AEW wrestler Johnny TV recently discussed his hair loss following a Hair vs. Hair Match defeat to Angel de Toro at CMLL Viernes Espectacular last month, reflecting on the experience of embracing a bald appearance for the first time in decades. During an interview with Chris Van Vliet on Insight, Johnny TV opened up about adjusting to his new look and the impact it has had on his wrestling career.
Adjusting to Seeing Himself Without Hair After Years of Growth
Johnny TV described how unfamiliar it feels to see his reflection without hair, explaining that he has never shaved his head before.
No. Imagine your whole life, every time you see your reflection there’s a guy there with hair. I never shaved my head. But more than that, for the last 24 years, 25 years, I’ve had long hair. When I got my WWE contract in 2003 that was the day I stopped getting haircuts. Basically, I just grew it out from then till now.
?Johnny TV, AEW Wrestler
He emphasized the long history of his hair being a significant part of his identity since signing with WWE in 2003 and letting his hair grow continuously since then.
Reflecting on the Hair vs. Hair Match and His Performance
While acknowledging his loss in the match, Johnny TV shared that the Hair vs. Hair bout felt like one of his best matches in recent years, reigniting his passion for wrestling despite feeling underused in AEW.
I gotta admit, the match did feel fantastic. That hair match, I feel like, was one of the best matches I’ve had in years. Was the first time in a while that I felt like me again. Kind of feeling unfulfilled, basically. Not just me, a lot of people in wrestling. But for me right now, in AEW, I feel underutilized. Can’t blame anyone, that’s just how wrestling promotions work. There’s only enough TV time for a certain amount of people. Those people at AEW, we’ve coined the term the island. Those people are on the island, so to speak. I don’t feel like I’m on the island with Tony or AEW right now. So because of that, I feel like I’m doing like 10-20% of what I’m capable of, storytelling-wise, wrestling-wise, in the ring. With CMLL, I’m on their island, and so I got to do everything that I could, and it was cool.
?Johnny TV, AEW Wrestler
He noted that working with the Mexican promotion CMLL allowed him to fully engage and showcase his skills, contrasting this with his limited role in AEW’s storylines.
The Idea Behind Shaving His Head
Johnny TV admitted that the decision to shave his head had been in the works for some time, partly encouraged by his acting coach Hank, who believed the bald look could expand his career opportunities beyond wrestling.
A little bit. Honestly, my acting coach [Hank] has been on me for years about shaving my head. I had a bunch of missed calls when I got back from Mexico. It’s all him going, ‘Hey, you got to take some photos. You could go out for cop roles, soldier rules, all kinds of stuff. The world is your oyster now, come on.’ Thanks, Hank. He doesn’t have social so one of those comments wasn’t his, but he’s excited.
?Johnny TV, AEW Wrestler
He explained that Hank’s enthusiasm about new career paths, including potential acting roles as law enforcement or military characters, was a strong influence in embracing his bald look.
His First Experience Seeing Himself Bald After the Match
Upon returning from Mexico City, Johnny TV described his very first moments looking at himself in the mirror without hair, recalling the initial shock and noticing physical scars he had never seen before due to his long hair.
So as soon as I come back from the match, honestly, Mexico City is like a mile and a half above sea level. My hands are on my knees, looking down for like 30 seconds before I find a mirror and Whoa! A couple of things, a few days prior, actually, three days prior to this match, I came back to LA and I had to shoot a bunch of projects because I was shaving my head, continuity-wise, I had to finish up a bunch of stuff that had just kind of been on the to-do list. So two days before the match, I was doing a Bat in the Sun superpower beat down video playing Casey Jones and fighting foot soldiers. There’s this one part where I kept choking this guy with a pay phone cord, ‘You got a collect call from pain 101!’ But the pay phone was a prop, and it kept falling and gashing me in the head. There was one time I got gashed there and I started bleeding a little bit, which doesn’t really matter, because if you have hair, you can’t see it. But I was thinking about that before the hair vs. hair match, I was like, I wonder if I have those marks from the pay phone fight scene on my head, and then I wonder if all those times Sabu hit me in the head with chairs, or a kendo stick to the head from Sheamus, or something, I just never noticed they have a gnarly scar. When you look in the mirror, I was like yep, I guess I was right about the pay phone marks, because I am kind of cut up. Either that or the barber character in CMLL. She shaved me pretty quickly without a guard on the razor.
?Johnny TV, AEW Wrestler
This new perspective revealed the physical battles Johnny TV has endured, hidden beneath his hair until now, reinforcing how the transformation unveils a hidden layer of his wrestling history.
Wife Taya Valkyrie’s Response to Johnny TV’s New Appearance
Johnny TV also shared the supportive reaction of his wife, fellow wrestler Taya Valkyrie, who was among the first to express approval of his bald look, a validation that means a lot to him personally.
She was one of the first people to say I think John looks amazing, which, I mean, probably the most important perspective to me of anyone in the world. Wife, she’s cool with it. All right, I’m fine with it.
?Johnny TV, AEW Wrestler
Her positive outlook helped solidify Johnny TV’s confidence in embracing this new chapter both professionally and personally.
The Impact of Johnny TV’s Hair Loss on His Career and Public Image
Johnny TV’s experience with hair loss, stemming from an intense match and encouraged by external support, marks a significant personal and professional shift. Fans have responded positively, often suggesting he looks better without hair, which may influence how he is portrayed moving forward.
Given Johnny TV’s comments about feeling underutilized in AEW but thriving in CMLL, this transformation might open new doors and reinvigorate his wrestling character. Additionally, the endorsement from his wife and his acting coach indicates potential opportunities beyond wrestling, including acting roles suited to his new appearance.
As Johnny TV adapts to this look and continues to perform, his hair loss story reflects resilience and reinvention, elements that could shape his next phase in the wrestling world and entertainment industry.
