D-Von Dudley isn’t blaming AEW’s roster for the company’s struggles—he’s putting the heat squarely on the people running the show.
On the Duke Loves Rasslin podcast, the WWE Hall of Famer broke down how several former AEW stars are now thriving in WWE, holding major titles and proving just how important proper booking can be.
“They’re over. So, it just goes to show you—if you’re put in a position to be booked the right way, it could happen.”
D-Von specifically mentioned top names like CM Punk, Cody Rhodes, Jade Cargill, and Ricky Starks as examples of talent who didn’t reach their full potential in AEW but are now killing it on WWE television. He said their rise isn’t about where they came from—it’s about how they’re used. Then came the real shot at AEW’s leadership.
“AEW die-hards can be mad at me all they want, but you and I both know—with all the talent that’s in that company, there’s no reason why you can’t sell out 10,000 or 15,000 seat arenas.”
He clarified that the wrestlers aren’t the issue.
“You have great talent. Phenomenal talent. Some might even say better than WWE. And yet, the numbers you’re doing? Doesn’t add up to that. So it’s not the talent—it’s behind the scenes.”
D-Von then called out AEW’s lack of structure and leadership—pointing out how WWE benefitted for decades from having someone like Vince McMahon steering the creative ship.
“That’s where the controversy lies. It’s behind the scenes. You gotta get better booking. Don’t let the inmates run the asylum. Somebody has to be the Vince.”
Whether or not AEW’s top brass will take that advice is another story, but D-Von made one thing perfectly clear—WWE knows how to elevate the same people AEW didn’t capitalize on.
D-Von Dudley isn’t the first to call out AEW’s inconsistent creative direction, but his words carry extra weight given his decades of experience behind the curtain and inside the ring.
Do you think D-Von is right about AEW’s booking being the issue? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comment section below.
