10 Wrestlers AEW Saved From Retirement

The story of Eddie Kingston is nothing short of fascinating. But, one thing not many know is that this journeyman wrestler came inches away from retiring, before AEW swept in and saved the day.

Kingston has had a lengthy career on the independent circuit, but like many performers during the pandemic, he had to make some tough decisions. An interview he gave with the New York Post revealed that prior to signing with AEW, Kingston came dangerously close to packing it all up.

He informed the interviewer that he'd sold his wrestling gear and promotional photos to keep up with his mortgage payments, and things were gearing up to get worse. "I think probably another month I would have sold the house and moved back to New York and back to my parents' place," he said, claiming that he would get a "regular job."

Thankfully, he decided to call out Cody Rhodes during an indie show, leading to AEW offering him a match on Dynamite with the man himself. The rest was history, as Kingston impressed the execs and signed with the company barely a week later.

The Yonkers-bred wrestler claimed this news caused him to break down, as the relief from signing had saved his career. Kudos to him and AEW for making this happen!