AEW star Eddie Kingston remains deeply connected to his roots, especially his time in the independent wrestling scene and Ring of Honor (ROH). Despite his current success in All Elite Wrestling, where he claimed the 2023 ROH World Championship, Kingston still cherishes his earlier career highlights—like reigniting his rivalry with Chris Hero, teaming with Homicide, and battling Kevin Steen before Tony Khan acquired ROH.
Recently, on Tony Schiavone’s podcast “What Happened When?”, Kingston emphasized that AEW wouldn’t exist without ROH, pointing out how pivotal the company has been in shaping AEW’s identity. He described ROH as a “nice little prelude” to AEW’s rise, noting its role in organizing the inaugural All-In event in 2018, which ultimately inspired Tony Khan to start AEW. This connection establishes ROH as the foundational DNA of All Elite Wrestling. Schiavone also reflected on how ROH’s success and the independent scene in the 2000s introduced him to talents like Kingston, Jon Moxley, Samoa Joe, Bryan Danielson, and Nigel McGuinness, broadening his wrestling perspective and forging new friendships.
Fan Take: This insight highlights how integral ROH’s legacy is to AEW’s success, showing that AEW’s current popularity is built on the groundwork laid by earlier wrestling pioneers. For AEW fans, it reinforces the importance of honoring wrestling history while eagerly anticipating the continued evolution and innovation within the sport.
