Eddie Kingston

[4.0] "I know Eddie Kingston has a big following, but I've never really been able to get into him. I like that he comes across as someone who genuinely loves wrestling, and he's got a bit of an old-school feel about him, but I just don't think he's particularly good in the ring. His promos can be entertaining, although sometimes I find them a bit too much. I understand what people see in him, but he's never really done it for me. I'm giving Eddie Kingston a 4/10."

"[10.0] "if this was letterboxd, Eddie would be in my four favourites. or simply this guy is on the mount rushmore of 2010s wrestling.""

[9.0] "Eddie's last hundred ratable singles matches have a weighted average of 7.26/10, and he talks better than pretty much everyone in the business. Shame his career seems to be winding down. Born five years too early to be an AEW World champ, born x years too late to be ECW World champ. Never disappointed to see him, but getting more disappointed with his booking."

[8.0] "Eddie brings realism in his approach to wrestling. He's not the most gifted athlete between the ropes but his promos are some of the best in the business. I understand criticism of his performances in matches. It can be a mixed bag and some of his offense can look sluggish, but trying to argue that he's bad at everything is purely in bad faith. As is making fun of his appearance. It's especially egregious coming from fucking wrestling fans."

[8.0] "For me, he's probably the best wrestler for what he's worth. Eddie is the most realest promo-worker to date, putting his vulnerability on stage that doesn't require much protecting around his gimmick. Elite worker but is probably the most subjective wrestler who, in my opinion, is better off as a mad brawler that makes people root for him when really motivated. Doesn't work well when he tries real hard to replicate old-school Japan-style or coming back from injury."

[5.0] "Eddie Kingston is really good on the mic, probably one of the best promo cutters over the past 5 years. His look is a significant drawback imo, his gear doesn't look good and he looks out of shape, which is apparent when he gets gassed in the middle of his matches."

[5.0] "Eddie is a weird case. Seems like he could have been so much more, but he always makes the wrong choice and that hinders him. He has a great promo delivery, but the content of his promos is always the same tired bullshit about being tough and from New York and having enemies. He is not exactly fat, but he is extremely out of shape, much heavier wrestlers than him are fitter. He is not bad in the ring, but he insists on doing dumb shit that looks terrible, especially on TV. On top of all that his gear always looks cheap. It's a shame, as almost all of these things could be fixed."

[3.0] "My first exposure to kingston was watching his promos from chikara on youtube.He had a vibe around him that made me interested in his work.However, apart from a few matches with danielson, jericho, joe, punk and cody, I find him lacking in the ring.He appears to lack stamina and his machine gun chops never look good.His finisher, the Uraken, always looks ineffective and even his promos sound repetitive.He is better suited to being an American style brawler than trying to imitate the 90's Kings Road style(which I love by the way)."

"dimeless. i dont need wrestlers to look like action figures. mick foley is one of my favorites. eddie kingston is just visually uncomfortable to look at. im in better shape than him, somehow. his wrestling skill doesn't make up for it either. he gets gassed way too early, his strikes look bad, his moveset is totally uninteresting. as for his character work, it's pretty good. it doesn't click with me but i can tell other people really like him."

"Fat guy who lazily slaps at people like a less athletic Orange Cassidy. Not sure what he was doing as a main event on Collision."

[10.0] "It's hard to articulate what Eddie Kingston means to me. As someone who was always doomed to never be able to follow their dreams of becoming a professional wrestler due to a genetic disorder, seeing someone who has achieved their dreams is so cathartic. Kingston is as real as a professional wrestler gets, he's honest and relatable like few others can be, truly lives up the moniker "Last of a Dying Breed" in that way. Kingston is one of the best promos in wrestling today, an incredible seller, and while he's had a rough return from a major leg injury - he's not letting that stop him from living his dream."

[9.0] "Eddie was a gem on the indies. Seen him wrestle numerous times on the east coast. One of the best on the microphone to cut meaningful heartfelt promos. Has had an incredible career, was really fantastic to see him on a big stage like aew after the years he has givin us."

[7.0] "He had so much potential but never really fully unleashed it. He had a great stretch from 2021-2024 but shortly after he started decling & hasn't been the same since. Fantastic on the mic tho"

[8.0] "Imagine an AJPW type wrestler, real kings road type shit. Hard hitting, big moves, just overall cinema, and adapting this to a New Yorker. Its a match made in heaven. I love the big Eddie Kingston, he brings a realness to the ring that many guys don't have today. I love seeing Eddie, whether thats pouring his heart out on the mic, or by absolutely dimoloshing people in the ring. A real one for sure."

"[5.0] One of the most overrated wrestlers of all time , he is great on the mic but that is really the only good thing about him. Horrible look and ok wrestling skills (he tries too hard to sell like Kawada though). Dude is a bad AJPW tribute act."

[4.0] "Look I can enjoy some Eddie Kingston here and there his promos feel real and authentic and that is something I like in my wrestling. I'm 50/50 on his matches some are good like his match against punk at full gear and his match against Jericho at revolution but then there are some matches I just can't take serious like Chris Jericho in barded wire death match and match against Jeff Jarrett in street fight. In my humble opinion Eddie can be AEW champion he just needs the right story and build to it."

[8.0] "I get that Eddie Kingston has a very polarizing wrestling style and may not be the type of guy some people like, but I personally really like him. I've rarely seen him disappointing in high profile matches and he's one of the best promos they have in AEW. I loved his stuff with Punk back in 2021. But I can't say that I've enjoyed him that much since returning."

[10.0] "It would seem like he's just an indie guy who really loves AJPW. But you want to root for him. His connection with the audience is his greatest strength. He's cultivated a wonderful aura around himself--a guy who just wants to fight. He's trying to emulate Kawada's selling style, and he's succeeding, as he's a top seller on par with Danielson in AEW. He delivered great promos and created many great moments long before he entered the Elite ring."

[9.0] "Love Eddie Kingston. During some dark times in my life he's made me forgot my problems because of just how believeable and relateable he is."

[6.0] "He is too sloppy and basic for me. His ceiling should be the midcard. When put in a good worker the gulf between him and his opponent is massive. Opponents have to slow down for him. Easily the most over pushed guy in AEW history."

[8.0] "World is cold, better bundle up. I met Eddie like most of the AEW fans, when he showed up accepting Cody open challenge at a random Dynamite. Their fight was good and since them I started wenting fully into his amazing style. He wrestle like a old drunk ass guy you just met in a bar fight would do and that looks fucking real. But obviously, that is not his biggest skill. He is able to comunicate and feel the crowd like nobody else in the entire roster. For me, and Idk, maybe just for me, the best talker in the entire AEW. With a high fair distance for the second place."

[6.0] "Eddie Kingston has actually given us so many great in ring performances but last year and this one he hasn't been at good at all. He is still fun to watch and I hope he can have bounce back that can help his career"

[1.0] "I don't get the hype for Eddie Kingston, I really don't. He's very sloppy in the ring and is fine on the mic. His wrestling just doesn't do it for me, those infinite chops shit he does looks weak as fuck. I mean they look weak as fuck and they look horrible, probably the worst thing I've ever seen in wrestling. Also, his finisher is ass, it's a fucking spinning backhand, that's supposed to finisher a match? Get outta here. It's a terrible finisher used by a bad wrestler. His promo work is fine like I said, he's decent enough to not sound generic and it gets the fans excited whenever he talks, but half the time he'll just ramble on about shit that doesn't even matter or even thing that shouldn't be mentioned at all. I'll never get the Eddie Kingston hype."

[7.0] "His ring work doesn't always hit with me but I really like Eddie's promos. He's one of those people that doesn't feel like he's reading off a script. And when he stumbles over his words, it feels like it's out of emotion. And he's had loads of good matches as well, imo."

[5.0] "Simply can't wrap my head around the hype. Solid promo, but the in-ring work is just dire... and not because of his physique, I kinda dig having a wider variety of body types in wrestling, but the guy just looks phony in the ring to me, no other way of explaining it. Seems like a nice guy, glad he's found some success, but I'm never excited to see him on a card."

[7.0] "There's something I'm missing with Eddie Kingston I think - he's not overly impressive in the ring and I find him a little obnoxious outside of it. Sure there's something I'm missing because he is rather compelling, but I'll need to be proved wrong in this case"

[0.0] "Sometimes when a wrestler "looks like you picked a guy off of the street" they can really offer something different to a show and stand apart from the "Body" guys. Names like Mick Foley, Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, Dusty Rhodes & The Briscoes added their own charm and authenticity to wrestling in their own ways. Eddie Kingston looks like you picked a guy off of the street in the worst ways possible. He offers nothing that you would need to offset looking like a bin bag full of cottage cheese in a largely looks based industry. He's not endearing or charasmatic, he can't work and he can't talk (he can't stop coping). He is quite possibly the least athletic wrestler I have ever seen. Normally when you see a wrestler (especially an "everyman") performing in a match you shouldn't be able to say "I can do better than that" because they make the challenging look mundane due to their skill level and you'll find out pretty quick just how hard wrestling actually is. I've thought about this and I genuinely believe despite all of that with some training that I could probably be coached to put on a more competent match than Kingston. I should not be able to say this about any half-serious wrestler let alone one contracted to a major company."

"Eddie Kingston deserves way more damn respect from the IWC than a majority of stars in the industry today. He's a wrestlers wrestler. He's todays Mick Foley, not as crazy with specialties style stunts like cage jumping etc. but can get that major type of fan response behind him to guide him to victory. And he WILL make a believer out of you and give you the hope that if he can do it I can do it too. A lot of hate towards him i think is unjustified, he's one of THEE best promos and shoot style talkers on the mic. His blood feuds with Chris Hero & Claudio are legendary on the Indy scene in the mid 2000s. His ability to make anyone have a great match with him is special honestly. No he's not a major technical master like a Danielson or ZSJ, nor is a muscle man like Masters or Luger, but he's a man that has fought for everything in his life, he wasn't supposed to be in the spot he is but HE made it so and if you get in his way he will make you move and I love that about him and it lacks in a lot of wrestlers of his type. All grit and talk but cant finish fights or make you think he did. Eddie can and does on a consistent basis."

"I love him for the words that come out of this man's mouth. You can tell he's fought for all he's got today. He wasn't supposed to make it-- the biggest circus act in town wasn't gonna give him his shot, but he's made good on what he's been given now. And unlike modern examples, he doesn't go back on his word. Not once. Eddie Kingston is a man with honor. And what's honor? Staying true to your word, no matter how hard people want to snap you in two."

[10.0] "I always knew about Eddie, but when I got to see him regularly on AEW tv he jump to the top of my list. I often get a little Mick Foley from him. Some one who doesn't have the most impressive physical appearance or athleticism, but the story telling is just too ingaging to deny. He has a brawler style with aspects of japanese90s in there. Not to mention I would rather listen to him on the mic than just about any of the other great talkers. That included Punk, Cody, or MJF."

[3.0] "He just feels like an actor being payed to play the role of a wrestler. His promos are rarely good, his matches are usually sloppy, his offense looks awful and he has a terrible finisher. I genuinely don't like anything about the guy. His run in AEW has featured him constantly being in title feuds and working with top guys and he usually drags the opponent down along with him. There are points in his carrer where he's shown to be capable of some good things, his program and match with Punk being the highlight of it. But he's just....bad unless carried by a much superior opponent."

[3.0] "Eddie Kingston comes across like an amateur theater actor overplaying a "tough guy" persona. While AEW has pushed him heavily--he's defeated top-tier wrestlers and even held three titles simultaneously--I fail to see how this benefits his credibility. His finisher lacks impact; how does it logically secure a pin against a powerhouse? I'm still searching for what makes him compelling. Instead of forcing an intimidating aura, Eddie needs to focus on refining his in-ring skills and authenticity."

[0.0] "One of the worst wrestlers I've ever watched. He's the definition of overrated. I can't possibly understand how people put this guy on a pedestal of brawlers and think he's some kind of wrestling legend. He can't wrestle, he can't sell. His offense is among the weakest I've ever seen, if not the weakest. His match against Tomohiro Ishii at 2022 edition of NJPW capital collision, exposed exactly what I said. He's a Temu Bruiser Brody, and I can't comprehend how people compare Eddie Kingston to him, what an unfair comparative. AEW should really focus more in potentializing new stars and actual good wrestlers, than this authentic plumber. The easiest 0/10 that I'll give, probably ever. I miss the excellent brawlers in pro wrestling, and I feel like this idolization of Eddie Kingston, comes from that search for another great brawler."

[8.0] "He's average in the ring, as he tries to go for more of a Strong Style mixed with classic ring psychology. The real magic in Eddie Kingston is in his promos. He's proof that you can bring real life circumstances and backstories into your promos, making them feel more legit without knocking down the fourth wall and breaking kayfabe (You can learn a thing or two, MJF). His delivery is also impeccable, as he's able to make you laugh and cry, depending on the kind of feud he's in."

[8.0] "Have great talking skills but a fairly average wrestler in the end. His matches don't excite me at all but he can damn sure get you exicted for his matches and his journey so props to him for that."

[10.0] "Eddie Kingston is special because of his authenticity and realism. His wrestling style is raw and direct, which makes him unique in a world where other wrestlers are more stylized. He is a great storyteller who connects emotionally with the public through his intense promos and his personal story of struggle and overcoming. Despite not having the typical physique of a wrestling star, his charisma and honesty have made him very beloved by fans. His resilience and constant fight to prove his worth make him a very special wrestler."

"[2.0] I don't understand the hype behind him, he is a good wrestler, but not as big as they made him The upgraded version of Tama Tonga, no more, he can come in the middle of the card some nights, but not the world champion His physics are so bad that he doesn't even sell properly and you can't perform many of the moves. Again, he's a pure overrated wrestler, it's like you bought Misawa from Walmart."

[8.0] "If we are talking strictly on just promo quality? Oh my god, it would probably be one of the easiest 10s of my life. One of my favorite promos in any generation of wrestling that can so easily captivate me and make me emotionally invested into literally anything that he is talking about. His undying love for professional wrestling, as well as the deep connection he has made to professional wrestling with his life is truly lovable. He feels like someone who was truly saved from his inner demons and struggles by professional wrestling, and he holds high honor to the many greats he looks up to, such as the Pillars of Heaven from AJPW. Is he one of the best workers? Comfortably not. Never really the number one in any match, and he can be sloppy in the ring, but I can't help but excuse it just by how he makes everything feel so deserving."

[7.0] "Eddie Kingston is really in the CM Punk category of fantastic talker, but completely average in ring with his ability. I respect what he brings to the table and find him to be a good TV character; however, I'm often a little underwhelmed by his in ring action when it comes to his proresu cosplay era, and think he's much more in his element in his deathmatch i'm going to shoot on everyone on the mic persona. I enjoy Eddie and think he's damn good for the business, but just not the wrestler I connect with most."

[7.0] "Eddie Kingston's wrestling is incredibly sloppy. Thankfully, he can deliver memorable promos to help people get invested into his matches. He's most likely not going to get much better given his age, yet Eddie Kingston is still a solid enough wrestler that you'll likely pay attention to his feuds."

[8.0] "Very solid 8. A pure brawler that can talk the talk, sometimes funny as hell, sometimes serious as hell. You know when the Mad King is talking, you will be hooked because of his delivery."

[10.0] "One of the brawler in the last 10 years. Great attitude, very very good at the microphone and a great worker. The rise of last year is amazing, also very good the rivalry with Mosley. Hope he will be back asap."

[10.0] "Has been amazing since his days wrestling in front of 100 people in Chikara. No other wrestlers wears his heart on his sleeve like Eddie."

[8.0] "I don't get the hate that Eddie Kingston gets. He is an amazing story teller with such a clear passion for the business. His promos are some of the realest promos I've heard and his wrestling gets way too much hate. The Continental Classic was amazing and he was honestly the most deserving to win it and earn a modern day triple crown. His recent matches with Shibata, Danielson, Claudio, and Gabe Kidd are all fantastic and I wish him a recovery from his most recent injury."

[9.0] "Eddie Kingston is a wrestler that you either love or hate, for me, he is one that I love and have loved for several years now. He was underappreciated for a long time, and now he is finally getting a chance to show what he does best on a big stage, and I love that for him. He gets people to believe, and I think that is one of the best parts about him. He's another wrestler that I think is a phenomenal promo, and that cannot be taken away from him either. I can't wait to see him come back from injury and get right back to doing what he does best. Fight."

[8.0] "It's an 8 now, but this number could definetely rise in the future. I love Eddie Kingston, he brings a passion to the sport unlike any other. In ring I think he's better than people give him credit, but I can't wait till this phase of being a workhorse in NJPW ends. I want him back in AEW cutting hard hitting promos, and fighting for championships! He has to hit soon because it's going to be too late. Here's hoping to Eddie being an AEW full-timer again."

[9.0] "Eddie Kingstons ability to get you into any match is a testament to his passion and love for the game. He has lived so many lives over the past nearly 3 decades in wrestling, and it still amazes me that I saw his run on national TV with AEW and his entire G1 Climax last year. He still has so much to offer the business, and will be a mind that will help the young guys for generations to come. Im hoping when he comes back, he will get one more run in AEW and New Japan, maybe working in the Moxley role in the latter against Gabe Kidd, Yuya Uemura, Yota Tsuji, Ren Narita, and Shota Umino. Get well soon, Eddie."

[6.0] "overpraised for being an "hidden gem" for some for decades. He is a good midcard hand and can cut a really good scathing promo but the upsides stop there. He's match format has always been all over the place. What doesn't help with a poor pace is the lost of his intensity over the years, the suplexes and strikes that are now simply paying homage and not something to take home about. Good that he got his moment being the triple crown, so we can move past the Eddie mania now (Eddie Edwards has always been better)"

[10.0] "I don't know what the point of being a pro-wrestling fan would be if you don't "get" Eddie Kingston. Like, go watch movies or read books or play video games or something. Eddie Kingston treats pro-wrestling like it's real, which is what you're supposed to do if you're a dramatic actor, which is what pro wrestlers are. The best Eddie matches are struggles, they're ugly and messy and emotional and don't have much to do with the post-ROH, post-Five Star New Japan ideal of what "good matches" are supposed to look like (and my biggest criticism of Eddie has always been that his Sleazy Yonkers Dusty shtick is a billion times better than his Oudou cosplay). Even if he finally made it to the mainstream past his prime, Eddie's been making it look and feel realer than anyone else in the game for the last 20 years."

[7.0] "Eddie is a great wrestler, his mic skills are amazing, great talker, one of the best in the business. He obviously take a huge inspiration in the 90s AJPW guys, weather it's the moveset or the Kawada ring gear, he idolizes these guys and although sometimes the inferiority is pretty clear, it's cool to watch someone cult this great period. It's cool that he is a primarily and natural talker, but at the same time act like a fighter, with his posture of less talk and no patience for soap opera and more action, this explains why he barely makes an entrance, he just walks fast into the ring with the least spectacle possible. I loved when he said that have no problem working with people he hates, he explicitly says when he hate someone, but don't act like a baby, and is completely able to work with anyone, specially if it draws money. It's ridiculous when someone tries to body shame him, or low his qualities as a wrestler... don't believe these people, Eddie is great, I just think he should focus less on trying to emulate his heroes from Japan, and be more like himself, like cutting more promos, because he's so good at it, but can't choose well his priorities."