Why AEW Commentator Excalibur Retired From Wrestling, Explained
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Since the very inception of AEW, Excalibur has been one of the leading voices of the commentary team for the promotion. However, he has also ventured in many other endeavors in professional wrestling. He was a co-founder of Pro Wrestling Guerilla. In addition, he was also an in-ring competitor at one time in his career as well. However, due to a number of different injuries, Excalibur had to step away and retire from being an active competitor.
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The Beginnings Of Excalibur's Professional Wrestling Career
In 2000, Excalibur made his professional wrestling debut in RevPro. Involved in numerous independent companies during his time as a competitor, he eventually went to be a co-founder of PWG in 2003. There, he is a former PWG Tag Team Champion alongside Super Dragon.
In addition, he also began his career in commentary there. He also made appearances in CZW as well. While he was an-ring competitor, Excalibur faced wrestlers such as Claudio Castagnoli, Chris Hero, Bryan Danielson, Evil Uno, Scorpio Sky, and more.
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Excalibur Retired Due To Injuries
However, Excalibur had to retire from being an in-ring competitor due to a number of injuries he sustained over his career. While speaking to Chris Van Vliet, he explained that he had taken a number of concussions, back injuries, and meniscus injuries. Many of these injuries he still feels the effects of to this day.
In addition, due to all the injuries he sustained, he felt that it was time to step away and not take a position from up-and-coming stars in PWG at the time. While it was not an easy decision, for Excalibur it was a necessary one. He officially retired from being an in-ring competitor in 2007. From there, he began to settle into the position that he has become most known for in professional wrestling.
Excalibur Becomes A Part Of AEW Commentary
After retiring from the ring, Excalibur became more set on commentary, which he has done since then. After starting in PWG, he took his talents to other promotions, such as NJPW. In addition, he was also a commentator for All In. In what was essentially the starting point for what became AEW, Excalibur returned for AEW’s official debut show, Double Or Nothing 2019. Ever since then, he has been a staple part of AEW commentary. Currently, Excalibu is a part of the Dynamite team along with Tony Schiavone and Taz. In addition, he is also a part of the Rampage commentary team with Schiavone, Jim Ross, and Chris Jericho. He and Taz also do commentary for AEW Dark. In addition, he also did some commentary for AEW Dark: Elevation.
While injuries have prevented Excalibur from wrestling longer, he has made a major impact on commentary. As one of the key voices of AEW, he has contributed an immense amount to the product that fans watch on a weekly basis. He knows an immense amount about professional wrestling, with a ton of knowledge and insight on it that very few other people do. From background information on a wrestler, different moves, promotions, history, and more, he explains it all in great detail.
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He also worked with an extensive number of other commentary team members. In addition to the previously mentioned people he does it with, Excalibur has also worked alongside Paul Wight, Eddie Kingston, Mark Henry, Matt Menard, Anthony Ogogo, and more. In addition, he and Wiliam Regal had some of the most memorable exchanges when they would work alongside one another. Regal said of working with Excalibur on ITR Live (h/t Fightful), “If I can go out and make Excalibur smile for 20 seconds, he’s got all these things that he’s got to get out there and word perfect. I want to just go out, just lighten the load. If I see him smile through that or the other two laugh or whatever, good.”
Excalibur’s work on commentary has also been recognized, winning two Wrestling Observer Newsletter Best Television Announcer Awards. He received one in 2020 and one in 2021. Throughout his time in the promotion, he has called countless classic matches and spots in AEW. With a knowledge about the business that is wide and extensive, he continues to be involved in 2023 after having to retire all the way back in 2007. Regarding his AEW career, he said in an interview with My Mom’s Basement (h/t 411Mania), “AEW has allowed me the chance to have a career in pro wrestling. So, rather than going to an office five days a week, I’m on the road.”
