Since the debuts of Andrade El Ídolo and Malakai Black, many fans have questioned whether AEW are signing too many ex WWE stars. This has sparked a debate in the wrestling community, with seemingly every fan having a different view on the matter.
Lead AEW commentator, Jim Ross, spoke about the debut of Malakai Black on ‘Grilling JR’ this week.
“I didn’t see him all day, I’ve never met him in my life and didn’t meet him before the show. I knew the rumblings that we’ve got some surprises tonight and I’ve been very adamant with my associates and peers that I don’t need to know that information. Now that may come off as arrogant, but for me to be real, natural and spontaneous, I don’t need to know it, I don’t need to precondition myself. It loses the magic. I don’t need to know any finishes, the day I can’t interoperate a finish and how it works out, when I can’t do that then somebody else will be sitting in the chair in the middle [of the announce team].”
Ross then went on to give his thoughts on the debate about AEW signing too many ex WWE talent.
“It’s a weak argument. I don’t agree with that, I’m not knocking WWE, it’s not my charge in life to criticize the WWE, I had 26 years there in WWE. I don’t feel like we’re in a wrestling war, the war is AEW vs. itself. Getting our young guys to continue to evolve and get better. I think we are seeing that. Some of our home grown kids are starting to find their way. It’s a big difference in working in PWG or an indie show or working a match on a national television show. It’s a different mindset, it’s a different ball game and a lot of our guys never had that, never played in that ballgame.”
Special thanks to WrestlingInc for the transcription
