.jpg) RJ City in March 2024 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | RJ Skinner (1988-07-18)July 18, 1988 (age 37) Richmond Hill,Ontario, Canada |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | RJ City RJ Metropolis |
| Billed height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) |
| Billed weight | 210 lb (95 kg) |
| Debut | 2006 |
| Retired | 2022 |
RJ Skinner (born July 18, 1988), better known by his ring nameRJ City, is a Canadian-American formerprofessional wrestler. He is signed toAll Elite Wrestling (AEW), where he is a writer, occasional on-screen interviewer, host of AEW'sYouTube seriesHey!(EW), and co-host ofMeal & A Match alongsideRenee Paquette on theTBS YouTube channel.[1] He previously wrestled on theindependent circuit.[2]
RJ City began hosting pre-show segments alongsideRenee Paquette on June 25, 2023, at theForbidden Door pay-per-view.[3][4] He also hosts several shows on AEW'sYouTube channel includingHey! (EW),[5][1] which was awarded Best Talent Media of the Year by Fightful in 2023.[6]
Skinner began training to be a professional wrestler after graduating high school. His trainers were John Rambo and Johnny Wave. His first match was an unpaid dark match against Joey Valentyne on August 19, 2006. Skinner was an active in-ring competitor on the independent wrestling circuit. He has also wrestled matches in IWC, Impact, and Ring of Honor. He notably appeared onImpact Wrestling in 2018, teaming withDavid Arquette.[7] Skinner also had a feud, and eventual tag-team partnership, with actor and formerWCW Heavyweight Champion,David Arquette. In late 2018, Arquette had expressed an interest in making an in-ring wrestling return and began training with Peter Avalon. Arquette's wrestling comeback was documented inYou Cannot Kill David Arquette. Skinner slapped Arquette at the red carpet premier for350 Days, further publicizing their ongoing feud.[8] Behind the scenes, Skinner helped train and mentor Arquette and the two became close friends.[9] On July 15, 2018, the two faced off in a match for the promotionChampionship Wrestling From Hollywood (CWFH) with Skinner taking the win. The two then wrestled as a tag team, sometimes referred to as Arquette City, until their final match together on New Year's Day 2020, which resulted in a win for the duo.[10]
In 2023, RJ City began working forAll Elite Wrestling (AEW) as a writer, on-screen interviewer, and host of the pre-show panels for pay-per-view events alongsideRenee Paquette while also hosting his own show "Hey! (EW)" on AEW's YouTube channel. When asked about his current professional wrestling career status in an interview with Fightful, Skinner has stated that he is not retired.[11]
RJ City worked closely with AEW owner and PresidentTony Khan to produce the yearlong story between "Timeless"Toni Storm andMariah May, with Khan describing him as his "right hand" in the writing process.[12]
Skinner host a weekly YouTube series calledRJ Makes Coffee in his Underwear.[13]
In Season 7 Episode 7 ofCelebrity Family Feud, Skinner competed as part of Team Arquette, which also consisted of professional wrestlersDavid Arquette,Jack Perry,Peter Avalon, andDalton Castle.[14]
Skinner also produced various digital content for WWE from 2020-2021, appearing primarily as a host and interviewer. Skinner participated in pay-per-view watch alongs and wrote sketches forWrestleMania After Dark with RJ City, which premiered onWWE's YouTube channel immediately followingWrestleMania 37. He also made regular appearances onThe Bump, where he had a recurring segment calledWednesday Morning Wake-Up, where he interviewed WWE Superstars and celebrities. Skinner engaged with WWE Superstars in humorous and entertaining interviews, adding a unique flair by providing a blend of comedy and insight, making his segments popular among fans.
Skinner played a significant supporting role in the 2020 documentaryYou Cannot Kill David Arquette asDavid Arquette's friend and wrestling partner.[15]
In addition to appearing in multiple professional wrestling promotions online and on television, Skinner has acted in series and films. Skinner is anACTRA union member.[16] In 2014, Skinner won theCanadian Screen Award for Best Children's Nonfiction for his role as Gildar inSplatalot!.
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | RJ City: Wrestling Raconteur | Self/RJ City |
| 2020 | You Cannot Kill David Arquette | Self/RJ City |
| 2016 | The Masked Saint | Iceman |
| 2015 | Murdoch Mysteries (1 episode) | The Gladiator |
| 2013 | Club Utopia | Steve (Bouncer #1) |
| 2012 | My Babysitter's a Vampire (1 episode) | Egyptian Guard #1 |
| 2011 | The Big Smoke | Wrestler |
| 2011 | Monster Brawl | Mummy & Werewolf |
| 2011-2013 | Splatalot! (series regular) | Gildar |
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