Ex-AEW Star Attributes Lack of Leadership as Company’s Biggest Issue

AEW has undoubtedly embarked on a remarkable journey since its inception in 2019, characterized by substantial growth and success. The pinnacle of its achievements was evident at the All Out 2021 event, which showcased the company’s potential and cemented its place in the wrestling industry. However, since that high point, AEW has faced challenges and experienced gradual decline. In fact, a former AEW star has now attributed AEW’s lack of leadership as the company’s biggest issue.

AEW President Tony Khan, known for his wrestling passion, faced a Twitter controversy impacting his reputation earlier this year. That’s not really all as Khan has been constantly criticized for his lack of booking skills.

In 2023, Frankie Kazarian departed AEW and opted to return to IMPACT/TNA on long-term deal. Reflecting on his AEW experience, Kazarian shared his insights during an appearance on Busted Open, discussing the company’s upcoming five-year anniversary of Double or Nothing. He highlighted both positives and negatives, notably pointing out a lack of leadership in AEW and noted how it’s the company’s biggest issue. He even stated that it’s akin to the inmates running the asylum.

”Not for nothing, that (launch of AEW) was one of the most exciting things to happen to pro wrestling in a while. Because it was the first new, viable, big budget, big business company and I was part of that. Almost the same way I was a part of the early days of TNA, but this was even different, because the landscape of the business had changed so much so, that whole first year, the whole on-sale date, the announcement in Jacksonville, the press conference in Vegas, the first Double or Nothing… All of that was excitement because it was new and it was fresh and it was like, wow, the possibilities are out there, and that was all very positive and stuff I still look back on fondly.

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The negative stuff, you know, just ultimately the lack of leadership. Inmates running the asylum in a way. No real direction. I think there’s also, at least when I was there… So there were stories that was presented. ‘We’ll do this, this, this and this.’ Okay, but after that, what are you gonna do? That was always a problem. It was always, ‘Oh, I have a story for three weeks.’ Then what? That’s why I think angles are dropped so quickly and everything and I just ultimately think, you know, a lack of leadership is — in this business, you need that guy. That guy with the pencil where the buck stops and I don’t necessarily think that’s the case there.”

Kazarian made it clear that effective leadership and long-term planning are essential for sustaining a wrestling promotion’s success, an area where he felt AEW struggled during his tenure in the company. We’ll have to see whether AEW will eventually get better leadership somewhere down the line.

Do you believe Frankie Karazian is correct in his criticism of AEW? Let us know in the comments section below!