In September 2024, independent wrestler Jake Garvin, known as Beef, reached a significant milestone by debuting on cable television with AEW Rampage, facing off against Roderick Strong. Despite the loss, Beef impressed the crowd in Lexington, Kentucky, especially with the support of his tag partner Anthony Henry. The match saw Beef hold his own for a time until Strong secured victory with a flying knee. Following his AEW Rampage debut, Beef continued to appear in both AEW and Ring of Honor (ROH), achieving tag team success with Henry in ROH and battling tough opponents like Beast Mortus and Wheeler Yuta in AEW. After JD Drake returned from injury, he teamed with Beef in ROH, helping them notch several wins before their stint with the promotion wrapped up, at least for now.
As of late 2024, Beef has not been seen on AEW television since November, but he remains active in the indie wrestling circuits across the Midwest and South, wrestling under both Beef and Jake Garvin. He is also vocal on social media about his mental health struggles and his eagerness to return to the ring. Beef remains committed to his wrestling identity, stating, “I’m always going to be the pro wrestler I wanted to be… I made beef, I die from beef.” Although he hasn’t yet returned to AEW or ROH, there’s fan interest in a potential new tag team that would pair Beef with a wrestler named Butcher. Beef has acknowledged the fans’ support and confirmed he’s working hard towards returning to the screen, leaving the door open for future opportunities.
Fan Take: Beef’s journey illustrates the grind and passion that many wrestlers embody in AEW’s evolving landscape. His story resonates with fans who appreciate the mix of grit and heart in wrestling, hinting at exciting possibilities for fresh characters and compelling tag team dynamics on AEW shows.
