“It’s a weak argument” – Hall Of Famer On Fans Criticizing AEW For Signing Former WWE Wrestlers

By AG

Posted on July 18, 2021

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• “It’s a weak argument” – Hall Of Famer On Fans Criticizing AEW For Signing Former WWE Wrestlers

On a recent episode of his weekly ‘Grilling JR’ podcast, WWF Legend Jim Ross defended Tony Khan’s All Elite Wrestling signing many former WWE Superstars.

It’s pretty much common sense that a company with a big national television deal needs at least quite a few popular wrestlers, that viewers will recognize when they see them on TV.

Here’s what the 2007 WWE Hall of Famer & current AEW Commentator said:

“It’s a weak argument. ‘They’re WWE lite.’ I don’t agree with that, and I’m not knocking WWE. I had 26 great years there and I’m not anti-WWE. I don’t feel like we’re in a wrestling war. The war is AEW against its self – getting our young guys to continue to evolve and get better. I think we’re seeing that.

Some of our homegrown kids are starting to find their way. There’s a big difference in working in PWG or an indie show and working a match on a national television show. It’s a different mindset and a different ballgame. I just believe we’ve got some talent and I love watching the evolution of it.

That’s what we all want, we all want the business to be healthy. The trickle down if someone gets hot. It’s good for all of us. Everybody gets a share in some of that newfound or renewed enthusiasm. I want Ring of Honor to do well, or Impact. I still enjoy watching New Japan. They give you some really great matches.

I’d love to see Okada in a big pay-per-view main event for AEW someday, and who’s to say that can’t happen? We have a good relationship with the New Japan office. I think that somewhere down the road, one would assume when travel issues are lessened, having an AEW presence in New Japan in big shows seems to be a likely move.”