When most people turn eighteen, it usually means it is time for college and to start planning what your future will hold. While that is true for many, it is not for Nick Wayne, the currently 17-year-old pro wrestling prodigy who was signed to a provisional AEW contract last year. While Wayne has been under contract, he has continued to grow as a wrestler on the independents awaiting his eighteenth birthday, when he’ll actually be able to compete on AEW TV.
The wait is almost over, however, as Wayne is set to make his official AEW in-ring debut on the July 12 episode of Dynamite. The news was broken to Wayne by none other than Shane “Swerve” Strickland, the same man who offered Wayne his AEW deal. Strickland lost his Defy Championship to Wayne last night and following the match, took the microphone to inform the boy wonder that their rematch will take place on the July 12 Dynamite in Saskatoon, Canada. By that time, Wayne will be eighteen-ears-old and able to start his full-time AEW career.
Wayne has certainly kept himself busy while preparing for his career in AEW. In GCW, for example, he has formed a tag team with fellow young stallion Jordan Oliver, aka East West Express, and the duo recently captured the promotion’s tag team titles with a win over The Motor City Machine Guns. This comes after more than a year with the company where he has become a fan favorite.
Another young star that Wayne has spent time around on the independents, Billie Starkz, has also begun to work for AEW and ROH following her eighteenth birthday. In an exclusive Haus of Wrestling interview, Starkz spoke highly of Wayne and noted that the two have become close friends while coming up in the scene together. Whether they meet up again inside the AEW ropes will be up to their new boss, Tony Khan.
Stay with Haus of Wrestling for all the latest on Nick Wayne’s impending AEW debut.