AAA isn’t just becoming another place for WWE talent to work dates — there are wrestlers on Raw and SmackDown actively wanting in on the action. Corey Graves says he knows for a fact that multiple main-roster stars are eager for the chance to compete in AAA as WWE continues opening up new paths for its talent.
Graves made the comments during an appearance on the Mark Hoke Show while explaining how AAA has already given several WWE wrestlers a chance to show something different outside the usual Raw and SmackDown environment.
The conversation started with Dragon Lee, who Graves said wasn’t getting the opportunities he wanted on WWE television before his AAA run caught the attention of company officials.
“Dragon Lee’s another guy who went to AAA, they weren’t really doing much with him. He wasn’t getting the opportunities he wanted on Raw and SmackDown. Went to AAA, pun heavily intended, set the world on fire, and the WWE officials went, ‘Hey, maybe we can put that guy in the Intercontinental Championship picture,’ or, ‘Let’s give Dragon Lee a bit more of a showcase.’ And it’s worked.”
Graves then explained that WWE talent no longer has to follow one straight path from NXT to Raw or SmackDown. With AAA now available, wrestlers can move around and potentially find a different role or opportunity.
“And that’s kind of the beauty of having these different avenues for our superstars and all talent really to explore is you’ve got — it’s no longer linear. You have to go to NXT, then you go to one, then you go to the next. Now you can kind of shuffle around.”
He used Damian Priest as another example. Graves pointed out that the former World Heavyweight Champion recently appeared for AAA and came away impressed by the atmosphere and the fan response.
“We just saw Damian Priest, the former World Heavyweight Champion, showed up in AAA few weeks ago. And he couldn’t say enough good about how passionate the fans were, how excited he was for the opportunity because as amazing as life within WWE can be, it’s a grind.”
Graves then described just how repetitive WWE’s travel schedule can become, explaining why a trip to AAA can feel like much more than another booking.
“Every week, no matter who you are, no matter what you do, you go to the airport, you get to the next town, you go to the hotel, hope you can get some food, lather, rinse, repeat over and over, 52 weeks a year. And arguably right now our schedule’s as busy as it’s ever been. So to have a change of scenery in a sense like AAA has been able to provide has been invaluable for a lot of the talent and myself included.”
Graves said he has experienced that benefit himself through his work with AAA, explaining that the promotion has given people throughout WWE a chance to try something outside their normal routine.
“So I think across the board it’s really provided a really cool platform for everybody involved to try something new, to sort of step out of their comfort zone.”
Then came the biggest takeaway. Graves made it clear this interest isn’t limited to a couple of wrestlers who have already appeared for AAA. He says plenty of WWE talent are waiting for their shot.
“And I know for a fact there are a lot of guys and girls on the main roster of Raw and SmackDown who are chomping at the bit for the opportunity to compete in AAA.”
That line says plenty about how AAA is being viewed inside WWE right now. Dragon Lee used the promotion to get WWE officials looking at him differently, Damian Priest enjoyed the change of scenery, and Graves says there are plenty more Raw and SmackDown stars ready to see what the experience can do for them.
AAA may have started as another door WWE could open for its roster, but that door now has a line forming behind it. If Graves is right about how many wrestlers want the opportunity, fans could be seeing a lot more familiar WWE faces crossing into AAA in the months ahead.
Which WWE star would you most like to see get an opportunity in AAA, and who could benefit the most from a change of scenery? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
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.
