Lio Rush: I Want To Be The First Black World Champion In AEW

Lio Rush wants to become the first black world champion in AEW.

Recently, Lio Rush has returned to AEW and now we know that he has goals of ascending to the top of the rankings and making history in the name of representation.

Currently, Lio Rush appears to be mostly a manager in AEW, attempting to help Dante Martin reach the next level of his career.

Speaking with Forbes’ Alfred Konuwa, Rush explains the importance of representation and what it means to him before spelling out his most lofty goals in AEW.

“Representation, it changes lives,” said Rush.“I didn’t have too many good examples of someone who can set the blueprint for somebody like me. At the time, when I was a wrestling fan, there wasn’t a short, Black, tattooed, dread-head guy who likes music from D.C. So the path that I was going, I was creating. I think that has opened up doors for a lot of people, but I want to be a world champion. I think I’m more than capable.”

He continued, “If I’m not ready for something, I’ll say I’m not ready for something. But I’m ready. I’ve been ready, I want to take that step. I want to be that guy that everybody is looking at and say ‘Man, he did it. and he did it through the face of adversity.’ Because I’ve had some ups and downs in my career, and I’ve shown time and time again that I’m not someone who’s going to just lay down and give up on my passion and my dreams. I think that’s a good role model, just in life. Wrestling aside, to see someone like myself move the way that I move in life and inspire the people who look like me is a beautiful thing. I want to be that. I want to be that for everybody, and I think that I can be that. I think I have the mic skills, I think that I have the in-ring capability, I think that I’m a pretty personable and likable person. I think I’m real. I think I’m honest. This is a glass panel right here, I don’t hold anything back and I think that’s what a champion is, and I want to be the first African-American world champion in AEW.

On the most recent episode of Dynamite, Lio Rush looked on disappointed in the losing efforts of Matt Sydal against CM Punk.

Prior to Lio Rush’s resurfacing in AEW, he had retired sighting injuries and a desire to refocus. You can read about his reasoning at this link.