Since 2019, AEW fans have gotten used to Frankie Kazarian as a regular in Tony Khan's company, though things would change a bit in 2022. Making a number of appearances in Impact Wrestling, Kazarian at times feels more like an Impact talent than an AEW one, even wrestling and winning a championship at Bound For Glory 2022.
While it has not been addressed on television yet, Frankie Kazarian now holds the X Division Championship in Impact Wrestling once more, and with all signs pointed towards him cashing in Option C, the time will come where he challenges for the Impact World Championship. For those looking to learn more about the 7-time World Tag Team Champion, look no further.
10 He Is Still Signed To AEW
Despite wrestling more often, or at least in higher profile matches, in Impact Wrestling recently, Frankie Kazarian is certainly still signed to All Elite Wrestling. Having a fairly decent first half of the year including matches against Ethan Page, Andrade El Idolo, and challenging for the TNT Championship against a former partner, Scorpio Sky, Kaz has fallen off the map in recent months.
Likely thanks to the damage done by the TNT Title feud involving Sammy Guevara, Men of the Year, Kazarian, Dan Lambert, and Tay Melo, Kazarian has not recovered from his involvement in that program, mainly wrestling on AEW Dark and Dark: Elevation as of late.
9 He Once Wore The Suicide Costume
While the gimmick itself may have seen varying degrees of success within TNA, one thing is for certain; Suicide's costume was awesome. Sticking out as one of the most iconic gimmicks and looks in TNA/Impact Wrestling History, Suicide was a masked wrestler that was actually portrayed by a number of talents.
Most famously worn by Austin Aries before he would unmask himself, Frankie Kazarian actually wore the costume for an extended period from 2008 through 2010. Kaz would even capture the X Division Championship while under the mask, though he would eventually drop the belt to Homicide and would lose the outfit after a loss to Matt Morgan.
8 Killer Kowalski Trained Him
Known as an old-school wrestling star in both the NWA and WWWF, Killer Kowalski is also known for his impressive list of trainees. Having helped launch the careers of Triple H, Chyna, Kofi Kingston, Eddie Edwards, and Tomasso Ciampa, Kowalski's legacy lives on years after his passing.
One name that fans may not know that the legend trained is none other than Frankie Kazarian. With Kaz being 45, and beginning his career earlier than some might expect, it is not shocking that he got the chance to learn from one of the greats, though it is interesting nonetheless to know he was trained by the same man that trained the current head of WWE's creative.
7 He Met His Wife In Impact Wrestling
First paired up on-screen in 2003, Traci Brooks would become the manager for one of Kazarian's first teams in TNA. The team of Shazarian would feature Kazarian alongside Michael Shane, with Brooks serving as the duo's valet. Throughout their careers, during Kaz's feuds with Bobby Roode and Jeff Jarrett, Traci would be involved, either aligned against the X Division Star or working with him.
In 2010, the couple would officially tie the knot and get married after years of working together within TNA. In 2012, they welcomed their first child into the Kazarian/Brooks family as well, and recently, they would be featured together on-screen at Impact's Slammiversary PPV in 2022.
6 Kazarian Is One Of AEW's First Champions
As AEW made their TV debut in the Fall of 2019, a Tag-Team Tournament began to crown the first-ever AEW World Tag Team Champions. While many saw the Young Bucks as the clear winners, they would be upset by Private Party, with SCU going onto win the tournament. Following an attack from the heel Lucha Bros, Christopher Daniels would be taken out of action as Kazarian and Sky would become the inaugural champions.
Kazarian and Scorpio Sky would hold the titles for a decent while as the first set of AEW Tag Team Champions, before eventually dropping the belts to Hangman Page and Kenny Omega, arguably the best tag champions AEW has had yet.
5 He Is Close To Being A TNA Original
While not exactly a TNA Original, Frankie Kazarian does come quite close to being considered one. Joining the company in 2003, after being invited to compete by both Jeff Jarrett and Scott D'Amore. Out of the gates, Kazarian would make waves in the X Division, with him actually taking part in the first-ever Ultimate X Match alongside Chris Sabin and Michael Shane.
Kaz would eventually win the X Division championship for the first time in 2004, defeating The Amazing Red for the belt. 2005's Against All Odds PPV would be the final event for Kazarian's first run in the company, closing a 2-year stint with TNA in their early days.
4 He Was In WWE For Less Than A Year
Following his 2-year stint in TNA, Frankie Kazarian would make the jump to WWE as one of the bright young stars making waves in the wrestling world in 2005. Making his TV debut during the Summer of that year, Kaz would even get an undefeated streak going, as he would score wins over names such as Funaki, Scotty 2 Hotty, Nunzio, and Paul London.
Unfortunately, Kaz would not stick around much longer as he would ask for his release in August 2005, stating that he did not want to be in the company after he realized the Cruiserweight Division was going to stay directionless, opting to bet on himself elsewhere.
3 Kazarian Is One Of The Most Decorated Tag Team Wrestlers
Leaving WWE would be quite the wise decision for Kazarian, as he would continue to be a major player elsewhere, with him wrestling in PWG and ROH, while also making his return to TNA, where he would spend most of his career. During his time in TNA, Kazarian would find success in both the tag-team division, where he would become a 3-time TNA World Tag Team Champion, and in the X Division.
In Ring of Honor, Kazarian would also find great tag-team success, as he would become a 3-time ROH World Tag Team Champion, holding the belts twice with Christopher Daniels, and once with Scorpio Sky, while also winning the ROH 6-Man Tag Team Championship with Sky and Daniels. As noted, Kazarian and Sky would also become the first-ever AEW World Tag Team Champions.
2 5-Time X Division Champion
Alongside his great success as a tag-team wrestler, Kazarian has been a staple of Impact's X Division, their cruiserweight or junior heavyweight-style division, since 2003. Scoring major wins throughout his career, both as himself and as the Suicide character, Kaz would make history at 2022's Bound For Glory in October, where he would challenge Mike Bailey for the X Division Championship.
With Bailey attempting to beat Christopher Daniels' record X Division defenses, Kazarian would play spoiler to the young star in a genuinely unpredictable match in which Kaz would win his fifth X Division Championship.
1 He Has Been Wrestling Since 1998
At 45 years old, Kazarian is on the older side of AEW's current roster, and within Impact Wrestling as well, he is one of the older stars of the company. Still, as proven in his matches against Mike Bailey, Scorpio Sky, and Chris Sabin this year, Kazarian has proven that he still has quite a lot left in the tank.
More shocking than his age, is the fact that he has been wrestling since 1998. Debuting only one month after beginning his training with Killer Kowalski, Kaz would have his debut match. Following his first outing, Kazarian would train another 8 months with the legend before embarking on his full-time wrestling career that is still going strong today in 2022.