TAYLOR CAMPBELL

BEFORE THE RING

Born July 2nd, 2000, Taylor Blancas Campbell grew up in the South Side of Chicago. Taking up drinking at a young age to fit in with his Uncles at Sox and Bull’s games, he was already set on the wrong path of life. Constantly bullied in school for having asthma, didn’t help his demeanor at all. He decided not to make friends but to rely on family. That same family would often steal money from him, use him for free labor and excuses to get out of trouble. At 15, taking the advice of his Uncle, he robbed a connivence store to prove he was ready to join a gang. From there he made plenty of regrettable decisions until he turned 18. Hanging out in the street with his family, a rival gang pulled up and shot his Uncle down in front of him. In the weeks to follow, he spaced himself out from his family. Having nothing and nobody now, he turned to YouTube to distract him. There, he found pro-wrestling.

ENTERING THE RING

After watching a couple highlight videos of PWG on YouTube, he was hooked. Using whatever money he had, he signed up to a local wrestling school. Living out of his car, this was all he had to look forward to. Unfortunately he was rejected for having Asthma. Down on his luck, he was only more determined to prove everyone wrong. He snuck into a different class, quickly training and getting the hang of things before the coaches and trainers even noticed. Here he developed his first actual friendship with a star that would go on to be Cora Jade. The coaches eventually found and decided to give him a shot. Booking him on local indies, the kid was soon titled the South Side Prodigy. He didn’t let it get to his head. He needed to prove to himself he was still good. Only a major contract could give him that satisfaction.

BECOMING ALL ELITE

Following a star making performance at an AAW show, he was brought into WWE NXT in the middle of 2020 for a couple of appearances. It was here he started to get the calls again from his family begging for money. Claiming he wouldn’t be where he was without them. Not giving into the gas lighting. He continued to work his ass off, eventually joining AEW Dark in late 2021 for a couple more appearances. Having a stellar match with Wheeler Yuta got Tony Khan’s attention. He was booked to have a quick squash against Darby Allin on Dynamite. Before the match, fellow Chicagoan CM Punk told him to give the fans something to remember. In the match, he slapped Sting and tossed Darby off the stage with a German Suplex that sent him flying as well. Twitter went crazy and despite defying TK’s orders, he was offered a contract. He made it and Taylor accepted. His first match officially working apart of AEW he fought Jon Moxley and bled all over the ring. In a losing effort he was still offered to join the Blackpool Combat Club. He accepted and never looked back since. Now he continues to work for AEW and the reignited ROH on the search for his first championship in pro-wrestling. Something to show for his hard work and to prove to himself he really had changed.