Josh Alexander Explains Why He Picked AEW Over WWE After TNA Exit

Josh Alexander had his pick of options after parting ways with TNA Wrestling, and while fans were hoping he’d end up in WWE, the Canadian star had other plans.

During a new interview with SHAK Wrestling, Alexander opened up about exactly why he chose AEW—and it had nothing to do with money or fame.

According to Alexander, AEW simply offered something WWE didn’t: a different kind of wrestling. “I think AEW is offering a different presentation of pro wrestling than WWE does,” Alexander said. “So, you know, the scales will tip and fall back and forth here and there. I don’t think one’s going to pull away forever or that one’s going to go away.”

He mentioned that both companies are going to be around for a long time, but AEW felt like the right fit for him creatively. “I chose AEW because I like to be part of that counter-product. I like to be a different type of presentation of pro wrestling,” he explained.

Another huge reason? The talent. Alexander made it clear that AEW’s locker room was the biggest draw for him. “I think the collection of talent that we have in this company is unmatched—I don’t care what company you’re talking about. Like, the best in-ring wrestling talent in the world is in this company, and that’s why I wanted to be here.”

Alexander also shared that his relationship with AEW president Tony Khan goes back years—specifically to the pandemic era, when Khan began appearing at TNA events due to the co-promotional agreement between the two companies. That’s when Alexander said he realized Khan was cut from a different cloth. “From the second I met Tony Khan—back during the co-promotional era in TNA, when he was coming to shows because of the working relationship there—that’s when I first met him,” he recalled.

“And I got this impression right away that, as a boss, he’s someone who genuinely cares about his employees. You’re not just a number. You’re not just an asset to the company. He actually cares about you. And that means a great deal to me.”

Alexander reflected on his time in TNA under Scott D’Amore and how that trust shaped what he wanted from his next move. “Working with Scott D’Amore in TNA, I developed a relationship built on trust. And for me, there’s a lot of trust that goes into this kind of work. I just wasn’t comfortable working somewhere I’d feel like just an asset—something they could toss away in an instant.”

He also acknowledged the real-life priorities that weighed on his decision. “I wanted to be somewhere where the people in charge actually care about me—about the fact that I have a family to feed, and that I have such a deep passion for this industry. And I hope that passion is shared.”

On top of that, AEW’s locker room is full of names he’s crossed paths with throughout his career. “It’s full of people I’ve known and worked with for over 20 years. I’ve built real relationships here,” he said.

And then there’s the dream matches. “On top of that, there are people like Edge, Chris Jericho, and Kenny Omega in this company—guys I’ve never wrestled before but have dreamed of wrestling for decades. So yeah, all of that made the decision really easy for me.”

So no, Josh Alexander didn’t go to AEW because it was trendy. He went because it felt like home. He wanted the freedom to wrestle his way, be part of a family-like environment, and finally chase the opponents he’s always dreamed of.

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