Since its inception in 2019, All Elite Wrestling (AEW) has offered fans and wrestlers a fresh and exciting platform. However, AEW’s emergence wasn’t sudden; Tony Khan built the promotion knowing that a strong foundation already existed, thanks to the global independent wrestling scene that had nurtured more talent than WWE could recruit over the past two decades. Among these independent promotions, Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG), based in Los Angeles, California, stands out for its significant influence over the years.
Excalibur, AEW Dynamite commentator and former PWG founder, appeared on Tony Schiavone’s podcast “What Happened When?” to discuss PWG’s essential role in shaping AEW. He revealed that 80 AEW employees have competed in PWG at some point. Notable AEW stars like Ricochet, Kenny Omega, and The Young Bucks all have PWG experience. Reflecting on those times, Excalibur shared how wrestlers often crammed seven or eight into a single hotel room, a testament to the strong friendships and camaraderie formed during PWG’s height.
Excalibur, besides being a founder, was also PWG’s play-by-play commentator. He noted that though the original founders, including Super Dragon, didn’t aim to revolutionize the independent wrestling world, their impact is undeniable. Entering PWG’s circle often led to more bookings nationwide and internationally, which could be life-altering for many wrestlers. He believes most of the 80 wrestlers with PWG roots feel they wouldn’t have succeeded without it. While Excalibur hasn’t tallied how many WWE stars have passed through PWG, he mentioned Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn, who famously wore PWG’s logo on their gear during WWE WrestleMania 39’s main event, highlighting PWG’s lasting influence on wrestling today—in AEW, WWE, New Japan, and CMLL alike.
PWG has been on hiatus since 2022 after owner Super Dragon stepped down to focus on his family’s health, leaving fans hopeful for its return.
Fan Take: Understanding PWG’s pivotal role in the careers of many AEW stars highlights how interconnected and essential the independent wrestling scene remains to the sport’s growth. For AEW fans, this history enriches the excitement of watching their favorite wrestlers, knowing they’ve honed their craft in some of the most influential wrestling environments outside WWE.
