Austin Creed and Kofi Kingston didn’t need long to notice a major difference between AEW and WWE. Less than 48 hours after their AEW debut, the new AEW World Trios Champions said the company already feels less corporate and gives its wrestlers more creative freedom.
During an appearance on SI’s The Takedown, Creed and Kingston were asked to compare AEW’s backstage environment with what they experienced during their final years in WWE. Creed said walking into AEW felt completely different. He compared WWE to a large corporation while describing AEW as a company still operating with grassroots energy.
“I feel like walking into AEW, it just felt different. It feels like the difference between a big corporation and then somebody who’s grinding and they’re in the weeds. It’s like a grassroots energy, you know what I mean? And it’s really refreshing to be around something that feels like that because every piece that’s involved is trying to make sure that it’s better for everybody around them. You know what I mean? And that’s a really cool feeling to be a part of.”
Kingston immediately agreed with Creed’s assessment. He said he didn’t feel any sense of corporatization during New Level’s first experience in AEW and saw people working together to produce the best show possible.
“Yeah, same vibe. Same vibe. When Austin said ‘grassroots feeling,’ that is exactly what it feels like. It’s so many people that have come together to create the best product possible. I didn’t get a sense of corporatization there at all. It was everybody coming together to put the best show possible together.”
Kingston then explained why that environment matters once wrestlers step into the ring. He said putting passion at the center of the creative process affects everything from the moves performers use to the matches they produce.
“When you do that, and when you’re allowed to do that, and when you’re allowed to have your passion be the central force that controls everything—which moves you take, which directions you go, the kind of matches that you have—you can feel that. You can feel the difference.”
While Kingston made it clear that a wrestler’s basic job remains the same in every company, he believes AEW gives its talent more room to control its presentation. He specifically pointed to matches and promos as areas where the company’s looser structure can make a difference.
“I think for all of us as performers, our job doesn’t change, right? Our job, regardless of who’s at the top, is to go out there and have as best a match as you can, as memorable of a match as you can, within the confines that you’re given, within the restraints that you have or whatever.”
“I feel like the leash is looser, if that makes sense. It feels like there’s a lot more freedom to allow your passions to dictate how you present yourself, your match, your promos. And I think that really shows and shines through.”
Creed and Kingston have only been in AEW for a matter of days, but they’re already making it clear that the change goes beyond a new entrance and a new championship. After years inside WWE’s system, New Level now believes it has the freedom to take more chances and control how its work reaches the audience.
Do you think AEW’s less corporate environment will bring out the best in Austin Creed and Kofi Kingston? Leave your feedback in the comments below.
This transcript was produced exclusively for Ringside News from the original recording. Republishing the transcription in full is prohibited. When using excerpts, provide prominent credit and a link to this article.
