How This AEW Star Was Nearly A Wyatt Family Member
AEW
Truth, as much as knowledge or wealth in pro wrestling in 2019, is power. All Elite Wrestling has positioned itself as the babyface promotion in a burgeoning ethical rivalry. A WWE currently beholden to Saudi Arabian oil/blood/dirty/absolutely b*stard filthy money are the obvious heels, but AEW has thus far tried to speak truth to Vince McMahon's power.
The company won't establish a wrestling democracy, but will at least aim to create a legitimate meritocracy with their promises of a "sports-based" product, decisive finishes and (most importantly), that results will actually matter.
These rules create a useful and beneficial framework for wrestlers to play within. But the wrestlers themselves can still be playful. Enter Austin Matelson, with an aduacious f*cking reptile mask.
It was amazing to see him get so over so fast in the Casino Battle Royale. Your writer watched live and felt the same feelings as the Las Vegas crowd - it was impossible not to be wowed by this otherworldly gimmick, not least when it turned out he could actually work, too.
Imagine if somebody - anybody - had ever uttered that sentence about the old Bray Wyatt.
Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation nearly 8 years. He primarily produces written, audio and video content on WWE and AEW, but also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 35 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz" Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast and its accompanying YouTube channel, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 62,000,000 total downloads. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times, GRAPPL, GCP, Poisonrana and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has covered milestone events in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, London and Cardiff. Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in sports, music and culture magazines The Crack, A Love Supreme and Pilot. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it singing far too loud watching his favourite bands play live. Follow him on X/Twitter - @MichaelHamflett
