7 History Lessons AEW Could Learn From TNA

6. Don't Rely On Ex-WWE Stars

Nasty Boys
TNA

One thing All Elite absolutely cannot do is over-rely on former WWE stars seeking another payday.

Now, there's next-to-no-chance hacks from the '90s like The Nasty Boys or Val Venis will show up in AEW to steal screen time from MJF or The Young Bucks, but the company have already been linked with several current WWE stars. This is something to be careful of. Some names (The Revival, for example) would be fine. Others, not so much.

TNA regularly batted their eyelids at any former WWE star who just so happened to become available. Thus, they filled their roster full of damaged goods who in turn hurt their own homegrown talent by being pushed ahead of them. That can't happen again in AEW.

Say WWE release a glut of performers over the next few months. Would it be wise of AEW to snap up every single one of these men and women just to pad out their locker room? No: it'd be best if they cherry-picked the ones that could contribute rather than making up the numbers.

Advertisement
Contributor

Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.