10 Most Controversial Wrestlers On The Planet Right Now

3. Jim Cornette

Baron Corbin King
WWE.com

An enduring heel to the very end, Jim Cornette's primary source of income is critiquing a product he is predisposed to hating.

His memories of the Omni don't draw the clicks (a shame, but no less true) and so he reviews every major AEW show on his Experience podcast, principally because his 'Cult' loves his "cosplay wrasslers" rants, and AEW fans tune in out of hate despite knowing better.

Hatred is a theme; Cornette lashed out against Jordynne Grace in a rant teeming with misogyny, and the choice of words he used to bury Sonny Kiss were, at best, ill-advised. Cornette actually makes some very salient points throughout what is an increasingly tiresome exercise in bad faith; some aspects of an ever-changing industry will always remain timeless, and Cornette pinpoints exactly when the finish should arrive, what needs to be emphasised and put over, and when a move shouldn't be repeated before the finish, even in a context he cannot abide.

Is it still real to Jim, damnit, or his plea for realism much needed for a company not without niche self-indulgence?

Author's take: Some of his schtick is still piss-funny, but he cannot be objective. He hates Kenny Omega with his core, and he simply skips the women's matches through the bias of misogyny. None of these women to his knowledge have ever wrestled a blow-up doll. He writes them off on the basis of their gender.

If he's a critic, and not a troll, he's not convincing anybody.

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Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!