AEW is understood for having locker room points all through its five-year historical past.
Nearly 12 months in the past, CM Punk made headlines for a reported bodily altercation with Jack Perry at “All-In” in Wembley Stadium. Each Punk and Perry have been suspended, with the previous being launched from his deal and Perry lacking 10 months of tv time.
Just lately, Britt Baker was suspended as a result of a reported backstage argument involving MJF and Alicia Atout, as soon as once more bringing AEW’s locker room concord into query.
Throughout a current episode of his “Hall of Fame” podcast, Booker T shared his perception that AEW ought to start handing out harsher punishments when backstage points happen.
“Suspensions can work, I feel,” Booker T stated. “However my factor is that this: they’re gonna have to start out firing some folks sooner. That’s one factor I haven’t heard so far as AEW. I’ve heard a few folks bought let go, however I haven’t heard anyone that has been, simply say, fired … Punk could be the one one. And that proper there says loads. That claims an entire lot … (he was) the preferred star that they’d within the firm.”
Exterior of the difficulty between Baker and MJF, AEW’s locker room has just lately been drama-free. Little or no has made it out into the general public since Punk’s departure.
However, when these tales do floor, they harm the corporate’s model. AEW is already preventing an uphill battle to stay relevant within the face of WWE’s current explosion in reputation.
As such, Booker T’s suggestion could not work. Whereas the chance of being fired may restrict any confrontations backstage, the optics of releasing expertise harm AEW final yr. As an alternative, Tony Khan should discover a center floor or not less than have a stronger code of conduct in place that each one workers members should signal and cling to.
AEW is at present negotiating new tv rights with Warner Brothers Discovery. It may’t afford any major drama to derail these negotiations or probably threat the way forward for the corporate. Nevertheless, it can also’t afford to let the expertise run backstage. As such, Khan could have a tough balancing act till he decides the right way to implement a good however stringent disciplinary process.