During his time with WWE, Austin Aries experienced a variety of roles, from his involvement in “WWE NXT” to his stint as a commentator and later as a competitor on “WWE 205 Live.” Despite the breadth of his experiences, Aries confessed that he never truly felt he had the chance to fully embody his persona as Austin Aries.
Austin Aries
“I never got to be the heel Austin Aries that I think is where I have the most value,” he shared with “Developmentally Speaking.” “I was kind of pigeonholed because Neville was doing such an amazing job in his role that they needed a babyface against him. But I really felt if I had been given an opportunity to be what I had been all those years before I got there that there was a lot more value to be had with me in that.”
Aries’ notable storyline in WWE revolved around his rivalry with Neville, who held the Cruiserweight Championship at the time. Their clash culminated at WrestleMania 33, where Aries vied for the title but fell short against the Englishman before ultimately parting ways with the company. His departure from WWE also meant he missed out on the opportunity to fully explore his heel persona, something he believes holds significant potential.
While acknowledging that in real life, antagonists may sometimes triumph, Aries clarified that his goal as a villain in wrestling is to evoke strong reactions from the audience.
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“Ultimately, it’s always about the good guy persevering in the end, so the more dastardly I can be, the most I can make you believe that I’m a terrible human being, the higher I’m going to be able to take you when I finally get what I deserve,” he elaborated.
Reflecting on his time with WWE and the potential for his character, Aries highlights the untapped opportunities he sees for himself within the wrestling landscape.
