When you get your first look at Brody King, your first impression is probably “big.” At 6-foot-5, 285 pounds, he towers over most of his opponents in the wrestling ring, and when he scowls or threatens them, you can add “intimidating” to that opening description.
Then the match starts and you see he has outstanding agility for a big man, and it’s clear that the word “athletic” joins the fray.
On that first look, you probably wouldn’t say the All Elite Wrestling star was “funny” or “erudite.” But outside of his character, he was all that and more during his recent conversation with the Sentinel.
He’ll bring the entire package to Addition Financial Arena on Jan. 21 when AEW presents Dynamite, a weekly show which airs on TBS and HBO Max.
“Everyone thinks of me as the brooding brawler, scary guy,” said King, a 10-year veteran. “It takes people off guard when they’re like, ‘Oh, he’s funny,’ or ‘Oh, he’s kind of nice, too.’ For the character, it’s almost scarier when the scary guy is kind of nice. You think, ‘I don’t know if I trust this.’ ”
Since his AEW debut in 2022, King has become best-known as a tag-team wrestler through his association with the House of Black and his current “Brodido” team with lucha libre star Bandido. He said he’s comfortable in a tag-team environment but can’t deny that a singles run could be just as rewarding.
“Whenever I’m in a tag team, I try to educate myself on everything (my partner) does,” said King, 38. “I have a very good memory, so I’m good at remembering and digesting what we need to do in a match. And we love to try to put the other in the spotlight, trying to bring out the best in each other. That’s the fun part of it for me.”
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That singles push might be coming soon. Bandido will challenge MJF for the AEW world championship next week, and King alone was the subject of a pre-taped vignette on the Jan. 7 episode of Dynamite.
“I would love to see Bandido become AEW world champion, but I would also love to be world champion or TNT champion,” King said. “Singles gold is the goal, but it’s not the ultimate goal for me.”
One of King’s other great loves is hardcore music — since before he was wrestling, he has been a lead vocalist of the band God’s Hate, recording two EPs, two full-length albums and playing live shows, most recently in front of 6,000 people at the Sound and Fury Fest in Los Angeles last July. God’s Hate has recorded entrance themes for King, the House of Black and fellow AEW wrestler Julia Hart.
Brody King’s tag team with Bandido, dubbed Brodido, held the AEW tag team championship during 2025. (All Elite Wrestling)
“What we’ve always wanted in God’s Hate was just to be a hardcore band. We’re hitting that at the highest level possible while staying true to our roots,” King said. “The wrestling career is definitely my bread and butter, so I’ve got to stick with that.”
King made headlines last June when, shortly after immigration enforcement began to ramp up in his hometown of Los Angeles, he wore a T-shirt to the ring that read, “Abolish ICE.” He said he values the freedom of expression that AEW allows him, but he doesn’t make a point to speak out on the political situation.
“I look at things in a very human way of what I feel is right and wrong,” King said. “I like trying to stand up for people who don’t have the voice to speak up for themselves.”
Central Floridians might have gotten their first look at King during Major League Wrestling’s residency at Orlando’s Gilt Nightclub in 2017-18. King says that time in MLW was a springboard for the rest of his career, in recognition as well as relationships.
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“MLW is where I got to meet a lot of my peers on the way up,” King said. “I wrestled MVP on my first show, and he became kind of a mentor for me after I found out we both went to punk and hardcore shows. … He guided a young Brody King who wanted to do all kinds of crazy stuff in the ring that may not have been great for my body’s longevity. He helped guide my way, learn how to protect myself and protect my size.”
Another friend King met in MLW and at hardcore music shows is Darby Allin, who joined AEW in 2019. Allin said he’s long been a fan of King’s work.
“He’s a guy who I thought should have been in AEW from year one,” Allin told the Sentinel. “He understands that there’s no phoning it in, no taking it easy. Every night he goes out there, he performs literally to his limit, and it’s cool to see that he’s finally taking off.”
Many pro wrestlers at King’s level complain about the miles it takes to make it. It’s like the Dan Fogelberg song says, “The audience was heavenly, but the traveling was hell.” King sees the travel as a glass half-full.
“It doesn’t have to be just airports, gyms and the arena,” King said. “Think about the one thing that you most want to do. If you’re in Philly, go get a Philly cheesesteak. On New Year’s Eve, we were in Omaha and had Omaha Steaks. They were incredible. It’s easy to get jaded, but if you take a minute and just take it all in, think about what you’re able to do and why you’re doing it, then it becomes a lot more special.”
jreddick@orlandosentinel.com