AEW Star Hails Eddie Kingston As Modern Day Dusty Rhodes

One AEW star had some big praise for Eddie Kingston.

After toiling for years on the independent scene seemingly unable to make a significant breakthrough Eddie Kingston signed with AEW in 2019, via a spell with IMPACT Wrestling. Since then, Kingston has risen to cult hero status and stands as one of the most popular stars in the company.

The Mad King has a unique connection with fans built on the fact he’s simply himself in an industry full of larger-than-life characters.

One man who knows Kingston better than most is Ortiz, who has teamed with the star numerous times during the last decade. Appearing on the Shining Wizards Wrestling Podcast, Ortiz claimed that Kingston is the closest wrestler out there to the late, great Dusty Rhodes.

“Man, it’s dope (seeing Eddie Kingston’s success). Everyone that knew Eddie or if you’ve seen Eddie on the independents and just any wrestlers that’s shared a locker room with him and just seen him do a promo and just seen him have one of those matches, we all knew who he was and just the rest of the world needed to be exposed to that.

I’ve said it to him, he doesn’t like the reference but, he’s almost like our generation’s Dusty Rhodes. He’s the everyday guy, you know what I mean? He’s the blue-collar guy. He’s legit that guy and it’s just, his promos make you believe. No matter what, you know it’s coming from a place that’s real and then just him being my friend, on top of me actually just being a fan of his work, it was really awesome man.

I was watching at home (AEW Worlds End) because sadly I wasn’t at the pay-per-view, but I was watching on my cell phone because I couldn’t mirror it onto my TV. I was like, I really feel like a dad, like an old dad that couldn’t get the technology to work. I’m pissed off, wanting to break my phone… So anyways, I got to watch him win the Intercontinental Classic on a really two-inch screen, but it was really cool. It was dope. I love.”

Eddie Kingston Enjoys Night Of Nights At AEW Worlds End

At AEW Worlds End, Eddie Kingston pulled off arguably the biggest win of his career. At the show, Kingston defeated Jon Moxley to become the company’s first-ever Continental Champion, emerging victorious from the Continental Classic — AEW’s answer to NJPW’s G1 Climax.

As well as the Continental Title belt, Kingston also retained the ROH World Championship and NJPW STRONG Openweight Titles he’d put up for grabs at the start of the tournament.

H/t to POST Wrestling