10 Genius Ways Wrestlers Proved The Critics Wrong
4. Eddie Kingston Takes His Shot
Sometimes, a person can be their own worst critic.
Such was the case with Eddie Kingston who, in a shockingly raw self-penned article, described his struggles with mental health and depression. Watching former colleagues like CM Punk and Kevin Owens hit the big time in the WWE made Eddie feel inadequate about his own standing as a professional wrestler and, like many people in his profession before him, he attempted to numb his feelings through alcohol.
Fortunately, Eddie had good people in his corner who carried him through the worst days of his life until he came across the opportunity he needed.
After cutting a typically passionate promo during an independent show in Jersey, footage of Eddie shooting his mouth off made it all the way to Cody Rhodes (back in the latter's AEW days). Cody invited Eddie to AEW for a promo and a match (the pro wrestling equivalent to dinner and a date) and, after some encouragement from the late, great Brodie Lee, Eddie tore the house down with Dusty's progeny on national television.
The match and promo formed a one-two combo that ultimately led to Eddie getting signed by AEW, and since then Eddie has excelled as the promotion's ultimate every-man hero - the guy who's taken all life can throw at him but refuses to back down because of it.