page_title: Austin Aries
section_title: WWE (2016–2017)
hierarchical_section_title: Austin Aries / Professional wrestling career / WWE (2016–2017)
caption_attribution_description: NXT TakeOver: Dallas was a major professional wrestling show in the NXT TakeOver series that took place on April 1, 2016, produced by WWE, showcasing its NXT developmental brand, and was streamed live on the WWE Network. It took place in the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas, Texas, during the weekend of WrestleMania 32. It was the first show in the NXT TakeOver series to be broadcast live on the WWE Network during WrestleMania weekend and first of 2016.[4] It was notable for Shinsuke Nakamura's WWE debut and first live match. The event received critical acclaim, with critics endorsing it as being better than WWE's WrestleMania 32 held two days later. The Zayn-Nakamura match was also lauded for being better than any match from WrestleMania 32. Austin Aries def. (pin) Baron Corbin
context_page_description: Daniel Healy Solwold Jr., better known by his ring name Austin Aries, is an American professional wrestler and voice actor. He is currently signed to Major League Wrestling and also wrestles on the independent circuit. He is best known for his time with TNA/Impact Wrestling, where he is a former three-time world champion and a six-time X Division Champion and Ring of Honor, where he was the first multi-time ROH World Champion. He is also known for his stint with WWE, where he competed primarily in the cruiserweight division as well as doing color commentary. Between TNA/Impact and ROH, Aries has held 14 total championships and has also held numerous international and U.S. independent championships.
  Aries began to work with ROH in 2004, joining the Generation Next faction. He won the ROH World Tag Team Champion with his teammate Roderick Strong and at Final Battle 2004, ROH's biggest event, defeated Samoa Joe to win the ROH World Championship, ending his 654-day reign. He would regain the title on 2009, becoming the first multi-time champion. After moving on to Impact Wrestling, then known as Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, Aries won the X Division Championship six times.
context_section_description: On January 22, 2016, WWE announced that Aries would be joining their NXT brand. On the March 2 episode of NXT, he made his debut as a face. He was introduced by general manager William Regal before being attacked by Baron Corbin. A match was booked between the two at NXT TakeOver: Dallas on April 1, where Aries defeated Corbin. On the May 18 episode of NXT, Aries teamed with [NXT Championship|NXT Champion]] Shinsuke Nakamura to defeat the team of Blake and Murphy. On the May 25 episode of NXT, Aries declared his intention to become the next NXT Champion, which prompted a response from Nakamura. Regal scheduled a match between the two at NXT TakeOver: The End on June 8, which Nakamura won. On the June 22 episode of NXT, Aries came out to seemingly thank No Way José for reminding him that wrestling was about having fun, only to attack him after an impromptu dance party, turning heel in the process. Aries defeated No Way José by submission at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn II. Aries and Roderick Strong entered the second Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic tournament. They defeated Tucker Knight and Otis Dozovic in the first round,  and were scheduled to face TM-61 in the second. However, Aries withdrew from the tournament due to injury. Strong faced Shane Thorne in a singles match instead, but was defeated.
  On October 27, Aries suffered a large orbital socket injury during a live event in Fresno, California during a match against Nakamura and was expected to be injured until early 2017. It was revealed in November 2016 that permanent titanium plates were inserted to repair the injury.
  On December 18 at Roadblock: End of the Line, Aries made his WWE pay-per-view debut alongside Michael Cole and Corey Graves. He called the triple threat match between Rich Swann, TJ Perkins and The Brian Kendrick. The following night on Raw, Aries provided commentary during the cruiserweight match. Aries also provided commentary alongside Graves and Mauro Ranallo on 205 Live, as well as Main Event.
  On the March 6, 2017 episode of Raw, Aries turned face by attacking WWE Cruiserweight Champion Neville during an interview with him. On March 7, he made his 205 Live in-ring debut, defeating Tony Nese. On March 13, Aries defeated Ariya Daivari on his Raw in-ring debut. On the March 14 episode of 205 Live, Aries defeated TJ Perkins, Akira Tozawa, The Brian Kendrick and Tony Nese in an elimination match to become the number one contender for the Cruiserweight Championship at WrestleMania 33, last eliminating Kendrick to win. However, Aries lost to Neville during the pre-show in the opening match. On the April 4 episode of 205 Live, Aries defeated Perkins, Jack Gallagher and Mustafa Ali in a fatal four-way match to earn a rematch against Neville at Payback, which he won by disqualification. Aries again failed to win the Cruiserweight Championship after he was defeated by Neville at Extreme Rules in a submission match.
  On July 7, 2017, Aries was released from his WWE contract. Initial reports stated that Aries was frustrated with his role in the company and asked to be let out of his contract, but Dave Meltzer stated that Aries apparently did not ask for his release and was said to be incredibly unpopular with WWE's writing staff and others backstage.
caption: Aries making his entrance at NXT TakeOver: Dallas
exif: {"Image Orientation": "Horizontal (normal)", "Image ExifOffset": "38", "EXIF ColorSpace": "sRGB", "EXIF ExifImageWidth": "1630", "EXIF ExifImageLength": "2046"}