Jimmy Jacobs Was Burned Out Prior To AEW Creative Team Exit

AEW has seen several changes over the past year, and their creative side saw a big departure when Jimmy Jacobs left. Now we have even more information about his departure.

Jimmy Jacobs has officially wrapped up his time with AEW, and his departure has sparked conversation since the news broke. According to Sean Ross Sapp on Fightful Select, Jacobs was well-regarded backstage in All Elite Wrestling, and there is no bad blood surrounding his exit.

The reasons for his departure appear to stem from burnout and a desire to reduce his travel schedule. AEW viewed this as an opportunity for a creative refresh, as Jacobs had been a key member of the team for over a year. Notably, Jacobs was reportedly present at more AEW shows than anyone except Tony Khan.

“Fightful Select was told that Jacobs was very well liked backstage in All Elite Wrestling and there appeared to be no ill will regarding his departure. Jacobs cited burnout and not wanting to travel as much as a reason for wanting to finish up. AEW took the opportunity to decide that the move would be a creative freshening for them, as Jacobs was a major part of the team for well over a year. We’re told that outside of Tony Khan, Jacobs was at more AEW shows than anyone.“

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Following the news, a mix of accurate and inaccurate details have emerged about Jimmy Jacobs’ AEW departure. One point clarified was that Jacobs, while initially unfamiliar with AEW’s on-screen product, was open to learning and took recommendations on how to catch up. We previously noted about concerns regarding Jacobs writing for AEW not connecting with fans.

Jimmy Jacobs worked closely with Chris Jericho on developing the Learning Tree concept, though the original execution wasn’t his idea. Additionally, contrary to some reports, Jacobs was well aware of Kazuchika Okada, and the notion that he wasn’t was the result of bad reporting.

Internally, AEW has recognized the need for creative changes and is reportedly planning adjustments moving forward. As for Jacobs, most within AEW expect him to take some time off to recharge after his departure.

We will have to see what Jimmy Jacobs does next, but he had a nice tenure in AEW. Only time will tell where he lands after this, but it seems that he needs to juice his battery a bit before making that decision.