{{short description|American professional wrestler (born 1989)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=September 2019}} {{Infobox professional wrestler |name = Ariya Daivari |image = Ariya Daivari in 2025 (cropped).jpg |caption = Daivari in August 2025 |height = 5 ft 10 in<ref name="WWE"/> |weight = 189lb<ref name="WWE"/> |birth_date = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1989|04|11}}<ref name="AOW" /> |death_date = |family = Shawn Daivari (brother) |birth_place = Plymouth, Minnesota, U.S.<ref name="CAGE">{{cite web|url=http://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=4836 |title=Ariya Daivari|publisher=Cagematch |access-date=June 13, 2016 }}</ref> |names = '''Ari Daivari''' <br />Ariya Daivari<ref name="WWE"/><br />Arya Daivari<ref name="WrestleZone"/><br />Sheik Ariya Daivari<ref name="FirstAve"/><br />Sheik Mustafa Bashir<ref name="Dreamwave"/> |billed = '''Las Vegas, Nevada''' Minneapolis, Minnesota by way of Tehran, Iran<ref name="WWE">{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/superstars/ariya-daivari|title=Ariya Daivari|publisher=WWE|access-date=November 21, 2016}}</ref><br />Tehran, Iran<ref name="Dreamwave">{{cite web|url=http://www.dreamwavewrestling.com/newsnewstarsigned.htm|title=Costilli Signs Shiek Arya Daivari For 2013 Season|publisher=Dreamwave Wrestling|author=Steve Schultz|access-date=June 14, 2016|archive-date=March 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327085914/http://www.dreamwavewrestling.com/newsnewstarsigned.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> |debut = September 26, 2006<ref name="CAGEM">{{cite web|url=http://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=32996|title=MPW Wrestling Academy|publisher=Cagematch|access-date=June 16, 2016}}</ref> |trainer = Arik Cannon<br />Ken Anderson<br />Shawn Daivari<br />Shelton Benjamin |retired = |birth_name=Ariya Daivari}} '''Ariya Daivari''' ({{langx|fa| آریا داوری}}; born April 11, 1989) is an American professional wrestler. He is signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW), and is a member of The Premier Athletes stable. He also works as a coach for the promotion. Daivari is best known for his time in WWE, where he performed in the now-defunct Cruiserweight Division. He has also performed for Ring of Honor (ROH), New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW), the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), and has made brief appearances for Global Force Wrestling and Impact Wrestling's project Ring Ka King.
==Professional wrestling career== ===Independent circuit (2006–2017)=== After building a background in Taekwondo and amateur wrestling during his high school years, Ariya was trained in professional wrestling by his brother Shawn Daivari and fellow wrestler Arik Cannon.<ref name="AOW" /> He also trained with Shelton Benjamin and former WWE wrestler Ken Anderson.<ref name="MM">{{cite AV media|people = Jones, Chris (Director)|title = Minnesota Made – Ariya Daivari|medium = Documentary Film|url=https://vimeo.com/119819846|date = 2015 }}</ref> Ariya debuted in a Midwest Pro Wrestling Academy event on September 26, 2006, at the First Avenue nightclub.<ref name="CAGEM"/> Before his 2016 WWE debut, Ariya performed for various U.S. wrestling promotions, including Ring of Honor,<ref name="ROH">{{cite web|url=http://www.rohwrestling.com/news/hopkins-conquest-tour-update |title=Hopkins Conquest Tour Update|publisher=Ring of Honor|access-date=June 14, 2016 }}</ref> Global Force Wrestling,<ref name="PWP">{{cite web|url=http://pwpop.com/tna-talent-on-global-force-and-evolve-shows-videos-from-impact-and-set-for-next-weeks-episode/|title=TNA Talent on Global Force and Evolve Shows|author=Paul Jordan|publisher=PWPop|access-date=June 14, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160528211703/http://pwpop.com/tna-talent-on-global-force-and-evolve-shows-videos-from-impact-and-set-for-next-weeks-episode/|archive-date=May 28, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> and Impact Wrestling's India project, Ring Ka King.<ref name="WrestleZone">{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestlezone.com/news/246159-daivari-reveals-tna-india-project-details-why-he-left-roh|title=Daivari Reveals TNA India Project Details, Why He Left ROH|author=Nick Paglino|publisher=WrestleZone|access-date=June 14, 2016|date=December 8, 2011}}</ref><ref name="Dreamwave"/>
===WWE (2016–2021, 2022)=== thumb|170px|left|Daivari in 2016 ====Cruiserweight division (2016–2021)==== Daivari's first experience with WWE was wrestling in a non-televised match for WWE SmackDown at the Target Center in 2013.<ref name="MM" /> The following year he participated in a tryout at the WWE Performance Center.<ref name="WrestlingInc">{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestlinginc.com/wi/news/2014/0327/572586/backstage-news-from-wwe-recent-tryout-camp-with-several-top/|title=Backstage News From WWE's Recent Tryout Camp With Several Top Independent Wrestlers|author=Marc Middleton|publisher=WrestlingInc|access-date=June 14, 2016|date=March 27, 2014}}</ref> On June 13, 2016, Daivari was announced as a competitor in the WWE Cruiserweight Classic.<ref name="WWE" /> On June 23, 2016, Daivari was eliminated from the tournament in his first round match by Ho Ho Lun.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.f4wonline.com/wwe-news/wwe-cruiserweight-classic-round-one-spoilers-sabre-jr-swann-gargano-ibushi-more-215211|title=WWE Cruiserweight Classic round one spoilers: Sabre Jr, Swann, Gargano, Ibushi, more!|last=Williams|first=JJ|date=June 23, 2016|access-date=June 24, 2016|work=Wrestling Observer Newsletter}}</ref> On the October 10, 2016 episode of ''Raw'', Daivari made his main roster debut as part of the cruiserweight division on ''Raw'' as a heel, losing by submission to the Cruiserweight Champion T. J. Perkins. On the Hell in a Cell pre-show, Daivari teamed with Tony Nese and Drew Gulak in a losing effort to Cedric Alexander, Lince Dorado and Sin Cara.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Benigno|first1=Anthony|title=Cedric Alexander, Lince Dorado & Sin Cara def. Tony Nese, Drew Gulak & Ariya Daivari|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/hellinacell/2016/lince-dorado-sin-cara-cedric-alexander-vs-drew-gulak-tony-nese-ariya-daivari-results|work=WWE|access-date=October 30, 2016}}</ref> On the Survivor Series pre-show, Daivari, Nese and Gulak were defeated by TJ Perkins, Rich Swann and Noam Dar. He then started a feud with Gentleman Jack Gallagher, which ended in an "I forfeit" match, which he lost.
Daivari began his championship pursuits for the Cruiserweight Championship in July 2017. Akira Tozawa called Daivari out on the July 24 episode of ''Raw'' for a rematch after Titus O'Neil forfeited their singles match the week prior on Tozawa's behalf. While Neville showed up to confront Tozawa, Daivari then appeared to attack both Tozawa and Neville. He faced off against Neville the next night on ''205 Live'', winning via count-out. When Enzo Amore became the Cruiserweight Champion, Daivari appeared to support Amore on ''205 Live'' and became a member of Amore's heel faction "The Zo Train", along with Tony Nese, Drew Gulak, and Noam Dar. On January 23, 2018, Enzo Amore was fired from WWE after allegations of sexual assault were made public, thus forcing Amore to vacate the Cruiserweight Championship and quietly disbanding "The Zo Train". Following this, Daivari participated in a tournament to crown a new Cruiserweight Champion but lost in the first round to the debuting Buddy Murphy on the February 6, 2018 episode of ''205 Live''.
In WWE Greatest Royal Rumble, Ariya teamed up with his brother Shawn Daivari and insulted four Saudi Arabian prospects before being driven out by Mansoor. After an extended break from action to recover from an unspecified injury, Daivari returned on the November 28 episode of ''205 Live'', joining Hideo Itami in an attack on a local competitor. After that, he began accompanying Itami to the ring for his matches and interfering on his behalf. On January 29 episode of ''205 Live'' Daivari turned on Itami after the latter lost to Akira Tozawa, the same day that Itami requested his release from WWE. On the March 23 episode of ''205 Live'', Daivari defeated Cedric Alexander, following a distraction from Oney Lorcan. On the April 23 episode of ''205 Live'', Daivari defeated Lorcan to become the number one contender for the Cruiserweight Championship. However at Money in the Bank, he failed to capture the title from Tony Nese. Shortly after he would feud with Oney Lorcan which lead to an Anything Goes match where he was defeated to end their feud.
In October 2019 he would begin a feud with Isaiah "Swerve" Scott but never defeated him. Around this time he would start wearing white pants and a Gucci belt to the ring. In 2020 he took a long hiatus from the ring and returned in August 2020 upset that new cruiserweights weren't respecting him. He would then form an alliance with Tony Nese calling themselves the "205 Live OG's" and throughout the first few months of 2021, they would mostly be defeated by the likes of newcomers Curt Stallion and August Grey. On June 25, 2021, Daivari was released from his WWE contract.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pwinsider.com/article/148196/complete-list-of-todays-wwe-releases.html?p=1 |title=Complete List Of Today'S Wwe Releases |publisher=PWInsider.com |date=2021-06-25 |access-date=2022-05-13}}</ref>
====Producer (2022)==== In April 2022, Daivari was rehired by WWE as a producer.
===New Japan Pro Wrestling (2021–2022)=== On September 28, 2021, it was announced that Daivari would be debuting for New Japan Pro Wrestling for their New Japan Showdown shows facing Alex Zayne on Night 1 and teaming with Lio Rush against El Phantasmo and Chris Bey on Night 2.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.njpw1972.com/104946|title=More matches official for Showdown in Philly!|date=September 28, 2021|access-date=September 29, 2021|website=NJPW 1972}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/ariya-daivari-debut-and-more-announced-njpw-strong-showdown-philadelphia|title=Ariya Daivari Debut And More Announced For NJPW STRONG Showdown In Philadelphia|date=September 28, 2021|access-date=September 29, 2021|website=Fightful}}</ref> He would make his return on June 18, 2022, at NJPW Strong, scoring a victory over Delirious.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wrestlinginc.com/news/2022/06/backstage-update-on-ariya-daivaris-wwe-status/|title=Backstage Update On Ariya Daivari's WWE Status|date=June 20, 2022|access-date=July 7, 2022|website=Wrestling Inc}}</ref>
===All Elite Wrestling (2021–present)=== On November 12, 2021, Daivari made his All Elite Wrestling debut on ''AEW Rampage'' losing to Dante Martin.<ref>{{cite web|last=Lambert|first=Jeremy|url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/results/aew-rampage-results-111221-matt-hardy-vs-orange-cassidy-jungle-boy-vs-bobby-fish|title=AEW Rampage Results For 11/12/21 Matt Hardy vs. Orange Cassidy, Jungle Boy vs. Bobby Fish|date=November 12, 2021|access-date=November 13, 2021|website=Fightful}}</ref> On the June 28, 2022 episode of ''AEW Dark'', he would make his return for the brand, defeating Caleb Konley.<ref>{{cite web|last=Kirkland|first=JW|url=https://lastwordonsports.com/prowrestling/2022/06/28/aew-dark-6-28-22/|title=Preview: AEW Dark (6/28/22) – Caleb Konley Debuts|date=June 28, 2022|access-date=July 7, 2022|website=Last Word On Sports}}</ref> Daivari also serves as a coach for AEW.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ari Daivari Discusses Working As A Coach And Agent In AEW, Wanting To Work With Both Divisions {{!}} Fightful News |url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/ari-daivari-discusses-working-coach-and-agent-aew-wanting-work-both-divisions |access-date=2024-05-02 |website=www.fightful.com |language=en}}</ref>
===National Wrestling Alliance (2022)=== On April 16, 2022, Daivari made his debut for the National Wrestling Alliance, facing Nick Aldis in a losing effort.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://slamwrestling.net/index.php/2022/04/16/nwa-usa-mortons-magic-an-aldis-daivari-clinic/ | title=NWA USA: MORTONS, MAGIC, AN ALDIS-DAIVARI CLINIC | date=April 15, 2022 |access-date=July 6, 2022}}</ref>
==Personal life== Daivari attended Wayzata High School in Plymouth, Minnesota.<ref name="AOW" /> He is Iranian-American and sometimes incorporates spoken Persian in his performances.<ref name="AOW">{{cite interview|last=Daivari|first=Ariya|subject-link=Ariya Daivari|interviewer=Colt Cabana |title=Art of Wrestling 214|url=https://soundcloud.com/coltcabana/aow-214-ariya-daivari|date=September 2, 2014|access-date=June 14, 2016}}</ref> His brother, Dara, is also a professional wrestler, mostly known for his time in WWE under the names Khosrow Daivari and Daivari (shortened from his previous in ring name).<ref name="WWE" />
==Other media== Ariya Daivari made his video game debut as a playable character in ''WWE 2K19''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Cole |first1=Caitlin |title=Complete WWE 2K19 Roster |url=https://rumbleramble.com/complete-wwe-2k19-roster/ |website=Rumble Ramble |access-date=April 30, 2019 |date=December 19, 2018}}</ref> He also appeared in ''WWE 2K20'' and ''WWE 2K22''.
==Championships and accomplishments== *'''American Wrestling Association''' **AWA Rush YouTube Championship (1 time) *'''American Wrestling Federation''' **AWF Elite Championship (1 time) **AWF Heavyweight Championship (2 times)<ref name="AWF">{{cite web|url=http://www.proawf.com/pages/Roster|publisher=American Wrestling Federation|access-date=September 8, 2016|title=Roster}}</ref> *'''Born Championship Wrestling''' **BCW Tag Team Championships (1 time) – with Judd Jennrich *'''F1RST Wrestling''' **F1RST Wrestlepalooza Championship (2 times)<ref name="FirstAve">{{cite web|url=http://first-avenue.com/event/2016/06/wrestlepalooza|title=Wrestlepalooza VIII|publisher=First Avenue Nightclub|access-date=June 14, 2016|archive-date=August 24, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170824051455/http://first-avenue.com/event/2016/06/wrestlepalooza|url-status=dead}}</ref> *'''French Lake Wrestling Association''' **FLWA VFW Championship (1 time) *'''Heavy on Wrestling''' **HOW Undisputed Championship (1 time)<ref name="PwTorch">{{cite web|url=http://www.pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/Arena_Reports_10/article_74871.shtml#.V2BAL2brDMF|title=Heavy on Wrestling Results – Mad Dog Vachon Tribute Show|publisher=Pro Wrestling Torch|date=December 1, 2013|access-date=June 14, 2016}}</ref> *'''Insane Championship Wrestling (Milwaukee)''' **ICW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Shawn Daivari *'''Mid American Wrestling''' **MAW Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time) *'''National Wrestling Alliance Midwest''' **NWA Midwest X-Division Championship (1 time) *'''National Wrestling Alliance Wisconsin''' **NWA Wisconsin Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Dysfunction<ref name="CAGE2">{{cite web|url=http://www.cagematch.net/?id=5&nr=8816 |title=NWA Wisconsin Tag Team Championship|publisher=Cagematch |access-date=June 14, 2016 }}</ref> *'''Prime Time Wrestling''' **PTW Heavyweight Championship (2 times) *'''''Pro Wrestling Illustrated''''' **PWI ranked him No. 201 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2017<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.profightdb.com/pwi-500/2017.html|title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 2017|access-date=August 31, 2017|work=The Internet Wrestling Database}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{Professional wrestling profiles}}
{{Authority control}} {{All Elite Wrestling personnel}} {{Zero1 USA World Junior Heavyweight Championship}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Daivari, Ariya}} Category:American male professional wrestlers Category:American professional wrestlers of Asian descent Category:Living people Category:Professional wrestlers from Minneapolis Category:Iranian professional wrestlers Category:1989 births Category:American people of Iranian descent Category:21st-century male professional wrestlers Category:21st-century American professional wrestlers Category:All Elite Wrestling personnel