AEW Signs Lio Rush After Surprise Dynamite Appearance

Former WWE NXT Cruiserweight Champion Lio Rush is #AllElite!

by Andy H Murray
Lio Rush
AEW

All Elite Wrestling have signed Lio Rush.

The company confirmed as much with the standard Twitter post on Wednesday evening (29 September), doing so after the former WWE NXT Cruiserweight Champion had made a surprise appearance on Dynamite.

Rush cut a quick pretaped promo saying that AEW owner Tony Khan had been on the phone to him constantly. He put himself over as a money-spinning businessman in a clip interspersed with flashy cars and other luxury items, hinting at a new kind of gimmick as he formally comes into the promotion.

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Lio's first AEW appearance came at Double Or Nothing 2021, where he was the Joker in that pay-per-view's Casino Battle Royale. An unfortunate shoulder injury suffered while competing in that bout led to Rush declaring he would retire after completing his New Japan Pro Wrestling obligations, however, casting doubt on his wrestling future.

This did nothing to hinder Khan's interest in the 26-year-old. The AEW chief tweeted on 9 September that he still wanted to bring Rush into AEW - and that something may happen in the future. This would be that something, with Lio seemingly no longer focused on retirement.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.