OUTSIDE THE RING: AUSTIN ARIES

By: Ross Forman
Credit: TNAwrestling.com
March 27, 2006

Austin Aries was a three-sport star at Waukesha (Wisc.) West High School and went to Winona (Minn.) State University, where he specialized on the pitcher’s mound for the school’s baseball team.

He was a left-handed baseball pitcher who also played football (halfback and defensive tackle) and was a competitive wrestler.

But it wasn’t his sporting ability that truly stands out; it was his singing.

Aries was a member of his high school’s choir.

“I’ve always enjoyed singing, and started in choir, oh, probably in the first-grade. And I just stuck with it because, well, it was fun, certainly a lot better than other things I could have been doing,” said Aries, now 27. “When you get to high school, people often make fun of (males) because they’re in choir, but my come-back would always be, ‘You’re in woodshop with 35 guys and no girls; I’m in choir with 10 guys and 60 girls. So who’s the smart one?’

Listen up, Simon Cowell, Austin Aries truly is an American Idol.

He’s performed in the past at the Washington (DC) Monument, sung loads of Christmas carols over the years and been part of several musicals, such as Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Phantom of the Opera.

“I never wanted to be pigeon-holed into a certain category, such as the jock, or the freak, or the car-geek, or whatever. I wanted to be well rounded, do a little of everything. I think that’s been very beneficial to my life.”

In college, Aries was the Winona-area karaoke champion on numerous occasions. He also joined a small band for a few years, serving as its lead singer.

“Being on stage as the front-man of a band is comparable to standing in the middle of the ring and cutting a promo. Singing certainly has helped me be comfortable in front of people,” he said.

Aries doesn’t sing much nowadays, but, “if you gave me six months to train, I’d be awesome once again.”

So, Austin, what’s with the new-look?

“A buddy of mine, who is flashy and sizzle, suggested I change my look because I have all of this ability, but was not standing out. He gave me a few tips,” Aries said.

The look, though, has generated loads of backstage comments, and not just comments behind his back.

No worries, Aries said. That’s just jealousy, he said, “mostly because no one else could pull off this look; they’d look horrible, whereas I look great.”

Aries is now a mix of “Adorable” Adrian Adonis, Jesse Ventura, “Superstar” Billy Graham, Austin Idol and “Macho Man” Randy Savage.

Aries said A.J. Styles is the “most jealous” of all TNA Wrestlers.

“I know, deep-down inside, A.J. wishes he could wear the boa like I do,” Aries said.

* It’s a Fact: Aries’ tattoo is the Aries symbol in Chinese. Got it on the West Coast, for free.