DEVASTATING Acts Of Self-Sabotage That RUINED Wrestling Careers

7. Austin Aries Goes Into Business For Himself

AEW Collision CM Punk Terry Funk
WWE.com

If Austin Aries had a wrestling Mount Rushmore, he'd put himself on it four times.

'The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived' gimmick was no gimmick. Most great wrestlers beat themselves up when they work a phenomenal match even without an overt botch because they could have executed something more crisply. They could have waited an extra second to build the crowd response that bit higher. They pan their own performances for doing something or not doing something that the vast majority of fans would not pick up on.

Austin would smile and say "no notes".

In his defence, he was really, really f*cking great at his peak. He had a great mind for crafting an elegant, worthy main event match without ever comprising how exciting his stuff looked. He was one of the best modern hybrid guys ever.

He was also an abrasive a*sehole to many of his colleagues, and would even invade their personal space if they dared get his name wrong. He always received a strong push, because he was so good, but he wasn't so good that he could go into business for himself and get away with it.

He infamously no-sold Johnny Impact's finish at Bound For Glory 2018, and while he claims it was a worked shoot, look at his Cagematch record after the fact.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!