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The AEW roster has some of the most talented pro wrestlers in the world today. The promotion has won the audience on the back of their interesting storylines and jaw-dropping action, earning their talents a huge fan following in return. Viewers are often curious to know more details about their favorite wrestlers, especially those pertaining to their personal lives.
Being a wrestler is a tough job, but finding someone willing to stay with a wrestler appears to be a more difficult task. Thus, it is no surprise that they often tend to find their life partners who belong to the same profession. After all, office romances have the same charm, be it a cubicle or a ring.
Here, we look at some of the top AEW stars who are married or in a relationship with fellow wrestlers. So, without further ado, let’s begin.
#7 and #6 Cody Rhodes and Brandi Rhodes (AEW)
Cody Rhodes is arguably the most popular personnel in AEW, both in terms of his in-ring career and backstage role. The top star is married to fellow pro wrestler Brandi Rhodes. The latter has also worked as a model, a television personality, and a businesswoman. Both superstars kickstarted their careers in WWE.
Cody enjoyed a good time in WWE’s developmental territory before being promoted to the main roster, where he performed for nine years. Brandi used to work as a ring announcer under the name Eden Stiles in Florida Championship Wrestling. The future AEW power couple tied the knot in September 2013, and three years later, Cody Rhodes asked for his release from WWE in 2016.
Brandi Rhodes also left WWE shortly afterward. Following that, Cody started competing in the independent circuit while Brandi also began exploring her options as an in-ring performer. After brief stints on a couple of popular wrestling promotions, the two took up a new challenge in All Elite Wrestling.
Cody Rhodes is the EVP, and he cleverly borrowed elements from real life into his on-screen storylines. Brandy Rhodes started making regular appearances alongside her husband and would often help shift the narration in her husband’s favor. The couple shares great chemistry on screen and they delivered several engaging segments on AEW over the course of two years.
In December 2020, Cody and Brandi Rhodes announced on AEW Dynamite that they are expecting their first child. The couple welcomed their daughter Liberty Iris Runnels in June 2021.
#5 Diamante (AEW) and Kiera Hogan
AEW star Diamante confirmed earlier this year that she is in a relationship with fellow wrestler Kiera Hogan. The celebrated LGBTQ power-couple announced their relationship on social media:
“When I’m with you, I act different. In a good way. I smile more and I laugh more. I don’t have to pretend everything is ok when it’s really not. With you, I can drop the fake smile and put on a real one. I don’t feel hurt and alone when I’m with you. You’re easy to talk to, you listen to me, you understand me. I don’t have to worry about holding back with you. I don’t feel self conscious. I don’t ever feel insecure or sad, you show me that you really do care. With you it’s not just an act. You bring out my best self and I really appreciate your company. With you I’m different. With you I’m happy. What I have with you, I don’t want that with anyone else,” read the heart-warming post.
Hogan and Diamante worked together at IMPACT Wrestling before the latter moved onto All Elite Wrestling. Kiera Hogan has been particularly vocal about her sexuality and they enjoy each other's support as well as that of fans.
Hogan has a huge match awaiting her tonight on AEW Rampage as she is set to take on Jade Cargill, which will also be her first match in the company. Will she impress us with her in-ring prowess tonight?
#4 Frankie Kazarian (AEW) and Traci Brooks
Frankie Kazarian is arguably one of the most experienced performers on the AEW roster. He has been in the wrestling business for almost two decades and has been married to fellow wrestler Traci Brooks for nearly half of that time. He credits his wife for being an understanding partner and is grateful for her unparalleled support. He once discussed being married to a fellow wrestler:
“It’s great having somebody that has been there and done that. That knows what I’m going through. Being a wrestler’s wife is probably the hardest thing to do on this planet. I can’t imagine regular quote-unquote women having to endure and put up with what we put them through but being somebody that did a lot in the business; she understands what I go through. So it makes my job a lot easier, and she’s very knowledgeable in terms of if I need to talk to somebody about something she’s there it makes my life a lot easier it probably makes her life miserable, so I’m sorry. I don’t she’d entertain the idea of coming back," said Kazarian.
"She probably did more in this business than she ever thought she’d do. She had a very, very successful career just being a farm girl from St. Mary’s, Ontario. She achieved a lot, and she still has friends in the business. Her days in the ring are probably done, but who knows if she might pop up on an appearance here or there. She has no regrets she has her career, and she will always love the business, but there is a time when you move on. She’s happy with that. She’s just happy to ride off into the sunset," concluded Kazarian.
The AEW star enjoyed a brief run in WWE back in 2005, but he couldn’t find much success. He later blamed himself for the underwhelming time at the promotion and explored more opportunities in the independent circuit, a decision that led to him meeting his future wife. He signed with AEW and became the inaugural AEW Tag Team Champion alongside Scorpio Sky.
#3 Big Swole (AEW) and Cedric Alexander (WWE)
AEW star Big Swole is married to WWE Superstar Cedric Alexander. The couple tied the knot in 2018 and have a daughter together. Prior to signing with All Elite Wrestling in 2019, Big Swole made a handful of appearances in WWE as an enhancement talent and even competed in the 2018 edition of the Mae Young Classic.
Alexander and Swole have never shied away from showing their support for each other, despite working in different companies. While Cedric Alexander has competed in WWE since 2016, Big Swole left the promotion three years ago. She had a good run on the independent circuit before joining AEW.
Alexander was spotted at Full Gear pay-per-view last year, and Swole even shared a video on her Instagram account in which her husband was seen in a conversation with AEW star Will Hobbs.
Big Swole often reacts to Cedric Alexander’s matches on WWE RAW. She said, "All of us watching Cedric get pinned by lil’ Hogan," when Jaxson Ryker pinned Alexander on the Red brand back in July.
#2 Jake Hager (AEW) and Catalina White
AEW star Jake Hager also met his future wife, Catalina White, in WWE. Back then, he used to perform under the ring name Jack Swagger. While Jake Hager enjoyed a decent run in WWE, White had a very short career in the company. She participated in a limbo contest under the name Veronica Blaze and was released shortly afterward.
Following that, White started venturing into the fitness modeling business while Hager continued wrestling for WWE. The promotion released him in 2017 after he asked for the same. Since then, he has enjoyed good stunts in wrestling and MMA, while his wife has started looking beyond the squared circle for her personal investments.
The couple fell in love while they were still working in WWE and tied the knot in 2013. They have two beautiful children together and currently reside in Florida. They have been together for more than a decade and worked things out despite the radical changes in their respective careers over the last ten years.
Jake Hager often uses videos from AEW segments in hilarious anecdotes dedicated to his wife on Twitter.
#1 Malakai Black (AEW) and Zelina Vega (WWE)
AEW star Malakai Black, f.k.a. as Aleister Black, was one of the most shocking WWE Superstars to be released this year. It was particularly surprising as his wife Zelina Vega soon returned to WWE after being released last year owing to her dispute with the company over third-party channel regulations.
Black and Vega got married in 2018. They were first spotted together on television when her then client and former WWE Superstar, Andrade, faced Aleister Black on NXT. Interestingly, El Idolo is also engaged to WWE Superstar Charlotte Flair, and they might soon tie the knot.
Malakai Black had a professional response to Vince McMahon's promotion releasing Zelina Vega. He admitted that he had his questions as her husband, but as a WWE employee, he accepted that it was business between his wife and the company. Here’s what the AEW star had to say:
“They let my wife go, under reasons that are questionable. Everything got sorted out and is fine, but they called me and said, ‘We understand this is putting you in a tough spot.’ Nope, this is my career, I spoke about it with her and this is business between you and her. Does Tom, her husband have an opinion on it? Sure. Does Aleister Black the professional? Nope. He’s ready to go to work and create. She agreed,” said Aleister Black.
Malakai Black’s arrival on AEW was vividly celebrated amidst the pro wrestling fans who believed he always deserved to be a part of better booking decisions. Many had hoped that Zelina Vega would join him in All Elite Wrestling, but she made a shocking return on WWE SmackDown instead.
Recently, Black defeated Cody Rhodes at AEW Homecoming, while Zelina Vega might challenge the SmackDown Women’s Champion after SummerSlam 2021.
