Booker T Criticizes AEW for Being Too Focused on Wrestling

Since its debut in 2019, AEW has seen significant growth and has undergone numerous changes. However, the company has faced some challenges along the way. Booker T has been one of AEW’s critics, specifically pointing out issues with weak storytelling and a lack of clear creative direction.

AEW President Tony Khan is at the helm of everything that goes on in the company, but things haven’t been going all that well for AEW for over a year now. After all, the June 19th edition of AEW Dynamite drew concerning television ratings, with only 502,000 viewers and 0.16 key demo rating, which was a record-low for the show.

Overall attendance and ratings continue to plummet and fans wonder just what AEW can do to improve the product. While speaking on his Hall of Fame podcast, Booker T feels AEW has plateaued, particularly in viewership, with their ratings stagnating around 700,000 for Dynamite. He suggests the company may have hit its peak and could see a decline before any further growth.

 “What do you think is the deal with AEW? It seems like they have peaked. It seems like they’re at a number now to where that number doesn’t seem like it’s going to go up. It seems like that number may go down well before it’s going to go up. What do you think is to deal with with AEW, and do they really care about the numbers? I don’t know. I’m just trying to get a feel for, you know, what this company’s end goal is.”

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Booker T criticized AEW’s lack of a formal writing team and creative structure, which, in his view, impacts their storytelling and character development. He pointed out how stars like Takeshita and Will Ospreay are introduced without proper buildup or long-term planning, leading to a more wrestling-focused product rather than a show with strong narrative direction.

Booker T believes AEW is too wrestling-focused and lacks the “show” element that draws fans in, such as compelling stories, big entrances, and entertainment beyond the matches themselves.

“Especially when you don’t have a writing team, especially when you come in with coming up with all the ideas. It seems like — I don’t know, man. AEW got all of this money backing them with Tony Khan. But it seems — like I don’t know. Like I say of course, just my thoughts as far as them to trying to change the way people look at wrestling. That’s one thing. But still, some things really never go away. And that’s like, how you bring guys in, like a Takeshita, like a Will Ospreay. You know, with a big build up, big package. You know, that kind of stuff to get people excited. And then those guys normally come in and work their way up to the point of where they want to be.

“But it seems like in AEW they just bring them in, throw them in the ring, put them in matches, six man, whatever. And just — I don’t know. To me, it seems like it’s counterproductive as far as really thinking about the show, and what the show looks like as opposed to the matches and how the guys go out and perform their matches. You know, I could be wrong, but that’s what it seems like to me. Seems like it’s less show-oriented and more wrestling-oriented. And I get that as a wrestling company but still, I think people are drawn to the show, the lights, the camera, the action.”

We have also revealed whether the all-time low viewership had any effect on AEW’s media rights deal with Warner Bros Discovery. Nonetheless, it remains to be seen whether AEW will be able to improve its dwindling ratings in the coming months.

What do you think of what Booker T had to say? Do you feel AEW should focus more on the television aspect of their shows? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!