WWE: Determining Austin Aries’ Value to the Cruiserweight Division

Austin Aries is the most important person in the entire WWE Cruiserweight Division

When Austin Aries gets cleared to return to the ring, it’s reasonable to think he’ll join the WWE Cruiserweight division on Raw and 205 Live. If he does, he will immediately be super over.

Aries was injured back in October when he took a hard knee to the eye from Shinsuke Nakamura. Some fans worried that Aries would be out for a lengthy amount of time, and it would force him to get lost in the shuffle. That is definitely not what happened.

When 205 Live debuted at the end of November, Aries joined Mauro Ranallo and Corey Graves on commentary. Since then, only Graves has proven to be a better commentator in the company. However, Graves is only a commentator, while Aries has a larger goal in mind.

When Aries returns to the ring, the crowd is already going to be more familiar with him than anybody else in the Cruiserweight Division, aside from Neville. Between his time with TNA and ROH, he had already garnered a bit of popularity, but now he’s getting the chance to show the entire WWE Universe his greatest attribute: his personality. Personality is the one department that Neville lacks in.

Don’t misunderstand, Aries is a great wrestler, but his strong personality is what really allows him to command an audience. He reminds me a lot of CM Punk. He’s great on commentary, because he knows how to play a heel, while still putting guys over, which is a skill that has kept him working while he is injured. He’s great on the mic, because he knows how to turn a crowd against him as a heel, but he can still play a strong babyface. Then, when he gets in the ring, he can back up all the talk and put on a great match.

All this leads to Aries being recognizable. Even if they don’t know Aries the wrestler, when he finally does make his return to the ring on Raw or 205 Live, the crowd will know Aries the personality and he won’t get the same reaction (limited to none) that other Cruiserweights have gotten for their main roster debuts.

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When that return finally takes place, he could join Nevile as being the two most over stars on the roster. That’s where things get tricky. Neville has been the star of the division, but he’s been a heel the entire time, the role Aries is most comfortable in. The biggest match the Cruiserweights can do at WrestleMania is Neville vs. Aries for the Cruiserweight Championship. That’s why the best debut for Aries would be an interview with Neville, where he asks a question that sets Neville off, and Neville brutally attacks him, only for Aries to return in his gear the next week and get his revenge.

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This has already been set up by Aries interviewing Neville a few weeks back, and the two of them showing a little tension. Plus, Aries’ brash personality, even as a face, has a way of being funny and getting over with the crowd, and would work well in setting up an attack from Neville.

The WrestleMania card has a habit of getting crowded, but if WWE wants to make the Cruiserweight Division important, they’ll take a chance and make an exception: Aries vs. Neville. Nobody else, no stipulations. One-on-one. Title on the line.

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Aries is the only man that can make that match that important. He’s the only man that can make the Cruiserweights matter.