Alex Marvez's weekly look at professional wrestling

This "Starr" is radiant once again.

Nine months after an ill-fated Total Nonstop Action Wrestling run as Austin Starr, Austin Aries has returned to prominence for the Philadelphia-based Ring of Honor promotion. Aries vs. ROH champion Nigel McGuiness headlines Rising Above, which debuts Thursday night on select pay-per-view outlets.

"I would have been foolish not to bring him back after his TNA stint," ROH matchmaker Gabe Sapolsky said. "He is a great talent. The more you utilize him, the more he shines."

TNA never discovered how best to promote Aries, whose in-ring ROH work had caught the promotion's eye. After bouncing around TNA's X division, he became part of Kevin Nash's "Paparazzi Promotions." Aries was then involved in an angle involving former World Wrestling Entertainment champion Bob Backlund.

Aries, though, was often lost in a large pack of talented light-heavyweight wrestlers. He also butted heads with TNA management, being suspended twice before leaving.

While having previously criticized the promotion, Austin said he no longer holds a grudge and only wishes the best for TNA.

"There are a lot of talented guys there who are really ready and deserve the opportunity (for stardom)," Aries said. "There are so many things that factor into why things didn't work out for me. Maybe the timing was not right. I've analyzed it 100 times in my head. It's time to move on."

Aries has done that in ROH, where he first rose to prominence starting in April 2004.

"Its always nice to come back to a place where you feel comfortable and appreciated," said Aries, whose real name is Dan Solwold. "Everyone is on the same page and working to build something together."

Austin did his part against McGuiness, drawing praise from Sapolsky as having "the best match we've ever put on pay-per-view." That's high praise considering the quality of ROH's offerings since shows began airing last year.

"Austin is the kind of guy that wants you to put the company on his back," said Sapolsky, who is considered one of wrestling's brightest "bookers." "When you do, he more than carries it."

A college baseball player at Winona State University, Aries grew up a pro wrestling fan but had no intentions of performing until hearing from a childhood chum who had entered a Minneapolis training school. Aries enrolled in the same camp, began sleeping on his friend's couch and ultimately became a wrestler.

"I never really imagined this or having any impact," said Aries, 29. "I hope someday when fans go back 20 years from now, there might be a sentence in the Ring of Honor history books talking about me and the things happening here.

"But so far, I don't think I've had one defining highlight. I keep trying to make them every time I'm out there."

For more information on Rising Above, visit www.rohvideos.com.

LESNER MME FOE: Former WWE champion Brock Lesnar now knows his next mixed martial arts challenger. Shortly after naming Marc Coleman to its Hall of Fame, the Ultimate Fighting Championship announced the legendary heavyweight would be facing Lesnar in August on pay-per-view.

Despite losing to Frank Mir in last month's UFC debut, Lesnar has a bright MMA future. Lesnar was dominating Mir before being caught in a leg lock.

Lesnar also was reportedly a major pay-per-view draw, most likely drawing extra buys from curious pro wrestling fans. Lesnar left WWE in 2004 for an unsuccessful attempt at playing in the NFL. He then veered into MMA fighting, although he does still occasionally "rassle" in Japan.

LASHLEY, WWE SPLIT: One of the most prominent performers at last year's Wrestlemania is no longer with WWE.

Bobby Lashley was recently granted his release and could be signing soon with TNA or an MMA promotion. Lashley was given a heavy WWE push culminated by his 'Mania involvement in the "feud" between WWE owner Vince McMahon and billionaire Donald Trump. Lashley's victory over Umaga allowed Trump to shave McMahon's head.

Lashley, though, failed to click with fans and was then sidelined in August following shoulder surgery. While exact details behind his departure remain unclear, Lashley had reportedly taken umbrage to WWE's firing of real-life girlfriend Kristal Marshall.

(Alex Marvez writes a syndicated pro wrestling column for Scripps-Howard News Service. Contact him at alex1marv@aol.com.)