Real Reason Dan Lambert Left AEW

Controversial manager Dan Lambert lifts the lid on his AEW departure.

Dan Lambert
AEW

For those wondering why Dan Lambert hasn't been on All Elite Wrestling television for several months, it's because the American Top Team chief himself felt he was getting stale.

Speaking with Chris Van Vliet, Lambert revealed that following the conclusion of his last storyline with The Men of the Year (Scorpio Sky and Ethan Page), he felt the time was right to wind things down. Lambert approached AEW founder and CEO Tony Khan about it, explaining that he felt things had run their course.

The door is open for a return, however. Lambert added that Khan told him to give him a call if he ever has a comeback idea.

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Said Lambert (h/t POST Wrestling):-

"Not now [Lambert said he’s not currently working with AEW]. About 2 months ago, we finished up our feud with the Men of the Year, we had Scorpio Sky drop the belt to Wardlow. Sky was going to take a couple of months off because he had a knee injury that needed to heal. Page was being repackaged so he could do what he is doing now with The Firm and with MJF. So I thought that it was a good time to wind down, I thought that I was getting stale. The reactions were still good, but I just grabbed Tony after the show and said that I think this has run its course. I don’t want to go backwards or overstay my welcome. He was like, ‘Yeah man, sure. If you have an idea for something in the future then come back, then sure, whatever, call me.’ If Tony called me tomorrow and had a good idea and I liked it then sure, I’ll do it."

First appearing for AEW in July 2021, Lambert quickly became a controversial figure in the promotion, first for his traditionalist, Cornette-esque verbiage designed at needling the company's hardcore fanbase, then for incorporating misogynistic elements into his wrestling character. For these reasons and more, he regularly commanded booming heel reactions whenever he had a microphone in hand.

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Scorpio Sky remains off television as a result of the aforementioned injury, having not wrestled since July. Ethan Page, meanwhile, has since joined the MJF-affiliated stable, The Firm.

Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.