Every Wrestling Rookie Of The Year: Where Are They Now?

4. 2019: Jungle Boy

Essa Rios Lita
AEW

A babyface in the most old-fashioned sense, the exciting and sympathetic Jungle Boy was a booker's dream.

He was raw, so was always available to do a job and assist in getting the more ready projects, like MJF, over. He was a great hand early, and worked the exciting Destroyer-happy style so well that he was bound to get over himself eventually. He was the marketable son of a Hollywood actor. Handsome as hell. For a long time, fans were enthused about watching him evolve into a true main event talent.

Despite working several fantastic matches and performing well in an intricate story with Christian Cage, perhaps he was too perfect a prospect. Perhaps his push was too transparent.

That might explain why fans turned on him. He has very recently turned heel and his first promo didn't exactly answer critics that he's aloof and inauthentic.

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!