What Wrestling Legends Really Think Of AEW
3. Booker T
Booker T - legendary all-rounder, well-regarded trainer, and lovably eccentric/endearingly rubbish commentator - talks frequently of AEW on his Hall of Fame podcast.
He generally offers a balanced point of view, which he himself best summed up to Twitter user @GoodMicWork on Chris Jericho's cruise. When asked if his work with WWE might be affected by his appearance on it, Booker responded "I'm a grown ass man and I do whatever the f*ck I want".
Booker T has weighed in on the much-discussed topic of AEW using "ex-WWE guys". He agreed with the decision to crown Chris Jericho as inaugural AEW Champion. "We're putting this in your hands to go out there and not screw this up," Booker reasoned, taking the perspective of AEW as a business entity. This is often lost amid fan-centric discourse of which performers "belong" where, or within what fans often conflate with true, needle-moving drawing power.
Booker T was also similarly nonplussed at AEW signing Matt Hardy and Brodie Lee.
Where some felt residual TNA vibes, as if a wrestling promotion shouldn't sign name talent with a following - as with everything, it's a matter of context and execution - Booker reckoned it would be a benefit to the more unrefined reaches of the roster. Already, Private Party have shown a tighter improvement under Hardy's (on and offscreen) mentorship. Contrast, for evidence, the first Private Party Vs. Kenny Omega and Hangman Page match with its sequel.
They aren't WWE's property. They are grown ass men who can do whatever the f*ck they want.