Ex-AEW Wrestler Open To Returning Someday (But Not YET)

Former AEW wrestler Marko Stunt has spoken on his time with the Tony Khan-helmed promotion, doing so in a new interview with NBC Sports Boston.

Signed by AEW and forming the Jurassic Express stable with Luchasaurus and Jungle Boy in May 2019, Stunt officially left the promotion following the expiration of his initial three-year deal this May, having not been on AEW television since the previous September. This decision would have ultimately come from Khan, whom Stunt referred to as a "good, nice dude" who was always "approachable and easy to talk to", as well as being receptive to his wrestlers' ideas.

Said Marko of his now-former boss (h/t Fightful):-

“He really is a good, nice dude, really easy to confront and talk to. I never had any issues with him. There was a time where we were talking every day, every day we were at work. There was a time where there were groups of us and he’d be there and just hang out with all of us. It was not as big of a group as there is now, so there is a lot less people in the hang out area. He wants to hear ideas. Does he always go with them? No. At the end of the day, it’s what he wants to do. He was very approachable and easy to talk to.”

While Stunt initially enjoyed a good relationship with Khan, he found himself communicating with the AEW founder and CEO less and less towards the end of his time in the promotion:-

“That is where the communication lagged a lot. When time started running out. I meant to say this, as I was saying we [Khan and I] were close, there was a time where we weren’t (close) either. From there, we would see each other at work and just be ‘Ah, hey, hey, hey.’ I never really had any communication at the end, so I didn’t know if I was getting let go or renewed or anything. I sent out an email and didn’t get a response. I texted him and didn’t get a response. About a month before it happened, I did get a call and got told, not by him, that I wasn’t going to be renewed and then I did text him and say, ‘Hey man, just want to thank you for the all the opportunities.’ It was a fantastic opportunity. I’m 25 years old and was with the company for three years. I had a blast and lived my dream. I wanted to thank him for that."

When Khan replied to that last message, Marko mentioned the possibility of the two parties working together in the future. While this isn't something he is banking on, Stunt, at the very least, is open to it:-

"He did text me back and said, ‘Hey man, thank you for everything, sorry we couldn’t give a spot for you moving forward.’ I did tell him maybe we would work together one day in the future. He did say there was a possibility for that. I’m not holding onto that, but if it does, it does, if it doesn’t, I’m good.”

But not quite yet:-

“I try not to get too upset about that stuff. There have definitely been days where I’m like, ‘What the hell, what’s going on?’ Now that it’s done and over with, I haven’t had that. To be real honest, I don’t have any desire to work there right now. That’s not me saying I don’t want to work for them ever, but right now, it’s fresh still. I want to see what else is out there.”

The same NBC interview also saw Stunt outline plans to open his own independent promotion running out of Memphis, Tennessee. The 25-year-old remains active on the indie scene on which he made his name pre-AEW.