Ex-WWE Star Says AEW Talent Aren’t Even Actors—Just Backyard Wrestlers

AEW prides itself on claiming to have the best in-ring product in the world but not everyone is a fan of what they put out. In fact, it appears a former WWE star has now claimed that AEW stars aren’t even actors, they are just backyard wrestlers.

While speaking on The Stevie Richards Show, Stevie Richards responded to Bret Hart’s recent comments about AEW wrestlers being more like actors than real wrestlers by saying he mostly agrees. He said Bret Hart is probably right about a lot of it, maybe even more than 100% right.

When it comes to AEW specifically, Richards said he wouldn’t even call many of them actors, that it feels more like backyard wrestling. He said it doesn’t resemble real wrestling or acting, especially considering how bad acting already is in wrestling today.

“Well, I’d say he’s 100% right—maybe a million percent right—on a lot of that. Now, when he’s talking about today’s wrestlers—AEW—I wouldn’t even say those people are actors. That’s more like backyard wrestling. That’s not even wrestling or acting, because, you know, wrestling already has some of the worst acting as it is right now.”

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Richards stated that being a wrestler first makes it easier to connect to storylines. When the character is developed in the ring and then pulled into the story, it translates better. On the flip side, trying to create a universe and storyline first, then acting it out in pre-tapes, creates a disconnect.

Richards ended by saying that’s what’s backwards in wrestling now. Promos are setting up matches, which is fine, but in his era and the eras before, it was the matches that actually built the storylines.

“So he’s right. When you’re a wrestler first and foremost, and you’re put into storylines where your character from wrestling is pulled into that universe, it’s easier to translate. It’s more natural. But when it’s like, ‘Let’s create this universe and storyline and act and talk back and forth in that pre-tape,’ there’s a disconnect.

That’s what’s backwards about today’s wrestling. He’s right—the promos are setting up the matches, which you need. But in my era, and in his era, and the years before that, the matches actually set up the storylines.”

As AEW keeps expanding its roster and production style, comments like Richards’ show how different opinions still exist. Whether people agree or not, it’s clear that many feel AEW wrestlers simply aren’t to everyone’s taste.

Do you agree with Stevie Richards’ harsh assessment of AEW and modern wrestling?
Is storytelling better when matches build the narrative—or do promos and cinematic storytelling have their place in today’s product? Share your thoughts in the comments!

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