Jim Ross discusses AEWs needs for the future

[Chris]

Ross appeared on Busted Open Radio on Wednesday and was asked to give a letter grade to the company he’s worked for since it launched five years ago.

“Probably a solid B,” Ross responded. “A lot of things that can be improved upon, like anybody else’s company. AEW’s challenge right now, to me, is creating new stars. Somebody on that brand has got to get hot. That’s got to be, I think, what they need now. Somebody’s gotta get hot.”

However, Ross says he believes AEW’s talent will step up at Double or Nothing this weekend in Las Vegas. Ross said that’s what always happens on AEW pay-per-views.

“These pay-per-views like we’re having Sunday night in Vegas, these kids rise to the occasion on these pay-per-views, they really do,” he said.

Ross was asked by co-host Bully Ray if it’s more on creative or the talent to get someone in the company hot. He responded that it’s more on the wrestlers.

“I think the latter,” Ross responded.

“Creative can get you in the ring but once you get in the ring, it’s up to the talent at that point, in my estimation. I think it’s a talent-based thing, Bully, I really do,” he continued.

Ross is currently promoting his new book, “Business Is About To Pick Up: 50 Years of Wrestling, 50 Unforgettable Calls,” which was released on May 7, 2024.

Jim Ross says AEW’s challenge is ‘creating new stars’

Jim Ross believes AEW’s challenge right now is creating new stars. Ross appeared on Busted Open Radio on Wednesday and was asked to give a letter grade to the company he’s worked for since it launched…

www.f4wonline.com

 

[Chris]

I think this is fairly reasonable but I'm baffled that he'd say it's more on the talent than creative to make the stars. The talent is given such little TV time a week and even if they make the absolute best of it, it's pretty pointless without follow up. I don't think I've seen any criticism on talent not maximizing minutes in AEW, I've only seen it about Tony not using them enough or properly.

But JR is always praising Tony so I'm not too surprised I guess, I just have a hard time believing he actually thinks this and isn't just attempting not to criticize his boss while trying to be a fair critic lol

 

[Cwalker]

5 years in, I would have to agree that a B is about right.

And I also agree with him about creating new stars. Out of all the top guys currently on the roster, it feels like MJF is the only one that wasn’t a major player in WWE/Japan or Ring of Honor.

Now I will disagree with him when he says once creative gets you in the ring, it’s on you. It’s 50/50. Wardlow when he was at his hottest went from squashing MJF to feuding with Mark Sterling. That’s creative not knowing how to capitalize on a guys momentum. And he was cooled quickly. Talent does bear responsibility but so does creative.

 

[djsunyc]

i watched the aew ppv last night. it was good but there's a few things that i noticed that i didn't really like.

1. i don't like mjf trying to bury things like new japan and guys that wear masks. i also found it funny that he came back wearing hhh's return outfit back in the day but still goes on to say he doesn't need someone else to make him.

2. i noticed that the last 6 matches involved guys that got over in wwe first. danielson, cage, mone, copeland, moxley, jericho. it's been 5 years since aew debuted but alot of their matches still are based on ex-wwe stars - meaning they haven't created enough new stars to run ppv's yet. also mjf mentioning vince and then bringing back gangrel - and calling back a wwe angle is stuff that i thought aew would be past 5 years later.

 

[Hoss]

i watched the aew ppv last night. it was good but there's a few things that i noticed that i didn't really like.

1. i don't like mjf trying to bury things like new japan and guys that wear masks. i also found it funny that he came back wearing hhh's return outfit back in the day but still goes on to say he doesn't need someone else to make him.

2. i noticed that the last 6 matches involved guys that got over in wwe first. danielson, cage, mone, copeland, moxley, jericho. it's been 5 years since aew debuted but alot of their matches still are based on ex-wwe stars - meaning they haven't created enough new stars to run ppv's yet. also mjf mentioning vince and then bringing back gangrel - and calling back a wwe angle is stuff that i thought aew would be past 5 years later.

To your first point, I think you're reaching if you think MJF doing an homage to a guy he's venerated a lot throughout the years equates to someone else making him. MJF became a star by being MJF. And part of that bit is doing homages and referencing smarky stuff, and that's not for everyone, but that's still MJF making MJF.

To your second point, I will again say that tastes differ, but I think something that a lot of AEW fans appreciate are callbacks and references to wrestling history. Whether it be something from WWE, TNA, WCW, ECW fucking Mid-South Wrestling or whatever the case may be... AEW likes to throw in those bits of nostalgia. I don't think there will ever be a time in AEW history, no matter how much of their own lore they create, when they don't do nods to wrestling's past. To each their own in regards to whether you think it's a good thing or not.

 

[Bad News Booty]

To your first point, I think you're reaching if you think MJF doing an homage to a guy he's venerated a lot throughout the years equates to someone else making him. MJF became a star by being MJF. And part of that bit is doing homages and referencing smarky stuff, and that's not for everyone, but that's still MJF making MJF.

To your second point, I will again say that tastes differ, but I think something that a lot of AEW fans appreciate are callbacks and references to wrestling history. Whether it be something from WWE, TNA, WCW, ECW fucking Mid-South Wrestling or whatever the case may be... AEW likes to throw in those bits of nostalgia. I don't think there will ever be a time in AEW history, no matter how much of their own lore they create, when they don't do nods to wrestling's past. To each their own in regards to whether you think it's a good thing or not.

I doubt he’ll accept your reasonings looking at his posting history

 

[djsunyc]

I doubt he’ll accept your reasonings looking at his posting history

i did, it was a decent response without nonsense.

i'm a casual aew viewer so i want them to succeed b/c that's what's best for the business.

 

[Death By Looch]

2. i noticed that the last 6 matches involved guys that got over in wwe first. danielson, cage, mone, copeland, moxley, jericho. it's been 5 years since aew debuted but alot of their matches still are based on ex-wwe stars - meaning they haven't created enough new stars to run ppv's yet.

First of all, four out of those six you've mentioned there (Danielson, Cage, Moné and Moxley) were either horribly misused by the WWE or were never supposed to get over in Vince's/Creative's eyes. So I'd argue that neither of them got over because of the WWE, but rather despite the roadblocks they had to deal with in the WWE. While Christian got really over during his TNA run, the other three are on the level they are right now because of what they'd done after they left the WWE.

Second, "involved" is the key word you used there. Those matches weren't "based on ex-WWE Stars", they involved ex-WWE "Stars". They also involved a good amount of talent which made their names during these last years in AEW. I'd even argue that out of the 16 Wrestlers involved in those last six matches, half of them did get to the point they are right now just because of their time in AEW. (Black, FTR, Darby, Perry, Willow, Takeshita, Swerve) ...and if you look at the whole card, the balance even shifts more towards that side.

---

The whole argument of "AEW needs to make stars" is pretty tiresome... what does it even mean, honestly? Do they need to have Wrestlers, who also get movie roles? Or go onto big non-Wrestling TV shows? Do they need talent, which transcends into the mainstream media? I mean just look at the roster and tell me they aren't in a good spot for at least the next 5 years.
I'd rather have them bring in talent, that either wasn't used to their full potential or that is on a good path to become something bigger and give those talents the stage to continue their path, Instead of watching them fumble one easy opportunity after another to "make a star", like the WWE did an absolute staggering amount of times over a very long ass period.

 

[Canadian Dragon]

It's a bullshit argument in the first place imo they've made plenty of stars by themselves. Current world champ included. It's funny how when wwe grab indie stars suddenly they "made" them. Like punk, Danielson, mox , cole, Rollins weren't huge stars in the indies. Wwe also had no faith in swerve n passed on mjf . Fucking laughable take from marks n Jr.

 

[Canadian Dragon]

Hell, aew made Jade a star lol, but ig that doesn't count? Mjf , swerve are aew made stars unless ur a bad faithed wwe nut hugger tbh

 

[Canadian Dragon]

Jayme hayter n Britt baker apparently also don't exist n Toni Storm was clearly made a star in WWE too right? Fucking lol

 

[Bad News Booty]

Stupidest shit ever AEW had only been around 5 fucking years. Of course a lot of the top guys are from WWE. And in the short time they’ve been around they’ve started to create some big names. Wrestlers have long careers so in 10 years I’m sure the wrestling pool will be pretty split on who came from where. It’s the lowest IQ argument you can have at this point.