Ace Austin Breaks Silence After AEW Debut Loss

Ace Austin didn’t score a victory in his AEW debut, but that hasn’t stopped him from declaring the night a success. The former TNA standout finally broke his silence following the match—and he’s not sweating the L.

Taking to Twitter on August 18, Austin addressed his AEW debut against Ricochet, which took place during TV tapings in Cincinnati. Despite the loss, he made it clear that his signing with the company was the real win.

“Yeah guys; unfortunately I didn’t ‘win’ my @AEW debut match,” he wrote. “Which just means I have to try harder & be smarter next week because what I did ‘win’ was a sweet contract that will give me more chances to win matches & make a nice living on a huge stage.”

Austin acknowledged the level of competition in AEW and welcomed the challenge.

“AEW is full of unbelievably skilled talent; I knew it wouldn’t be easy but I am more than up for the challenge.”

He thanked fans for the support—while also getting a subtle dig in at critics.

“Thank you for the incredible love & support. It means the world to me. Thank you for the hate & whining too. It keeps my name trending.”

Austin made his AEW debut official during the Cincinnati tapings, where Tony Khan confirmed to the live crowd that the former TNA X-Division and Tag Team Champion had inked a contract. After six years in TNA, Austin now has a fresh start—and judging by his confidence, he’s ready to prove why he’s one of the most dynamic performers in the business.