Austin Aries

###

Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States

**Daniel Healy Solwold Jr.** (born April 15, 1978), better known by the ring name **Austin Aries**, is an American professional wrestler.

Aries has worked with several promotions, including Draong Gate, ROH, WWE and etc.

## Professional wrestling career

Solwold began training under Eddie Sharkey and Terry Fox in 2000 and debuted on November 11, 2000, facing "Sheriff" Johnny Emerald. He wrestled in the midwest for several years before his east coast wrestling career was jumpstarted after he progressed to the finals of the 2004 ECWA Super 8 Tournament, where he was defeated by Christopher Daniels.

### Dragon Gate USA (2010–2011)

On October 12, 2010, Dragon Gate USA announced that Aries had signed a contract with the promotion. Aries made his debut for the promotion on October 29 at the Bushido: Code of the Warrior pay-per-view, where he was defeated by Open the Dream Gate Champion Masato Yoshino in a non–title match. After the match, Rich Swann, whom Aries had offered to adopt as his protégé, turned his offer down. On January 28, 2011, at United: NYC, Aries defeated Swann in a singles match. The following month Aries started a storyline, where he claimed to have lost the motivation to continue his professional wrestling career, after failing to make the cast of *WWE Tough Enough*, before offering to put his Dragon Gate USA career on the line in order to get one last shot at YAMATO and theOpen The Freedom Gate Championship. On April 2 at Mercury Rising 2011, Aries was unsuccessful in his challenge, thus seemingly bringing his Dragon Gate USA career to an end. The following day at Open the Ultimate Gate, Aries was defeated by Jimmy Jacobs in what was billed as his Dragon Gate USA farewell match. However, after the match Aries feigned passing the torch to Chuck Taylor, Johnny Gargano and Rich Swann, the trio known collectively as Ronin, before turning on them and joining the promotion's top heel group, Blood Warriors, claiming to have found his purpose under the leadership of CIMA. Blood Warriors and Ronin faced each other in a six-man elimination tag team match on June 5 at Enter The Dragon 2011, which Ronin won after Johnny Gargano managed to submit both CIMA and Aries.

On June 9, 2010, it was reported that Aries had left both Dragon Gate USA and Evolve to reportedly pursue a career outside professional wrestling. Aries later revealed that he considered retiring from professional wrestling because he "didn't want to be Randy the Ram in 10, 20 years." However, he decided to continue wrestling after receiving an offer from Total Nonstop Action Wrestling

## Personal life

Solwold has the Chinese character Ram（羊）tattooed on his upper left arm to signify the Chinese translation for Aries, which is his ring name and his zodiac sign.

## In wrestling

* **Finishing moves**
	+ 450° splash
	+ Brainbuster, sometimes from the second rope
	+ *Last Chancery* (Bridging arm triangle choke)
* **Signature moves**
	+ Crucifix bomb
	+ Death Valley driver, sometimes onto the ring apron
	+ *Figure Eight Leglock* (Modified figure-four leglock)
	+ *Fish Hook of Doom* (Presses both knees onto a facedown opponent's arm before applying a fish hook)
	+ Forward Russian legsweep
	+ Frog splash
	+ Head stand into a dropkick to a seated opponent, as a neckscissors counter
	+ *Heat Seeking Missile* (Suicide dive)
	+ *IED* (Running dropkick to a cornered opponent)
	+ Inverted suplex slam
	+ Japanese arm drag
	+ Leaps over the corner as an evasion followed by performing a forward roll to the opposite corner and followed by performing a leaping back elbow
	+ *Macho Neck Snap* (Springboards off the back of an opponent draped over the second rope and performs a neck snap to the rope hung opponent)
	+ No-handed springboard moonsault
	+ *Pendulum Elbow* (Pendulum backbreaker hold followed by an elbow drop to the opponent's face)
	+ *Powerdrive Elbow* (Twisting elbow drop, with theatrics)
	+ Rolling fireman's carry slam
	+ *Slow Motion Special* (Running jumping delayed knee drop, with theatrics)
	+ Scissored armbar
	+ Shin breaker followed by a leg-hook Saito suplex
	+ Sidewalk slam
	+ Slingshot back elbow to a cornered opponent
	+ Slingshot corkscrew splash
* **Nicknames**
	+ **"A Double"**
	+ "Wrestling Machine"
	+ "The Star"
	+ **"The Greatest Man That Ever Lived"**
	+ "The Vascular Vegetarian"
	+ "MV3 (Most Valuable Vascular Vegetarian)"
	+ "Mr. It"
	+ "The Greatest Manager That Ever Lived"
	+ "The Main Event"
	+ "The Common Denominator of Greatness"
* **Entrance themes**
	+ "Born of a Broken Man" by Rage Against the Machine (ROH/Independent circuit)
	+ "Personal Jesus" by Marilyn Manson (ROH/Independent circuit)
	+ "The Greatest Man That Ever Lived (Variations on a Shaker Hymn)" by Weezer (ROH/Independent circuit)

## Championships and accomplishments

* ***Pro Wrestling Illustrated***
	+ PWI ranked him #**12** of the best 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2013

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 Austin Aries . Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved on 2009-02-27.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Milner, John M.. Austin Aries . SLAM! Sports. Retrieved on 2007-09-27.
3. ↑ Caldwell, James 2010-10-12. DGUSA News: Former ROH World champion Austin Aries signs with DGUSA, set to debut on first Internet PPV; third PPV match announced . *Pro Wrestling Torch*. Retrieved on 2010-10-12.
4. ↑ Caldwell, James 2010-10-29. Dragon Gate USA Internet PPV results 10/29: Radican & Caldwell's live coverage of DGUSA Internet PPV debut . *Pro Wrestling Torch*. Retrieved on 2010-10-29.
5. ↑ Eaton, Jimmy 2011-01-28. Eaton's DGUSA "United: New York" 1/28 - Hulk vs. YAMATO, round robin tag team tournament . *Pro Wrestling Torch*. Retrieved on 2011-01-29.
6. ↑ Martin, Adam 2011-02-19. Indy star says his career could be ending soon . *WrestleView*. Retrieved on 2011-04-04.
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Radican, Sean 2011-04-02. DGUSA Internet PPV report 4/2: Radican's "ongoing" real-time coverage of Dragon Gate USA PPV from Atlanta . *Pro Wrestling Torch*. Retrieved on 2011-04-02.
8. ↑ Tylwalk, Nick 2011-04-05. Austin Aries pulls a swerve at Dragon Gate USA's Open the Ultimate Gate 2011 . *Slam! Sports*. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved on 2011-04-06.
9. ↑ Devries, Eric 2011-06-03. 6/5 DGUSA in New York City: Live perspective on Internet PPV event with technical issues - DGUSA Title match, six-man tag, Fray! . *Pro Wrestling Torch*. Retrieved on 2011-06-09.
10. ↑ Caldwell, James 2011-06-09. DGUSA News: Austin Aries parts ways with Dragon Gate USA following weekend shows . *Pro Wrestling Torch*. Retrieved on 2011-06-09.
11. ↑ http://www.wrestlingnewssource.com/news/31245/Austin-Aries-Reveals-He-Almost-Retired-in-2011
12. ↑ Caldwell, James 2012-01-08. Caldwell's TNA Genesis PPV results 1/8: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live PPV - Roode-Hardy, Angle-Storm . *Pro Wrestling Torch*. Retrieved on 2012-01-08.
13. ↑ Wiswell, John. John Wiswell ranks the year's best 100 matches . *Wrestling Observer*. Retrieved on 2009-12-07.
14. ↑ Vetter, Chris 2005-12-16. Tape Review: ROH, "This Means War," Oct. 29, 2005, with American Dragon vs. Strong, Aries vs. A.J. Styles . *PWTorch*. Retrieved on 2009-12-07.
15. ↑ Martin, Adam 2008-06-29. Ring of Honor Results: 6/28 – Chicago Ridge, IL (Nigel/Jerry Lynn – info) . *WrestleView*. Retrieved on 2009-12-07.
16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 JP 2009-05-24. NWA Championship Wrestling from Hollywood: Episode 34 (5/7/2011) . *PWPonderings*. Retrieved on 2011-05-28.
17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Martin, Adam 2009-04-05. ROH on HDNet Results – 4/5/09 . *WrestleView*. Retrieved on 2009-12-07.
18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 18.4 18.5 Vetter, Chris 2008-01-24. DVD Review: ROH "Survival of the Fittest" (10–19–07), w/Strong, Hero, Aries, Castagnoli, Romero . *PWTorch*. Retrieved on 2009-12-07.
19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Ziegler, Jacob 2006-06-03. ROH – Dragon Gate Challenge DVD Review . *PWTorch*. Retrieved on 2009-12-07.
20. ↑ Lansdell, Chris 2008-09-22. The Burning Hammer Video Review: RoH Unscripted 2 . *PWTorch*. Retrieved on 2009-12-07.
21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Radican, Sean 2008-02-12. RADICAN: Danielson and Aries deliver two incredible matches in October . *PWTorch*. Retrieved on 2009-12-07.
22. ↑ DeRosenroll, Mike 2009-12-01. DeRosenroll's ROH TV report 11/30: Austin Aries vs. Colt Cabana, Set up for Jim Cornette's ROH TV debut next week . *Pro Wrestling Torch*. Retrieved on 2010-10-29.
23. ↑ Furious, Arnold 2008-02-15. The Furious Flashbacks – ROH Death Before Dishonor III . *411Mania*. Retrieved on 2009-12-07.
24. ↑ Hubbard, Aaron 2009-07-15. 411's ROH on HDNet Report 07.15.09: Episode XVI (07.11.09) . *411Mania*. Retrieved on 2009-12-07.
25. ↑ Berman, Samuel 2007-02-20. The Independent Mid-Card 02.20.07: Aries vs. Strong . *411Mania*. Retrieved on 2009-12-07.
26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 Newswire For The Week of December 6th . Ring of Honor (2009-12-08). Archived from the original on 2010-01-13. Retrieved on 2010-01-30.
27. ↑ Austin Aries' Challengers . *Ring of Honor* (2009-08-06). Archived from the original on 2010-01-13. Retrieved on 2009-12-07.
28. ↑ Newswire For The Week of May 17th . Ring of Honor (2009-05-18). Archived from the original on 2010-01-13. Retrieved on 2010-01-30. “Aries show the world that he’s not only A star – he’s THE star”
29. ↑ Newswire For The Week of July 12th . Ring of Honor (2009-07-14). Archived from the original on 2010-01-13. Retrieved on 2010-01-30. “I'm THE star”
30. ↑ Newswire For The Week of December 27th . Ring of Honor (2009-12-29). Archived from the original on 2010-01-13. Retrieved on 2010-01-30.
31. ↑ Melok, Bobby 2016-01-22. Austin Aries arrives in NXT . “Why has "The Greatest Man That Ever Lived" chosen to step between the yellow ropes now?”
32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 McCarron, Rob 2009-04-11. ROH TV report . Wrestling Observer/Figure Four Online. Retrieved on 2010-01-30.
33. ↑ Newswire For The Week of September 6th . Ring of Honor (2009-09-08). Archived from the original on 2010-01-13. Retrieved on 2010-01-30. “the MV3”
34. ↑ Gerweck, Steve 2009-12-30. Aries-Liger signed for Wrestle Reunion . WrestleView. Retrieved on 2010-01-30.
35. ↑ "Glory By Honor IX" This Saturday Night! . Ring of Honor (2010-09-08). Retrieved on 2011-09-14.
36. ↑ Wrestler Entrance Music . Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved on 2009-12-28.
37. ↑ Burgan looks at the ROH Milestone Series . Wrestling Observer/Figure Four Online. Retrieved on 2010-01-30. “Aries' theme music (Marilyn Manson's Personal Jesus)”
38. ↑ Theme Music History . *Chikara Fans*. Archived from the original on 2009-08-30. Retrieved on 2009-12-07.
39. ↑ Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 2013 . *The Internet Wrestling Database*. Retrieved on 2013-08-22.