In a new episode of his “Hall Of Fame” podcast, Booker T elaborated on why an average spectator could be hesitant to dedicate an hour to watching a wrestling match on television, especially in the period succeeding AEW Dynamite 250.
Below are some extracts from the podcast:
Discussing Jinder Mahal’s prospective future, Booker T said: “Jinder seems to be positioning himself to perhaps join the All Elite gang. His kind words towards Tony Khan suggest that he is on the right path. From my viewpoint, Jinder Mahal can choose any corner of the globe to showcase his talent. He can wrestle in Japan, Germany, Mexico or elsewhere. Nonetheless, there is incomparable charm in working in the States. If Jinder can land a job in America, ensuring proximity to home, I bet he would prefer it over the exhaustive grind overseas. Experiencing the life in Japan, the frequent travels and the long matches in the Tokyo Dome would give anyone a taste of what I’m talking about. The nostalgia of home strikes hard during such moments.”
In the context of Will Ospreay vs. MJF’s hour-long match on Dynamite: “I hold the belief that modern audiences are not inclined to spend an hour watching a match on their TV screens. I might be wrong in this, but I am not focusing on the loyal AEW fans. I’m talking about the casual viewers who might just be surfing through the channels. These viewers, in my opinion, are not likely to stick around to watch two people wrestle for an extended period. There is a lack of intrigue for me personally in just watching two guys wrestle, the commentary being the only addition to it. Was it an impressive match? It most likely was. But did it captivate the larger audience? I have my doubts. I am referencing the goal of expansion here, about growing the viewership on a bigger scale, rather than catering to the regular audience base. Frankly, I fail to see who benefits in such a scenario.”
Watch the full podcast here: