Bryan Keith Opens Up on Houston Roots and Wrestling Dreams on Hey! (EW) with RJ City

On the latest episode of AEW's Hey! (EW) hosted by RJ City, rising AEW wrestler Bryan Keith provided an engaging and colorful look into his life, wrestling aspirations, and personal journey. Known for his charisma and distinct persona, Keith's appearance offered AEW fans a deeper understanding of his background and ambitions.

Watch the full episode of Hey! (EW) with Bryan Keith right here:

Bryan Keith Talks Houston, Culture, and Growing Up

Keith gave a vivid description of his upbringing in Houston's Green's Point neighborhood. Called "Guns Point" by locals due to its notoriety, Bryan humorously reflected:

"If you go to the Shell on Imperial Valley, as soon as you pull up, crime."

He highlighted his hometown pride by emphasizing the distinctive culture of Houston. Keith described local favorites like Timmy Chan’s Chinese restaurant, famous for its post-church meals featuring fried rice, wings, and deep-fried biscuits. He humorously added:

"After church, you're in there forever... So when you get out, you're hungry."

Keith also enthusiastically defined Houston-specific slang, notably the word "trill," a blend of "true" and "real." He explained:

"Stay true. Keep it real. Trill. That's the vibe of Houston."

RJ City was confused by the double use of two synonyms, but alas, that happens with RJ sometimes.

Early Aspirations and Meeting a Legend

Reflecting on his early wrestling dreams, Keith recounted a memorable career day in elementary school where he was notably the only student who aspired to become a wrestler.

"You're the only guy who picked that today," Keith remembered his teachers telling him when he shared his dream.

But that was just the start. In a humorous and somewhat absurd memory, Keith recounted how at just 14 years old, he and a friend drove to an indie wrestling event run by WWE Hall of Famer Booker T. After the show, their car battery died, leaving them stranded. Booker T noticed their predicament and kindly offered to watch over them until help arrived. RJ City humorously questioned if Booker T provided any snacks, such as juice boxes or Capri Suns, to which Keith laughed and clarified:

"He was phenomenal... We got to meet Umaga, we got to meet the Dudleys."

Despite their initial youthful bravado of promising Booker T they'd return as wrestlers, Keith modestly joked:

"He says he remembered me [when I came back to train], but I doubt it."

Wrestling Journey and a "Special Kind of Stupidity"

Bryan Keith shared his unconventional decision to attend Lone Star Community College to simultaneously pursue wrestling training, a choice not popular with his college advisor or parents. RJ City highlighted Keith’s academic potential, noting that Keith had scholarship offers. Keith confirmed this by stating:

"I could have gone anywhere."

RJ humorously responded:

"That is a special kind of stupidity—to not just be dumb, but to be so smart that you choose dumb."

Keith acknowledged the absurdity with laughter, reflecting the boldness of his decision.

Nevertheless, this path led to success, including becoming the first athlete sponsored by legendary Houston rap label Swishahouse. Keith described the collaboration enthusiastically:

"We’re not gonna wait around for nothing. We’re gonna grind, we’re gonna get it."

Becoming "The Bad Apple"

Keith detailed how he adopted the "Bad Apple" bounty hunter persona, notably inspired by an episode of the classic show "The Rifleman" recommended by wrestling legend Chris Jericho. So, that raises the question -- what KIND of apple is the Bad Apple?

Keith initially identified Granny Smith as his representative apple—as its his least favorite—but RJ City humorously countered that Keith was more like a Jonagold apple, describing it as "sweet, tart, and often used for baking." Keith responded with initial incredulity—"What the hell's a Jonagold apple?"—before laughing and accepting the logic:

"You know? You're onto something."

A Cowboy for Modern Times

Discussing his "Black Cowboy" image, Bryan Keith emphasized its historical significance, reflecting:

"My people have come from a long lineage of destruction... people always trying to keep us down, and they couldn't. The term cowboy originally referred to Black people who took care of cows on plantations. Eventually, they broke free and became independent and rebellious, and I feel like that's a good thing for me to hold onto and remind people about."

Keith also vividly described the origin of his "black halo" persona, centered around his iconic hat:

"Picture the Texas sun beaming down. You have a price on your head, and suddenly you're flat on your back, looking up. The sun’s blinding, and you can't even tell it's a hat anymore; it casts so much shadow, it looks like a halo. The man with the black halo has arrived, and your time is up."

Exploring Potential Catchphrases

RJ City prompted Bryan Keith to run through a list of potential catchphrases, provided by RJ himself. Keith playfully tested out a few options, each met with laughter and critique from RJ:

"Houston, we have a solution."

"Whose house? Swish-a-house!" ... "I can't say that."

"A bad apple a day is an indictment on American agriculture."

RJ amusingly suggested a brand collaboration:

"Bounty: the quicker kicker-upper your ass."

Bryan Keith’s appearance on Hey! (EW) underscored his charisma, determination, and compelling personal journey, making clear why he is quickly becoming a beloved figure in AEW.

Watch the full episode of Hey! (EW) with Bryan Keith right here: