AEW Talent Frustrated By Last-Minute Creative CHAOS - Jerry Lynn Responds
New report paints less-than-ideal image of AEW's creative process in 2023.
AEW's creative process has slowed down to the extent that some wrestlers aren't informed of plans until the day of certain shows, reports Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio.
Company creative is now "... being decided at much later periods than previous," says Meltzer, adding that plans are being communicated and decisions are being made later than before. Sometimes, personnel will make it to show day without knowing what they'll be doing on the broadcast.
Meltzer drew a line between modern-day AEW and the WWE of a few years ago, calling the situation "very frustrating for talent."
While some wrestlers are allowed input into their creative output, they aren't being given long-term direction. This means that talents can come up with ideas, though the lack of long-term direction means they are doing so week-to-week, not knowing where the "ultimate thing" is headed.
This, according to Meltzer, is why AEW's shows often feel chaotic.
Responding to a WrestlePurists aggregation on X, AEW coach and producer Jerry Lynn addressed the story. He stated that Khan is trying to keep plans confidential due to wrestlers and other personnel leaking information to the media, damaging the AEW product:
Because wrestlers and God knows who else have and continue to leak info to the sheets, podcasts, etc. So Tony tries to keep things confidential. You wouldn’t want to know everything before you see a movie. Anyone who leaks info is doing damage to the product and the industry.
Lynn then clarified, in a couple of replies, that his movie line was related to fans not knowing plans in advance, not actors.