Recently on Eric Bischoff’s “Wise Choices” podcast, AAA booker Konnan shared his perspective on WWE’s handling of talent from AEW. He feels that WWE has demonstrated a more effective approach to booking these individuals than AEW has.
He didn’t stop there; Konnan also offered his thoughts on CM Punk’s tenure at AEW and other related issues. Here are some podcast highlights:
Discussing how WWE handles AEW talent more effectively, Konnan elaborated: “Here are the facts. Brian Pillman, Jr., who was sidelined in his own city during his AEW run, is now getting the spotlight in NXT. They are presenting him as a star, featuring him and giving him abundant promo time. The same goes for Shawn Spears; he was underutilized in AEW but is now making waves in WWE.”
He went on: “Similarly, Ethan Page, a talent I’ve always appreciated, received little attention in AEW but he has recently bagged the NXT Championship in WWE. Dragon Lee, RUSH’s brother, was not furnished as a star in AEW. However, in WWE he’s making a name for himself in the LWO with Rey Mysterio. Jade Cargill, a phenomenal talent, didn’t thrive in AEW, but she managed to make a move. Essentially, WWE’s utilization of former AEW talent has been far better in my opinion.”
Speaking about CM Punk’s decision to work with upcoming talent during his initial AEW stint, Konnan said: “His decision seemed more like a directive from Tony Khan. Why would someone of his stature plan to bolster the careers of midcard players? While I understand helping young talent, it doesn’t seem like a financially wise move. Looking at the overall scenario, everyone from Punk to Cody Rhodes to the ones I mentioned earlier, they seem to be doing better. As a wrestler, you would have to ponder: ‘Where should I head? Should I join a place that doesn’t support career growth, or should I opt for a place that values talent?’”
You can watch the full episode on YouTube.