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On July 23rd, 2020, Eddie Kingston answered Cody's open challenge for the TNT Championship. The challenge initially came about when Eddie Kingston challenged Cody at the recent No Holds Barred Deathmatch Drive-In event a couple of weeks back.
Before his match with Cody, Kingston gave a powerful and moving promo, during which, he shared details about his journey and what he has worked so hard to achieve. That has also seen a resurgence in his value. He addressed Cody and Arn Anderson, and told them why he is there before the match began.
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Eddie Kingston shared with Cody that he was there because Cody's boss, Tony Khan, invited him there. That invitation prompted him to not only answer the challenge but also propose a stipulation for the challenge. Kingston said that he would face Cody and wanted to make the match an anything-goes contest. Cody agreed, and the two faced each other in an absolute battle. Whether it was the stiffest of slaps or the hardest of punches, Cody and Eddie Kingston continued to come at one another with everything they had.
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Despite not walking away as the winner of the match, he came out of it with a newfound respect for the champion. But what we don't know about Eddie Kingston is that he's far more accomplished than many thought he was.
#5. Eddie Kingston appeared on WWE Network as part of the EVOLVE 10th Anniversary Show
While fans of AEW may have seen Eddie Kingston for the first time tonight, that isn't to say its the first time he's appeared on television. In fact, AEW's biggest rival promotion, WWE have footage of Kingston.
During the special show- EVOLVE's 10th Anniversary- Eddie Kingston appeared. It was a live stream of the event, and it was a fantastic moment to see the long traveled veteran appear on the show. EVOLVE has been home to the likes of Daniel Bryan, Drew Gulak, and Matt Riddle, but the appearance of Eddie Kingston was a pleasant surprise.
Fans would be hard-pressed to find someone as violent and outspoken in today's wrestling world that appears on the WWE network and not be employed by the company. One of the most notable things about Kingston's appearance had nothing to do with what he did in the ring but what he said on the way to the ring.
#4. Eddie Kingston Was Trained by an NXT alumni
For all the blood and guts that Eddie Kingston has often been known for throughout his career, it is his propensity for an in-ring technique that speaks volumes. Before Eddie Kingston became a wrestler, he was kicked out of a wrestling academy. He needed a new path, a new direction. That path led him to a new school and new opportunities.
This led him to begin training for the CHIKARA Wrestle Factory. The Wrestle Factory has had a long list of talented men and women come from it. However, one of the most notable trainers there was also a 'wrestling genius' himself. As technically sound as they come, Chris Hero helped to develop a number of talented performers. If the name Chris Hero doesn't ring a bell then his WWE NXT name Kassius Ohno may for those unfamiliar with him. One such performer that trained under Hero was Eddie Kingston.
Kingston may brutalize his opponents today but his ability to demonstrate catch wrestling is largely because of Chris Hero's help. Eddie Kingston was in good hands with another skilled technician of the ring. Much like his match on AEW Dynamite, Eddie Kingston walked into the Wrestle Factory relatively unknown but walked out with everyone's admiration.
#3. Eddie Kingston was invited to the 2016 WWE Performance Centre tryouts
One of the earliest mentions about Eddie Kingston during his match on AEW Dynamite was how he is an 18-year veteran of the ring. His in-ring experience has seen him virtually be everywhere and anywhere. In fact, at one point he had an opportunity to try out for WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment). Each year oftentimes multiple times a year, the WWE holds tryouts by invitation only to their Performance Centre. This was the case for Eddie Kingston.
In late summer to early fall of 2016, Kingston along with 39 other men and women were invited to try out to earn a spot on their roster. This particular tryout proved to be quite fruitful for the promotion.
Along with Eddie Kingston, others that were also invited included Heidi Lovelace (aka Ruby Riott), and Kimber Lee (who competed as Abbey Laith). It also had several talents tryout there that signed with other promotions such as MLW and IMPACT Wrestling they included Jacob Fatu and Su Young. It would have been interesting to see what could have been if Eddie Kingston did emerge with a contract. This story could have gone very different had Eddie Kingston signed with the WWE four years ago.
#2. Eddie Kingston has worked for Ring of Honor and the National Wrestling Alliance
Eddie Kingston's appearance on Dynamite isn't the first time, as mentioned previously, that he has been seen on television. What also should be noted about him is that this isn't the first time he's worked for a significant promotion either. Kingston has been seen working on-screen this past ye, albeit even it is part of a channel alongside his longtime tag team partner, Homicide.
Together Kingston and Homicide make up the duo Outlawz Inc. Their rough and tumble style ushers in thoughts of days gone by with Extreme Championship Wrestling. However, Outliawz Inc. have competed this past year as part of the NWA with the NWA Powerrr YouTube program. They like to fight, and they like to talk. Their time together can also be traced back in the late 2000s when they competed for Ring of Honor as well. Homicide and Eddie Kingston are no strangers to one another, and hardcore wrestling fans outside of significant promotions are excited at the possibilities he could bring to AEW.
#1. Previously worked with Ortiz and Santana in IMPACT Wrestling
While there weren't fans in attendance at the recent AEW Dynamite when Eddie Kingston appeared, it should be noted he has worked with others in the promotion. After traveling everywhere and anywhere, Kingston stood across the ring from the Executive Vice-President of AEW, Cody.
In what can be known now as a game of six degrees of separation, Kingston faced non-other than the man who challenged and lost to Chris Jericho for the AEW World Heavyweight Championship.
Jericho is flagged by the Inner Circle. Among those involved in the Inner Circle is a duo known as Santana and Ortiz, collectively known in AEW as Pride-N-Powerful. However, Ortiz and Santana arrived in AEW without a name. They use to compete as the Latin American Exchange under Konnan.
During a feud that could be best described as OGz vs. the LAX, Ortiz, and Santana faced off against the OGz, who consisted of original members Hernandez, Homicide and led by Eddie Kingston. Eddie Kingston has journeyed to all the major promotions and now could call AEW his home moving forward.
