Austin Aries Talks WWE Cruiserweight Division, Being Vegan and More

Austin Aries is one of the most talented all-around performers in the wrestling industry, and since joining WWE in 2016, a whole new audience has now had the pleasure of seeing the Greatest Man That Ever Lived operating at the highest level.

At 39 years old, Aries has been wrestling for 17 years and has earned a reputation as one of the best in-ring workers in the business. Add in the fact that there are only a few wrestlers who can stand toe-to-toe with him in a promo, and Aries is one of the most gifted talents in the world.

In a recent interview promoting his new book, Food Fight: My Plant-Powered Journey from the Bingo Halls to the Big Time, Aries spoke to Ring Rust Radio about his place in WWE’s cruiserweight division following another loss to Neville at Extreme Rules, his interest in becoming a commentator following his in-ring career and the challenges of living a vegan lifestyle.

At the 2017 edition of the Extreme Rules pay-per-view, Aries tried unsuccessfully for the third time to capture the Cruiserweight Championship from Neville. Following another hard-fought defeat, there are questions about what’s next for Aries.

While staying in the cruiserweight division and climbing the ranks once again could be a viable option, Aries proved in Ring of Honor and Impact Wrestling that he doesn’t need to be pigeonholed. He could easily make the jump to the heavyweight division and instantly be one of the top stars on the Raw brand as he chases the Universal Championship.

When asked what he has planned moving forward, Aries was uncertain about his future.

“Right now, I feel like I’m at a point where I am reflecting and just trying to figure out what my next move is. I have put a lot of energy and focus into capturing the Cruiserweight Championship, but obviously I didn’t get the job done,” Aries said. “So, I am not really sure what my next move is. I think right now I am going to take a step back, see what the landscape in front of me and see where I fit in best moving forward.”

Regardless of whether Aries stays in the cruiserweight division or makes the leap into the heavyweight division, his skill in the ring and on the mic will result in marquee matchups and feuds that would bolster any card.

Not only has Aries proved to be one of the best all-around talents in wrestling today, but while he was out with an eye injury, he also showed that he'll have a bright future at the commentary table when his in-ring career is over.

After working with Michael Cole and Corey Graves, Aries has a newfound respect for commentators and a new career path if he eventually wants to follow through and become the Greatest Commentator That Ever Lived.

“I had a lot of fun doing that and it was a new opportunity for me. I learned a lot and I got to work with some cool people that I would never have had the chance to work with as an in-ring competitor,” Aries said. “A lot of respect for what those guys do. There’s a lot going on that people don’t know about in those headsets while those guys are trying to manage while they are also trying to narrate a story. I think at a certain point when the time is right, if that opportunity is there for me, it’s something I would like to pursue.”

Aries has been a staple of the wrestling industry for almost two decades, but he still has so much left in the tank. One of the reasons for his success thus far has been his commitment to a vegan lifestyle.

Finding the proper foods and meals for a vegan is difficult at times, but it’s even more complicated when WWE Superstars are on the road constantly traveling from city to city without ample options.

Aries spoke about the difficulties of being a vegan who travels constantly and how his commitment to the lifestyle has helped him stay true to veganism.

“I think if you’re trying to be mindful of eating well on the road, it can be difficult no matter what,” Aries said. “Your choices at midnight or one o’clock in some of the smaller towns when we are getting out of shows aren’t going to be the best choices for eating healthy no matter what your dietary choices or restrictions are.”

“So, I think the important part is to always be prepared. I always try to carry some stuff with me so if can’t find some food around me, I’m not stuck in that position of having to make a bad choice,” Aries continued. “I think the hardest part is just the dedication to it. Once you decide it’s important to you, it becomes easier to do because you are invested in it.”

While most wrestling fans look at a Superstar who is 39 years old as someone who is on the downside of a career, Aries has bucked that trend and only appears to be getting better with age.

With so much left to prove inside a WWE ring beyond being stuck in the cruiserweight division, the best is yet to come for Aries. Hopefully, WWE officials don’t squander the opportunity to add a bona fide championship level heel to Raw’s heavyweight division.

No matter where the future takes him, Aries has demonstrated time and time again that he has the talent and the smarts to be one of the most entertaining aspects of any show he graces.

For more wrestling talk, listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot topics or catch the latest episode in the player above (some language NSFW).