Lio Rush Wants To Be The First Black AEW World Champion

Lio Rush recently returned to AEW after another stint in retirement. While Rush has mostly been acting in a managerial capacity, helping his friend Dante Martin, it seems that Rush has far greater ambitions. Lio Rush wants to be the first black world champion in AEW.

The lack of representation for people of color in sports and media is an important issue. This is something Rush brought up in his interview with Forbes’ Alfred Konuwa.

Representation, it changes lives. 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.

Rush also expressed confidence that he is ready to be the world champion, and that the time is ripe for it. While Rush acknowledged that his career has not exactly been smooth sailing, and that he has had “some ups and downs in [his] career,” he is not one to give up on his passions and his dreams.

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.’

Rush is seeking to make a comeback after his temporary retirement caused by injuries and his desire to refocus. Here’s hoping that Rush achieves his goal soon, as it would be a giant leap in the world of wrestling. Check out the interview here.

What’s your take on this story? Sound off in the comments.