Truth Behind “Big Boom” AJ Holding Replica WWE Title Belt in Viral Ad

The Costco Guys have been one of AEW’s mainstays when it comes to celebrity involvement, as “Big Boom” AJ has even competed inside an AEW ring, earning the respect of fans in a big way. However, there was some controversy surrounding AJ holding a WWE replica belt and now we have some clarification in that regard.

According to Dave Meltzer in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, an advertisement for Topps trading cards recently surfaced featuring AJ & Big Justice, with AJ holding a WWE title belt over his shoulder.

This was seen as embarrassing for AEW, given AJ’s current affiliation with the company. It was noted that Sources confirmed that the photo was taken in 2023, before AJ had any ties to AEW. However, the ad was quickly removed before things got out of hand.

Unfortunately, the damage was done in many ways as many people on social media made fun of AEW for even allowing The Costco Guys to post such a video in the first place.

Despite this small issue, The Costco Guys are still an important part of AEW’s crossover appeal. While AJ’s past WWE-related content is not likely to hurt his position in the company, this situation simply shows the challenges AEW faces when working with popular social media personalities and is likely a wake-up call to boot. Therefore, we’ll have to see what measures AEW will take to prevent such incidents in the future.

Do you think AEW overreacted to the situation, or was it justified? Should The Costco Guys address the controversy? Share your thoughts in the comments below!