Shaquille O’Neal’s first match in All Elite Wrestling has been confirmed on AEW Dynamite. ‘Shaq’ will team up with Jade Cargill to take on Cody Rhodes and Red Velvet.
The match has been many months in the making with the first piece of the puzzle put into place when Jade Cargill made her Dynamite debut on November 11th, 2020 to confront Cody. She revealed that she was representing the NBA legend and warned Cody not to call himself a ‘giant killer.’
In the following weeks, Cargill and Cody’s wife, Brandi Rhodes would clash, most notably in an intense meeting at the top of the stage where Brandi dressed down Cargill on the microphone. Cargill would exact her revenge on Brandi by attempting to injure her arm backstage with a steel chair. Brandi would then clash with Shaq himself during a sit-down interview. Unhappy at Shaquille O’Neal’s suggestion that she take tips from Cargill, Rhodes would drench Shaq with a glass of water.
“Let’s do it in March”
During this time it was announced that Cody and Brandi Rhodes are expecting a baby. Red Velvet, a protege of Brandi, stepped in and attacked Cargill during an episode of Britt Baker’s ‘Waiting Room.’
Shaquille O’Neal recently appeared on AEW Dynamite to present an award in the AEW Awards. During his video message, he challenged Cody to meet him “in March.” Many believed that any match would therefore take place on pay-per-view as AEW Revolution is scheduled to take place on Sunday, the 7th of March 2021. However, the announcement of the match confirmed that it will in fact take place on the 3rd of March edition of AEW Dynamite.
Shaq would continue his trash talk and solidify his challenge to Rhodes on TNT’s Inside The NBA programme. He also demonstrated some of his wrestling moves – particularly one he calls the ‘black tornado.’
Shaq does have one wrestling match under his belt; competing in the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal at WrestleMania 32. He also made appearances for WCW and TNA at various times.