Since the genesis of AEW, there have been numerous signings, including Kip Sabian. One such name that has been steadily building credibility in All Elite Wrestling is “Superbad.”
Sabian has proven that he can hang with fellow up-and-coming stars and established wrestlers alike. The career of “Superbad” himself, from his days training in England to his star status in AEW has been everywhere and in between.
Kip Sabian began his professional wrestling career in 2010, training with and working for the World Association of Wrestling based in Norfolk. He had his first match with WAW at Fightmare, which took place in October, in an eight-way elimination match.
Sabian’s work in WAW continued in 2011, challenging for the vacant U23 Championship in January. From there, Sabian started teaming with Brad Slayer, the two becoming known as Special Edition. Sabian’s singles endeavors didn’t cease; in November, at Night of Champions 2, Sabian challenged WAW Academy Champion Judas in a losing effort.
Kip Sabian –
The WAW Years
The next couple of years saw Sabian continue his work in WAW. In December of 2012, Sabian bested tag team partner Slayer for the vacant WAW U23 Championship; this marked Sabian’s first title win.
He also saw success in the tag team scene; in May of 2013, Special Edition defeated The Metalheads, Rex Wyld, and Axl Lynch for the WAW Tag Team Championship. Special Edition would only add more gold to their resume in October by winning Dynamic Over-The-Top Action Wrestling’s tag team title.
Special Edition remained WAW Tag Team Champions until February of 2014, when they dropped the title in a four-corner elimination match to Bash and Steve Quintain, Team Old School.
From there, Sabian continued to wrestle singles and tag team matches alike. In the summer, Sabian took part in European Catch Tour Association’s Junior Heavyweight Championship tournament to crown the first titleholder.
In September, Sabian won the entire tournament and the championship along with it. He would also go on to defend the championship in WAW the following year.
Special Edition remained a consistent force throughout 2015, working with the likes of The Hunter Brothers, Jim and Lee, and The BourneStarrs. In July, Special Edition participated in the ECTA European Tag Team Grand Prix.
This would lead to Special Edition adding another tag team title to their resume in the form of the ECTA Tag Team Championship. Throughout the beginning of 2016, Sabian worked for many promotions, including Plymouth Wrestling Association, where Special Edition won the PWA Tag Team Championship in April.
The following July, Sabian bested Villman for the WAW Open Light Heavyweight Championship; he would drop it to Jody Fleisch the following September.
His Endless Journey
2017 saw Kip Sabian take his talents to several wrestling promotions. In March, he debuted for Southside Wrestling Entertainment, competing in a six-way ladder match for the Speed King Championship.
In April, he competed in HOPE Wrestling’s King of the Flight tournament. Sabian made it to the final four-way, where he claimed the HOPE Kings of Flight Championship. In June, he competed in Shropshire Wrestling Alliance’s Sledgehammer event for the CZW Tag Team Championship.
Though Sabian ultimately dropped the HOPE Kings of Flight Championship to El Ligero in August, Sabian would continue wrestling around the UK in 2017. During this time, he would join GBH, a stable that included the likes of Damian Dunne and Dan Moloney.
In the fall, Sabian began working for IPW:UK, his main focus being the FNW Z-Force Championship. By December, however, Sabian lost the title to Cara Noir at IPW: UK’s The Big Bang.
The IPW: UK Expedition
Despite the rocky conclusion of 2017, Sabian made up for it in a big way in January of 2018. It was during this time that he bested six other IPW: UK wrestlers, in a Magnificient Zeven match, for the Z-Force Championship. Sabian would go on to defend it against the likes of Noir and Ashley Dunn in the months that followed.
In April, Sabian competed in British Wrestling Revolution’s Cruiserweight Championship Tournament. Sabian made it to the finals, where he defeated three other competitors to become the inaugural BWR Cruiserweight Champion.
In May, Sabian began to appear for World of Sport Wrestling. He participated in another tournament, this time for the newly-unveiled WOS Tag Team Championship. Sabian teamed with Iestyn Rees, forming the duo known as Super Bad.
Good fortune was in their future, as they made it to the finals to become the first-ever WOS Tag Team Champions.
Despite his new tag team success in 2018, Sabian’s singles endeavors didn’t cease. In June, he competed in a three-way TLC match for the HOPE Championship. Sabian would go on to win the title in question, successfully defending it in the months that followed.
Along the way, Sabian set his sights for the IPW:UK World Championship. At the promotion’s Fight for your Right event, Sabian defeated Rob Lynch and titleholder Mark Haskins for the IPW:UK World Championship.
Sabian worked a few dates for Ring of Honor in August, competing with such talents as Flip Gordon and Marty Scurll. Sabian made his way to Revolution Pro Wrestling in September, specifically setting his sights on the Undisputed British Cruiserweight Championship.
Kip Sabian continued to work for the likes of IPW:UK, BWR, and even Defiant Wrestling throughout the rest of the year, but bigger achievements were still to come for “Superbad.”
Kip Sabian –
Is All-Elite
Leading up to All Elite Wrestling’s first pay-per-view in May, Double or Nothing, the company announced a number of signings. Among these was Kip Sabian, who was previously announced to be on the card.
Sabian had the distinction of competing in AEW’s first-ever singles match at Double or Nothing’s Buy-In. In the said match, he defeated fellow up-and-comer Sammy Guevara.
Sabian’s next AEW appearance took place at Fight for the Fallen in July, where he lost to Hangman Page in a competitive encounter. His real-life relationship with Penelope Ford would bleed into AEW’s storytelling, too.
Most recently, he targeted Joey Janela, whom Ford dated in the past. For AEW viewers, the clash between “Superbad” and “The Bad Boy” may come sooner than later.
While numerous wrestlers are currently at the top of the AEW food chain, it’s plain to see that the company is also building for the future. Undeniably, Kip Sabian is in the conversation of stars that will not only lead to AEW’s long-term growth but also attain success under the company banner.
Sabian’s previous success in tag team wrestling may lead to gold but don’t count out “Superbad” as a future AEW World Champion. The sky is the limit for the Great Yarmouth native, who isn’t shy about flying higher.
