AEW Star Exits The Company, Joins IMPACT Wrestling
This former AEW title holder joins IMPACT.
Frankie Kazarian has officially left AEW and returned to IMPACT Wrestling.
Kaz made his IMPACT return at the company's Hard to Kill PPV this weekend, with the veteran cutting a promo to detail how he's opted to bet on himself after finding himself in an AEW locker room with "people he thought were his friends".
PWInsider.com notes that Kaz - who was one half of the inaugural AEW Tag Team Champions - asked for his release from Tony Khan's promotion and was granted it. The situation between Kazarian and AEW is said to have been an amicable one, and the door is open for Frankie to potentially return to All Elite Wrestling at some point in the future.
Kazarian made several appearances for IMPACT during 2022, including defeating 'Speedball' Mike Bailey to become the X-Division Champion at last year's Bound for Glory. As a result of that win, Kaz was able to challenge Josh Alexander for the IMPACT World Title at Over Drive in November. Whilst he was ultimately lost to the Walking Weapon, it was after that 30-minute war that Kazarian asked for his AEW release.
Having made his in-ring debut in 1998, Frankie Kazarian spent many a year in TNA/IMPACT, first competing for the promotion from 2003 to 2005, then returning to the then-TNA from from 2006 to 2014. During those stints, Kazarian had three reigns with the Tag Team Titles and - including his most recent X-Division Title win - is a five-time X-Division Champion.