Wrestling is littered with men who could do everything right and still get tossed to the sidelines. Cedric Alexander was one of those men—and he turned it into a career anyway. From the sweat-stained gyms of Ring of Honor to the lights of WrestleMania, to the heartbreak of WWE release and the unexpected rebirth in TNA, Alexander’s story is the story of stubbornness, of grace under pressure, of being the guy who never went away.
Charlotte to Ring of Honor: Building the Machine
Born Cedric Alexander Johnson in Charlotte, North Carolina, Cedric learned his craft the hard way—training under George South and grinding the Carolina indies before landing in Ring of Honor in 2010. There, he was paired with Caprice Coleman as C&C Wrestle Factory, a high-energy tag team that mixed athleticism with gospel-preacher charisma. They weren’t the kings of the division, but they earned respect, stealing shows against the Briscoes, reDRagon, and S.C.U.M.
By 2014, Cedric split from Coleman and chased singles glory. He beat Roderick Strong in a feud that proved he could hang with the ROH elite. He nearly toppled Michael Elgin for the world title. He turned heel with Veda Scott in 2015, attacking Moose and showing a mean streak fans hadn’t seen before. When he announced his departure in 2016, it wasn’t a goodbye—it was a graduation.
WWE and the Cruiserweight Classic: A Star is Begged For
The world met Cedric Alexander in the 2016 Cruiserweight Classic, where he clashed with Kota Ibushi in a match so electric the crowd chanted “Please Sign Cedric” after he lost. Triple H walked out, raised Cedric’s hand, and the internet blew up. WWE had no choice—they had to make him part of the new 205 Live division.
He became the “Soul of 205 Live,” a perfect foil to Mustafa Ali’s “Heart.” Together, they carried the brand. At WrestleMania 34, Cedric finally got his coronation—defeating Ali to become WWE Cruiserweight Champion. For 181 days he defended against Kalisto, Buddy Murphy, Hideo Itami, and Drew Gulak. He was crisp, consistent, and respected.
Then came October 2018—Buddy Murphy, in his hometown of Melbourne, beat Cedric for the title. The reign was over, but the reputation stuck. Cedric was legit.
The Main Roster: Glory and Frustration
Drafted to Raw in 2019, Cedric immediately ran into the wall so many cruiserweights had hit before him. He worked Cesaro, clashed with AJ Styles, got fleeting pushes and quiet cool-offs. He even disguised himself as “Gary Garbutt” in a comedy skit with Roman Reigns. It was WWE purgatory—flashes of brilliance, smothered by inconsistent booking.
Then 2020 changed everything. MVP, Bobby Lashley, and Shelton Benjamin formed The Hurt Business, a suit-and-tie mafia of violence. Cedric shocked fans by betraying Ricochet and joining the crew. For the first time, he wasn’t the plucky underdog—he was a shark. With Benjamin, he won the Raw Tag Team Championships, battering the New Day in a marquee TLC match.
But WWE giveth, WWE taketh away. In 2021, Lashley kicked Cedric and Benjamin out of the faction. For Cedric, it was back to chasing scraps.
Late WWE Years: False Dawns and Frayed Ends
He bounced between alliances—sometimes reuniting with Benjamin, sometimes teasing a Hurt Business revival, sometimes mentoring rookies in NXT. There were bright moments: short runs in tournaments, a flirtation with Alpha Academy, a match or two that reminded people of what he could do. But by early 2025, WWE had no real plan.
On February 7, 2025, Cedric Alexander was released after nine years. No sendoff, no fanfare—just the end of an era.
Indie Redemption and the TNA Return
If Cedric was heartbroken, he didn’t show it. By May 2025, he was back on the indie circuit—testing himself in House of Glory, DPW, DEFY. He won some, lost some, but reminded everyone that between the ropes he was still one of the best pure workers of his generation.
Then in June, the unexpected happened: Cedric Alexander walked into TNA Wrestling. Not as a nostalgia act. Not as a washed-up veteran. He saved Order 4 from Mustafa Ali, wrestled at Slammiversary, and planted his flag. At 35, Cedric wasn’t a prospect anymore. He was a foundation. A man still capable of great matches, great stories, and maybe—just maybe—a second prime.
The Man Outside the Ring
Beyond the bumps, Cedric is a family man. Married to Aerial Hull—better known to wrestling fans as Big Swole—the two are raising a daughter together. It’s the picture of balance: a man who fights in the ring, then goes home to a family that keeps him grounded.
Legacy: The Soul Still Burns
Cedric Alexander is not a household name like Cena or Reigns. He’s not a giant or a cartoon. He’s a craftsman. The kind of wrestler other wrestlers rave about. The kind who makes a crowd chant “please sign him” after a loss. The kind who refuses to quit, even when companies quit on him.
From ROH to WWE gold, from Hurt Business swagger to TNA rebirth, Cedric has carried the same truth with him: he’s still here. Still fighting. Still the soul of every ring he steps into.
And maybe that’s enough.