Former IMPACT Wrestling Champion Debuts For AEW
Here's the former IMPACT Wrestling title-holder that debuted for AEW over the weekend...
Rohit Raju debuted for All Elite Wrestling at this weekend's Dark tapings at Universal Studios, Orlando, Florida.
Per Figure Four Online/The Wrestling Observer's spoilers, the former IMPACT Wrestling X-Division Champion wrestled a single match at the tapings' second session, losing to 'The Captain' Shawn Dean. There is currently no word on when, exactly, this bout will air.
Raju, who competes as Hakim Zane on the independent scene, was snapped at Universal Studios:-
Rohit Raju just made his AEW debut at the #AEWDark tapings! ?? pic.twitter.com/BZLMzlf2k2
— ?????? (@WrestlingCovers) January 16, 2022
The 41-year-old is yet to comment on his AEW debut.
Raju's final appearance for IMPACT was technically at its Throwback Throwdown II show on 18 December, when he wrestled Josh Mathews (as Giuseppe Scovelli) under the guise of Quincy Cosmos for the throwback gimmick event. He has since worked Myron Reed and Ace Austin in a three-way for Chicago-based indie AAW, with the Dark defeat to Dean his latest match.
Currently a free agent following his IMPACT deal's expiration, Raju debuted for IMPACT in May 2017 and was effectively a full-timer by the following year. His biggest moment came in August 2020, when he defeated Chris Bey to capture the X-Division Championship, holding the belt until Manik defeated him that December.