From TNA Ace to AEW Afterthought: Fastest Burial in Wrestling History?
If you’ve been paying attention to All Elite Wrestling (AEW) this year, you’ve probably caught wind of one of the most baffling booking decisions since the company signed its first roster member.
Ace Austin – the high-flying, trash-talking phenom who was once TNA’s X-Division cornerstone and a Bullet Club wildcard – debuted in AEW on August 16, 2025, and by December, he’s already collecting dust on the midcard shelf. How does a talent this polished get “buried” faster than a jobber in a house show dark match?
Let’s break it down, because in the grand tradition of wrestling’s “what if” stories, Ace’s AEW arc feels like a speedrun to irrelevance.
The Hype Train Derails on Night One
Ace Austin wasn’t some random indie darling scraping for a tryout. At 28 years old, he walked into AEW with a resume that screamed “future star”: three-time TNA X-Division Champion, three-time TNA World Tag Team Champion (as half of the electric ABC with Chris Bey), a stint in NJPW’s Best of the Super Juniors where he hung with the best, and a Bullet Club membership that had fans salivating for a Bang Bang Gang reunion.
Hell, even TNA President Scott D’Amore called him a “future main eventer” before his contract expired in May 2025. Free agency rumors swirled – WWE NXT seemed like a natural fit for his athleticism, or maybe a Bullet Club revival in AEW. Instead, Tony Khan swooped in, booking a splashy Collision debut against Ricochet, the high-spot king himself.
The match? A barnburner. Ace dazzled with flips, counters, and that signature cocky swagger, looking every bit the “Inevitable” heir to the X-Division throne. Post-match, Khan shook his hand and declared him “All Elite.” Fans erupted online – this was it, the next big signing in a year stacked with TNA crossovers like Josh Alexander and “Speedball” Mike Bailey.
Ace even posted a gracious IG message owning the loss: “I didn’t ‘win’ my debut match… but what I did ‘win’ was a sweet contract.” Optimism peaked. Bullet Club ties? Tag gold with the Gunns? World title contention? The sky was the limit.
Then… crickets.
A Timeline of Tumbleweeds: Ace’s Four-Month Fade to Black
Fast-forward four months, and Ace’s AEW run reads like a greatest-hits album of missed opportunities:
September 27, 2025: He rejoins the Bang Bang Gang on Collision, aligning with Jay White, Juice Robinson, and the Gunns. Cool – Bullet Club lives! But it’s mostly mic work and enhancement talent squashes, not the rocket push you’d expect for a fresh signee.
October 25, 2025: First AEW win over Bryan Keith. Solid midcard notch, but Keith’s a gatekeeper, not a statement.
November 8, 2025: TNT Title shot against Kyle Fletcher. This should have been the breakout – a competitive main event slot on Collision, showcasing Ace’s flips against Fletcher’s technical wizardry. It delivered in-ring (fans called it “awesome”), but the loss? Ouch. No rematch, no rub, just back to faction filler.
By Thanksgiving, Ace is 2-2 in singles (per X chatter), popping up in tags or backstage skits, but zero momentum. No Continental Classic entry, no Dynamite features, no “Ace of Spades” singles push. He’s faction wallpaper in Bang Bang Gang, which itself is cooling after Jay White’s world title chase fizzled.
Reddit threads sum it up: “No idea what they’re doing with him,” or “Hope he doesn’t get lost like Brian Cage.” X users are brutal: “Signed and buried” trended after debut, and now it’s “TK’s only a matter of time” before the full fadeout.
In a promotion that prides itself on elevating underdogs, Ace – a guy tailor-made for AEW’s flippy, faction-heavy style – is treated like yesterday’s news. Why? Overcrowded roster? Creative paralysis? Or just Tony Khan’s infamous habit of signing stars and letting them simmer? Whatever it is, it’s a masterclass in squandered potential.
Comparisons: Ace’s Burial Speedrun vs. Wrestling’s Hall of Shame
You wanted comps? Buckle up – Ace’s slide is lightning-fast, but he’s in good (or bad) company. Here’s a quick hit list of wrestlers who got the “welcome to the promotion… psych!” treatment, ranked by how quickly the shine wore off. (Data pulled from booking histories and fan consensus; Ace clocks in at a blistering ~4 months to “jobber” status.)
| Wrestler | Promotion | Debut Date | Time to "Burial" | Why It’s Comparable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ace Austin | AEW | Aug 16, 2025 | ~4 months | Debuted hot vs Ricochet → instantly lost in Bang Bang Gang midcard |
| Josh Alexander | AEW | Jan 2025 | ~11 months | Former TNA World Champ → glorified job guy in heel faction |
| Brian Cage | AEW | 2020 | ~8 months | Freak athlete signed with hype → permanent ROH/Dark guy |
These aren’t cherry-picked; they’re the poster children for “what were they thinking?” bookings. Ace edges out most for sheer velocity – most guys at least get a half-year grace period before the trapdoor opens. In TNA, he was a consistent top act; in AEW, he’s already getting “jobber” shade from trolls, which he clapped back at hilariously: “Never been, never will be.”  But at this rate? Oof.
The Verdict: Fix It or Flush It, Tony
Look, AEW’s not all doom – Kyle Fletcher’s TNT run proves they can elevate midcarders into threats. Pair Ace with Chris Bey for a full ABC reunion, or let him solo-swagger into the International Title picture. He’s got the tools: charisma that pops on the mic, moves that steal shows, and a Bullet Club edge that fits AEW’s global vibe.  Burying him this quick isn’t just lazy; it’s criminal in a promotion built on second chances.
Wrestling history is littered with “what ifs” – what if Ace gets the MJF-style solo push? Or what if this is the burial, and he’s back to indies by summer ’26? Either way, his AEW saga is a cautionary tale: Hype without follow-through is just hot air. Fans on X and Reddit are begging for more; listen up, TK. The Ace of Spades deserves a full deck, not the discard pile.
