Tony Khan and AEW cut their roster by 10 players on Monday.
AEW has cut its roster by 10 people as they try to shape the narrative that they are actually a real business.
AEW has promoted itself as a wrestler-friendly promotion for years, but Tony Khan and the Jacksonville-based promotion made their first major roster cuts on Monday. Whether this is a coincidence or a reaction (probably the former), AEW's cuts come on the heels of CM Punk's shocking interview with Ariel Helwani. So Punk threw few punches about the 2021-2023 promotional period.
“I look at it like myself — I thought I thought, yeah, I'm here to help business,'' Punk said in an interview with Ariel Helwani on “The MMA Hour.'' Punk's interview was the first big news of a frenetic WrestleMania week. It's the perfect time for AEW to bury negative stories in the midst of hot headlines.
“If I can teach you something, that's great. And I think I was just brought in for a different reason, you know? Their business, I know it upsets a lot of people. But there's no premise… It's not a real business. It's not about selling tickets. It's not about extracting money. It's not about making money. It's not. I don't understand. [what it’s about]. Do you think we can probably have a good match? And there's nothing wrong with that. ”
AEW roster cuts
- Stu Grayson
- dasha kleto
- anthony henry
- gravity
- assistant jose
- Slim J
- Parker Boudreau
- Jora Jor
- The Boys (aka Tate Twins)
Although AEW has been successful as a secondary promotion and is currently negotiating a new television deal, there is a perception that AEW is “All Friends Wrestling” and a promotion that values nepotism over money. still remains. The term “All Friends Wrestling” was used by MJF during AEW Dynamite's infamous Work Shoot promo in Inglewood in 2022.
AEW has signed three major free agents to big contracts in 2024. The company is bracing for higher payroll costs in the first quarter of 2024, and the signings of Will Ospreay, Kazuchika Okada, and Mercedes Mone likely helped trim AEW's bloated roster. The cost-cutting moves also suggest that AEW is entering the inevitable “just a business” phase. This is a much-needed change as WWE's business and popularity has exploded in recent years and AEW continues to search for answers.
Cutting costs by releasing talent is a harsh reality in the professional wrestling industry. And while AEW deserves credit for staying true to its promises and honoring its talent contracts, it's currently stuck in a dogfight as a distant No. 2. In addition to a more compelling story, AEW will also need to implement authority and business sense. Evolve into a profitable and long-lasting business.
“[AEW’s] As long as Tony wants to put money into it, it's always going to be there,” Punk said Monday.
“Whether they can be successful is a matter of perspective. There's nothing wrong with being stuck in an indie mindset…someone gives you a five-star match and the building is a quarter full. Are you still satisfied with what you're doing? We're not in the same business.”
