Austin Aries 2065634 224507501 2008-07-09T04:17:18Z NiciVampireHeart 5692371 /* Return to Ring of Honor */ avoided redirect {{refimprove|date=June 2007}} {{Infobox Wrestler |name=Dan Solwold |names=Dan Sexon<br>Austin Airs<br>'''Austin Aries'''<ref name="slam">{{cite web|url= http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/Bios/aries_austin.html|title=SLAM! Sports - Wrestling - Austin Aries|publisher=SLAM! Sports|author=John M. Milner|accessdate=2007-09-27}}</ref><br>(The) Austin Starr |image=Austinstarr.jpg |height=5 ft 9 in (175 cm)<ref name="IMDb">[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2025217/bio Biography at IMDb]</ref> |weight=205 lb (98 kg) |birth_date={{Birth date and age|1978|4|15|mf=y}}<ref name="IMDb"/> |birth_place=[[Milwaukee, Wisconsin]]<ref name="IMDb"/> |death_date= |death_place= |resides=[[Milwaukee, Wisconsin]] |billed='''Milwaukee, Wisconsin'''<br>[[TV Land]] (as Austin Starr) |trainer=[[Eddie Sharkey]]<ref name="IMDb"/><br>Terry Fox<ref name="IMDb"/> |debut=[[November 24]] [[2000]] |retired= |}} '''Dan Solwold'''<ref name="IMDb"/> (born [[April 15]] [[1978]]), better known by his ring name '''Austin Aries''', is an [[United States|American]] [[professional wrestling|professional wrestler]] currently performing in [[Ring of Honor]]. He is also known from his time in [[Total Nonstop Action Wrestling]], where he competed under the names of both Aries and '''(The) Austin Starr'''. ==Early life== Solwold grew up with three younger siblings in a [[middle class]] household in [[Waukesha, Wisconsin]]. Throughout his schooldays, he participated in [[American football|football]], [[Collegiate wrestling|wrestling]] and [[baseball]]. His prowess in the latter - Solwold was a left-handed [[Center field|center fielder]]/[[pitcher]] - eventually earned him several [[scholarships]], and he began studying [[Communication studies|Communications]] at [[Winona State University]] in [[Winona, Minnesota]], later changing his [[Academic degree|degree]] to [[Psychology]]. While in university, he subsidised his income by working as a [[bartender]] for the [[American Legion]]. He remained in the university for several years before dropping out, and subsequently formed a [[Rock band|band]] known as "Zeno's Revenge" (with Solwold the [[Singer|lead singer]]) before deciding to become a professional wrestler. ==Wrestling career== Solwold began training under [[Eddie Sharkey]] and Terry Fox in 2000 and debuted on November 24, 2000, facing "Sheriff" Johnny Emerald.<ref name="OWW">[http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/a/austin-aries.html Profile at OWW]</ref> He wrestled in the [[Midwestern United States|midwest]] for several years before his [[East Coast of the United States|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]]. ===Ring of Honor=== From there, he joined [[Ring of Honor]]. Austin Aries made his ROH main show debut at ROH: Reborn Stage 2 in [[Chicago Ridge, Illinois]] on [[April 24]], [[2004]]. Aries was unsuccessful, though, losing a four corner survival match also involving [[Jimmy Rave]], [[Rocky Romero]], and the winner, [[Nigel McGuinness]]. Aries was scheduled to return at the [[May 22]] show, Generation Next, to compete in a one night series which would showcase young, upcoming ROH talent. [[Alex Shelley]], however, hand-picked Aries, along with [[Roderick Strong]] and [[Jack Evans]], as members of a new [[Stable (professional wrestling)|stable]] (also meant to promote young, upcoming ROH talent) who, instead of earning their spots, would simply take them. The group took the name [[Generation Next (wrestling stable)|Generation Next]] as their own, and went on a tear throughout the summer of 2004 against all sorts of ROH talent. Aries captured the [[ROH World Championship]] (and the biggest win of his career) at ''Final Battle 2004'' on [[December 26]], [[2004]], in [[Philadelphia|Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]], by defeating the longest reigning [[ROH World Championship|ROH World Champion]], [[Samoa Joe]]. After a six month string of non-stop defenses, many of which were international, Aries lost the championship to [[CM Punk]] on [[June 18]], [[2005]]. Aries then became the head trainer at the ROH [[professional wrestling school|wrestling school]], replacing the former head trainer, CM Punk. On [[December 17]] in [[Edison, New Jersey]] at ''Final Battle 2005'', Aries teamed with Strong to defeat Sal Rinauro and [[Charles John Spencer|Tony Mamaluke]] for the [[ROH World Tag Team Championship|ROH Tag Team Championships]]. The two would then disband Generation Next on [[June 3]]. In a first time ever match, Aries took on [[Pro Wrestling NOAH]] star and former [[GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship|GHC Jr. Heavyweight champion]] [[Kenta Kobayashi|KENTA]] in Chicago on [[June 24]], but was defeated following KENTA's ''Go 2 Sleep''. On [[September 16]], he and his partner [[Roderick Strong]] lost the ROH World Tag Team Championship to the [[Kings of Professional Wrestling]] ([[Chris Hero]] and [[Claudio Castagnoli]]). Aries and Strong continued to team together for the rest of the year. At ''Battle of the Icons'' on [[January 27]], [[2007]], Aries and Strong teamed up with Jack Evans to defeat [[Davey Richards]], [[Delirious (wrestler)|Delirious]] and [[Shingo Takagi|SHINGO]]. This apparent Generation Next reunion was short lived when, at the following show on [[February 16]], Strong attacked Aries after their tag team title match against Christopher Daniels and Matt Sydal. Strong then formed the [[No Remorse Corps]] with Davey Richards. Jack Evans ran down and pulled Strong off Aries, but refused to side with either of them. The following night, Aries called out Strong twice, but was unable to get his hands on him. When Evans refused to side with him, Aries said he was going to form a new faction with members of the next generation of wrestling. With that, he brought together [[The Resilience]] with [[Erick Stevens]] and [[Matt Cross]]. On [[April 27]], Aries unsuccessfully challenged [[Takeshi Morishima]] for the ROH World Championship. On [[May 2]], [[2007]], Ring of Honor announced on their website that they had signed a [[Pay-per-view]] deal with G-Funk Sports & Entertainment. Following the announcemt, TNA pulled Austin Aries and [[Nelson Erazo|Homicide]], both under contracts with TNA, from all Ring of Honor shows. ===Total Nonstop Action Wrestling=== In July 2005, [[Total Nonstop Action Wrestling]] held an [[Internet]] [[opinion poll|poll]] to select an opponent for the [[TNA X Division Championship|TNA X Division Champion]] [[Christopher Daniels]] at their [[August 14]] [[pay-per-view]], [[TNA Sacrifice#2005|Sacrifice 2005]]. Billed as an "Internet dream match", the poll offered voters the choice of Aries, [[Roderick Strong]], [[Jay Lethal]] and [[Matt Sydal]] (none of whom were contracted to TNA or had even appeared with the company on a regular basis in the past). Aries won the poll by a [[Landslide victory|landslide]], and thus faced Daniels in a non-title match at Sacrifice, which he lost. Following the event, it was rumored that TNA officials had been impressed by Aries and were considering offering him a contract, and these rumors were seemingly substantiated when Aries faced and defeated Roderick Strong at [[TNA Unbreakable|Unbreakable]] on [[September 11]] in a "Showcase match". On [[September 22]], 2005, Aries announced on his website that he had received a contract offer from TNA, and intended to sign it. He became a regular member of the TNA roster, and formed a stable with [[Roderick Strong]] and [[Alex Shelley]]. Many fans referred to this group second coming of [[Generation Next]], which had contained Shelley, Strong, Aries, and Jack Evans in Ring of Honor. In February 2006, he and Strong were both suspended for two months for arriving four hours late for the pay-per-view [[TNA Against All Odds#2006|Against All Odds 2006]]. This occurred because of Aries and Strong's decision to remain in [[Long Island]] for an ROH show, despite TNA's last minute request to travel to Florida because of the potential of a snowstorm.<ref name="Almanac">{{cite news | first = Hicks | last = Brady | title = 2006: The year in wrestling | work = PWI Presents: 2007 Wrestling Almanak and book of facts | publisher = Kappa Publications | id = 2007 Edition | page = 17-18 | accessdate = 2007-07-11}}</ref> In the build to [[Bound for Glory (2006)|Bound for Glory 2006]], promos began to air advertising the debut of a new wrestler, '''Austin Starr''', at the event with the slogan "A Starr is Born". Starr appeared for TNA on [[October 22]] as the first entrant and became the winner of the "[[Kevin Nash]] Open Invitational [[X Division]] [[Professional wrestling match types#Gauntlet match|Gauntlet]] [[Battle royal (professional wrestling)|Battle Royal]] at Bound for Glory. After the match, Kevin Nash presented Starr with a [[bowling]] trophy and a hug. On the following edition of Impact!, it was announced Starr would work closely with Nash's group [[Paparazzi Productions]], much to the dismay of one of the group's founders, Alex Shelley. Starr replaced [[Johnny Devine]] as a member of Paparazzi Productions and participated in the Paparazzi Championship Series along with Shelley, eventually losing to Shelley in the finals at [[TNA Final Resolution#2007|Final Resolution 2007]]. Starr then went on to feud with [[Brandon Silvestry|Senshi]]. On April 18th, Starr was suspended for ninety days.<ref>[http://www.wrestlingobserver.com/wo/news/headlines/default.asp?aID=19283 News at Wrestling Observer]</ref>. On [[May 7]] it was reported by The Wrestling Observer Newsletter that the suspension branched from TNA asking Austin to tape promo vignettes on a day he believed to be his day off. Starr did ultimately agree to do the vignettes but TNA saw this as a bad attitude and was reason for his suspension. During the suspension, Aries requested, and was granted, his release from TNA. ===Return to Ring of Honor=== One month after being granted his release from TNA, Aries would make his return to Ring of Honor. At ''United We Stand'' on [[June 22]], Aries was in attendance, but as a "fan". During a match between the [[No Remorse Corps]] and The Resilience, he was verbally called out by [[Roderick Strong]]. Aries tried to climb over the guard rail, but was held back be security as he was no longer employed by the company. The following night, at [[ROH Driven|Driven]], Aries was again in attendance. Following a [[Professional wrestling tag team match types#six man tag match|six-man tag team match]] between the No Remorse Corps and [[Delirious (wrestler)|Delirious]] and The Resilience, Aries ran through the crowd and attacked the NRC. He then signed a ROH contract in the ring. Aries' first match back came at ''Race to the Top Tournament: Night One'', when he faced Roderick Strong, [[Jimmy Rave]] and [[Gran Akuma]] in a [[Professional wrestling match types#Basic elimination matches|Four Way Fray]] for the [[FIP World Heavyweight Championship]]. The feud between The Resilience and the No Remorse Corps would continue at ROH's ''Death before Dishonor V'' weekend. The first night, Aries teamed with [[Erick Stevens]] to defeat Roderick Strong and [[Rocky Romero]]. However, they would not be as lucky the following night, when they, along with Delirious, lost in a [[Professional wrestling match types#Hardcore variations|Street Fight]] to the No Remorse Corps and [[Matt Sydal]]. At ''Manhattan Mayhem II'', Aries defeated former Generation Next stable mates Roderick Strong and [[Jack Evans]] in a [[Professional wrestling match types#Basic non-elimination match|triple threat match]]. At ''Glory by Honor VI: Night Two'', Aries disbanded The Resilience in order to focus on regaining the ROH World Championship. At ''Rising Above'', Aries faced current ROH champion Nigel McGuinness in a losing effort in an attempt to regain the ROH World Championship. Aries was defeated by McGuinness a second time at ''Supercard of Honor III.'' On [[April 23]], Aries was chosen by Jay Briscoe as his replacement for brother Mark Briscoe as to defend the [[ROH World Tag Team Championship]] against the [[The Age of the Fall]] after Mark was forced out of action due to an injury. The reasoning for this choice was Aries and the [[Briscoe Brothers]]' shared hatred for the Age of the Fall. Aries was not considered to have won the championship a second time, but rather to have been a substitute in a title defense. After their first and only title defense, the championship was vacated. Aries is currently engaged in a feud with Age of the Fall leader [[Jimmy Jacobs]]. On June 6, 2008 Aries teamed with Bryan Danielson in Ring of Honor's one night tournament to crown new World Tag Team Champions. They defeated Roderick Strong and Davey Richards in the First Round before being eliminated in the Second by eventual winners Jimmy Jacobs and Tyler Black. On June 7, 2008 Aries and Danielson received a title shot against Jacobs and Black but were defeated when Black pinned Danielson with a Phoenix Splash. On June 27, 2008 in Dayton, Ohio Aries was defeated by Necro Butcher in a "Relaxed Rules" match following a chair shot to the head. Aries had unsuccessfully attempted to get Butcher to leave the Age of The Fall and when Necro refused, he ceased fighting back against him. On June 28, 2008 in Chicago Ridge, IL Aries pinned ROH World Tag Team Champion Jimmy Jacobs in a "Relaxed Rules" Match following a 450 Splash despite interference from Necro Butcher, Tyler Black, Allison Wonderland, and MisChif. ==In wrestling== *'''Finishing and signature moves''' **'''[[Professional wrestling aerial techniques#450° splash|450° splash]]''' **'''''Horns of Aries''''' / '''''Last [[Professional wrestling holds#Front chancery|Chancery]]''''' ([[Professional wrestling attacks#Knee strikes|Knee strikes]] to a grounded opponent's head followed by floating over into a [[Professional wrestling holds#Arm triangle choke|bridging arm triangle choke<!-- It is not a Muta Lock. Please don't change it.-->]]) **'''[[Brainbuster]]''' **'''[[Professional wrestling holds#Scissored armbar|Scissored armbar]]''' **'''[[Pinfall (professional wrestling)#Crucifix|Crucifix bomb]]''' **'''''Roaring Elbow''''' ([[Professional wrestling attacks#Discus|Discus]] [[Professional wrestling attacks#Elbow smash|elbow smash]]) **''Fish Hook of Doom'' ([[Professional wrestling holds#Fish hook|Half surfboard fish hook]]) **''Macho Neck Snap'' (Aries [[Professional wrestling aerial techniques#Springboard|springboards]] off the opponent's back to the outside and hits a [[Neckbreaker#Neck snap|neck snap]] to the rope hung opponent) **''Powerdrive Elbow'' ([[Backbreaker#Pendulum backbreaker|Pendulum backbreaker hold]] followed by an [[Professional wrestling attacks#Elbow drop|elbow drop]] to the opponent's face) **''[[Heat seeking missile|Heat Seeking Missile]]'' ([[Professional wrestling aerial techniques#Suicide|Suicide dive through the middle and bottom ropes]]) **''Slow Motion Special'' (Stalling [[Professional wrestling attacks#Knee drop|running jumping knee drop]] with theatrics) **Corner leap over evasion into a forward roll to the opposite corner followed by a [[Professional wrestling aerial techniques#Flying back elbow|flying back elbow strike]] **[[Professional wrestling aerial techniques#Frog splash|Frog splash]] **[[Handstand]] escape from a [[Professional wrestling holds#Neck scissors|neck scissors]] followed by a [[dropkick]] to the sitting opponent **[[Professional wrestling throws#Sidewalk slam|High&ndash;angle sidewalk slam]] **[[Moonsault#Springboard moonsault|No&ndash;handed springboard moonsault]] **[[Facebuster#Forward Russian legsweep|Forward Russian legsweep]] **[[Professional wrestling throws#Rolling Fireman's carry slam|Rolling fireman's carry slam]] **[[Professional wrestling throws#Death Valley driver|Death Valley driver]], sometimes onto the ring apron **[[Professional wrestling throws#Shin breaker|Shin breaker]] followed into a [[Suplex#Leg hook Saito suplex|modified leg hook Saito suplex]] **[[Dropkick|Running corner dropkick]] **[[Professional wrestling aerial techniques#Slingshot|Slingshot]] into a [[Professional wrestling attacks#Back elbow|back elbow smash]] to an opponent in a corner **[[Professional wrestling aerial techniques#Slingshot|Slingshot]] [[Professional wrestling aerial techniques#Corkscrew splash|corkscrew splash]] *'''[[Music in professional wrestling|Entrance themes]]''' **''"Born of a Broken Man"'' by [[Rage Against the Machine]] **'''''"[[Personal Jesus]]"''''' '''by [[Marilyn Manson]]''' **''"Fire it Up"'' by [[Black Label Society]] **''"Devil Ride"'' by Phil Garrod, Reed Hays and [[Scott Schreer]] ==Championships and accomplishments== *'''Mid-American Wrestling''' **MAW Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time) *'''Midwest Championship Wrestling''' **MWCW Light Heavyweight Championship (1 time) *'''Midwest Independent Association of Wrestling''' **MIAW Cruiserweight Championship (1 time) *'''Minnesota Independent Wrestling''' **MIW Cruiserweight Championship (1 time) *'''[[National Wrestling Alliance|NWA Midwest]]''' **[[NWA Midwest X Division Championship]] ([[NWA Midwest X Division Championship#Title History|1 time]]) '''(First)''' *'''Neo Pro Wrestling''' **Neo-Pro Cruiserweight Championship (1 time) *'''Pro Wrestling WAR''' **PWW Heavyweight Championship (1 time) *'''[[Ring of Honor]]''' **[[ROH World Championship]] ([[ROH World Championship#Title History|1 time]]) **[[ROH World Tag Team Championship]] ([[ROH World Tag Team Championship#Title History|1 time]]) &ndash; with [[Roderick Strong]] *'''Steel Domain Wrestling''' **SDW Tag Team Championship (1 time) &ndash; with "The Piston" Ted Dixon ==Personal life== He is a strict [[Vegetarianism|vegetarian]] and often posts pro-vegetarian facts on his website. He is a major advocate of [[hemp]] and has many pro-hemp facts on his website. His ring name is a combination of his astrology sign ([[Aries (astrology)|Aries]]) and the first name of one of his favorite wrestlers when he was growing up ([[Austin Idol]]). He has a tattoo of the Chinese symbol for Aries on his arm, which is one of the distinguishing features he uses to claim that he and former persona Dan 'Casual' Sexon are in fact different people. He is currently dating [[Lacey (wrestler)|Lacey]] of Ring of Honor.<ref name="SLAM">[http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2005/01/04/806972.html Interview with SLAM! Wrestling]</ref> ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== {{Portal|Professional wrestling|break=yes}} *[http://www.austinaries.com AustinAries.com (Official Website)] *[http://www.austinstarr.com AustinStarr.com (Official Website as Austin Starr)] *[http://wrestling.insidepulse.com/articles/50135 August 2006 Interview at Inside Pulse] *[http://www.tnawrestling.com/fullnews.php?home=281 Interview conducted by Bill Banks] {{DEFAULTSORT:Aries, Austin}} [[Category:1978 births]] [[Category:American professional wrestlers]] [[Category:American vegetarians]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:People from Philadelphia]] [[Category:People from Waukesha, Wisconsin]] [[de:Daniel Solwold]] [[it:Dan Solwold]] [[ja:オースチン・エリーズ]] [[sv:Austin Aries]]