.  Austin also won the tag team titles with Roderick Strong during his first tenure in Ring of Honor, and the pair held the belts for nearly a year before being defeated by the Kings of Wrestling.

In 2005, TNA Wrestling held an internet poll to determine who would challenge X Division Champion Christopher Daniels at their Sacrifice Pay-Per-View.  None of the options were stars that were in the company, rather fans got to choose between four independent wrestlers to appear at the show.  The options were Austin Aries, Jay Lethal, Matt Sydal (Evan Bourn), and Roderick Strong.  Aries won in a landslide.  Although he lost to Daniels at the event, a TNA contract resulted from the appearance.  After becoming a regular with the company, he aligned himself with former Generation Next running buddies Roderick Strong and Alex Shelly.  Aries, who’s name was changed to Austin Starr during his stay in TNA, did not remain with the Nashville-based promotion for long.  While he was there, however, he managed to impress Kevin Nash, who took Aries under his wing.  Before his departure from the company, Aries feuded with Alex Shelly, as well as Senshi, better known by Low Ki on the indy circuit or Kaval in WWE.

Upon his release from TNA, Aries returned to Ring of Honor and quickly engaged in a feud with former tag team partner Roderick Strong.  Aries came out of the rivalry on the winning end and redirected his attention to the World Title.  After a few frustrating loses, Aries began rejecting ROH’s Code of Honor by refusing to shake opponents’ hands after matches.  It was around this time that another stable, The Age of the Fall, began pursuing Aries as a potential member.  The group tried to use Lacey to entice Aries into joining their number, but instead, Aries was able to convince her to leave them and join him.  Austin made it his mission to end the Age of the Fall and began pleading his case to its members to leave the stable.  Aries eventually took part in a three match series with AotF leader Jimmy Jacobs.  Jacobs was successful in a Falls Count Anywhere match, while Aries walked out the victor of a Dog Collar match.  Austin Aries went on to win the rubber match, an I Quit affair, and thus won the feud.

In 2009, Aries began to shift the direction of the character.  He chopped off his trademark locks and begin dressing more flamboyantly, incorporating a furry pink jacket into his entrance attire.  Shortly after he adopted the new traits, he was successful in winning his second ROH World Title by defeating Tyler Black and champion Jerry Lynn in a triple threat match.  Six months into his second reign, Aries battled Black in a 60-minute time limit draw.  Two months later, Black was successful in defeating Aries for the Championship.  After losing the title, Aries stuck around ROH for a few months before departing to undertake fresh endeavors.  Today, Austin Aries wrestles for EVOLVE as well as Dragon Gate USA.

In the ring, Aries is an impressive specimen.  His trademark moves include a 450 splash, brainbuster, and plenty of kicks and knee strikes.  He utilizes high-flying moves (suicide dives, frog splashes, missile dropkicks) along with some power maneuvers (death valley drivers, sidewalk slams).  And as good as he is in the ring, he’s even better on the mic.  As a heel, Aries puts you in mind of Chris Jericho.  He’s arrogant, he’s whiney, and he’s a delight to listen to.  If only WWE wasn’t so short-sighted in their Tough Enough casting, the world would be able to enjoy Austin Aries, the self-proclaimed Greatest Man Who Ever Lived, each and every week.