The Costco Guys are trading in their double chunk chocolate cookie and chicken bake for a singlet and wrestling boots.
On Saturday, A.J. Befumo will step into the squared circle to face off against All Elite Wrestling star QT Marshall in AEW Full Gear’s Zero Hour. The TikTok star will additionally have his son, Big Justice in his corner during his AEW debut, while fellow internet personality ‘The Rizzler’ will serve as timekeeper for the match.
Long before skyrocketing to internet fame as the latest viral sensation, A.J. made a name for himself in the New Jersey independent wrestling circuit under the title Eric Justice. Growing up in the mid-1980s, he quickly developed a love for the sport – becoming infatuated with Hulk Hogan’s Rock ‘n’ Wrestling and the WWE superstars of the time.
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“I always loved pro wrestling, went to a ton of matches as a kid,” A.J. exclusively told Mirror Sport U.S. “Growing up in Wall Township, New Jersey, we had access to Madison Square Garden, we had access to the Meadowlands, we had access even to the Philadelphia Spectrum.
“So I was usually at about two, sometimes even three WWE events a month. So then just growing up, loving pro wrestling, I became a pro wrestler and wrestled for about 11 years on the New Jersey independent scene.”
As the Costco Guys’ online following quickly grew over the last year – their account actively boasts a whopping 2.3 million followers on the platform – AEW reached out to A.J. to see if he would be interested in returning to wrestling. “It didn’t take too much convincing,” he said. “Pro wrestling’s in my blood, and to have a ring like AEW, I had to take that opportunity. And I’m glad that I’m able to share it with the world and bring the BOOM!”
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A.J. will be joined by Big Justice and the Rizzler at the Prudential Center in Newark (
Getty Images)
On the heels of a brief hiatus from wrestling, it appears as though A.J. still has plenty left in the tank to take down Marshall. Back in October, he pulled off his signature powerBOOM! on his longtime friend – now turned enemy – at an independent wrestling show.
Though A.J. and Marshall developed a close friendship over 20 years competing together on the independent wrestling scene, the former asserted that he won’t be pulling any punches when they duke it out at the Prudential Center in Newark.
“When he said that he brought me back to bring me in the ring, I thought it was to team up. I thought it was to bring the BOOM. But he had other ideas,” A.J. said. “But you know what, he’s gonna pay for those ideas now.”
Despite only inking a one-match contract with AEW, A.J. expressed a strong desire to continue wrestling after Saturday’s match – but conceded that it will be difficult to find time in his jam-packed schedule.
“I think I’m ready to keep wrestling,” he declared. “Right now. I don’t know if I could take on a full schedule – in fact, I probably can’t take on a full schedule because we’re so busy with some other stuff.
“But my mind is ready to be in the ring. My body’s ready to be in the ring. So if the opportunity is there for me to stay in the ring, I’m going to take it. I love being in the ring. And I’m happy to keep bringing the BOOM.”
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