Paul Heyman is not pretending AEW doesn’t matter. Actually, he says wrestling is better because AEW exists.
While speaking to Chris Van Vliet, Paul Heyman said AEW changed the game for talent money because Tony Khan gave wrestlers another place to go and another billionaire-backed company willing to pay.
“Well, I certainly hope so. I mean it short changed the compensation packages for a lot of talent because there was a wolf across the river named Tony Khan that had a billion dollar checkbook that he could afford to pay a lot more money for talent than talent was making back in 2017, 2018, 2019.”
Paul Heyman said AEW also gives fans something different from WWE. It has a real TV platform, its own style, and serves as an alternative for wrestling fans who want another major product.
“So it certainly changed the compensation for talent. And they’re on a viable network. They have a style that’s different than WWE’s. They present an alternative, if not a competitive brand.”
Then Heyman gave AEW a very ECW-style compliment. He said the company clearly carries ECW’s influence, from Jon Moxley’s violent edge to the fast-paced in-ring style.
“I look at AEW and I realized the influence that ECW had on that product. Not just like, for example, Moxley is a total ECW Sandman/New Jack style performer, but if you look at the AEW style, it’s Rob Van Dam versus Jerry Lynn from 1999.”
Heyman made it clear he loves that AEW is around because fans need options and the business needs competition. He even said he wishes there were more promotions out there pushing WWE.
“So am I glad that they’re there? Absolutely. Love the fact that there is an alternative for an audience. Love the fact that there’s something else out there. Love the fact that there’s something that captures the imagination of the pro wrestling slash sports entertainment audience.”
Of course, Heyman still believes WWE has the advantage. He said AEW’s existence only makes WWE work harder, but WWE still has the stronger distribution and deeper history.
“I’m glad. I wish there were more promotions out there. Right now, it’s just going to make us work harder to be better than all of them. And we certainly have the advantage in terms of distribution and in terms of lineage of this industry.”
Paul Heyman knows competition. ECW lived off being the alternative, and now he is saying AEW fills that lane in today’s wrestling world. Whether WWE fans like it or not, Heyman sounds pretty happy that AEW is around. fans, and good for the business — even if WWE still believes it is sitting on the bigger throne.
Do you agree with Paul Heyman that AEW has made wrestling better? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comments below.
Please credit Ringside News if you use the above transcript in your publication.
