Every WWE NXT TakeOver: Dallas Wrestler - Where Are They Now?
8. Austin Aries
Former ROH and TNA star Austin Aries had his first ever NXT match in Dallas, although it was massively overshadowed by another debut that we'll get to later. His time in developmental was immediately hampered by an orbital bone injury later in the year. This led to a bizarre stint on colour commentary, where he would appear with a banana sticking out of his pocket.
Yeah.
After another brief run on the main roster as part of the short-lived Cruiserweight division, Aries parted ways with WWE under dubious circumstances. This would very much set the tone for his career on the independent scene: Aries would embark on a 'belt collector' gimmick that saw him dominate small and mid-sized companies across the globe. Various controversies, including the much-maligned ending of TNA's Bound For Glory 2018, have made him something of a pariah.
Now, most top companies won't go anywhere near him.
Like his Dallas opponent, he is a current champion in MLW, winning their National Openweight Championship in February 2026. Since his big win in Texas, Aries has probably burnt far too many bridges to ever be taken seriously again.