Dustin Rhodes’ Attempt to Silence AEW Critics Backfires Spectacularly

Dustin Rhodes found himself in hot water after taking to Twitter to defend AEW from its critics. While his message aimed to promote unity and positivity among wrestling fans, the response from the community was anything but supportive.

Rhodes wrote, “Here’s a thought…….Just enjoy Wrestling. Please stop the constant attacking and vitriol towards us. We have the most passionate wrestlers in the world. We do this for you. #IAmWithAEW.”

Instead of rallying support, Rhodes’ plea unleashed a wave of criticism in the comments, with many fans pointing out AEW’s history of taking shots at WWE during its rise. Now that AEW is facing declining ratings and attendance, fans labeled the message hypocritical.

One Twitter user didn’t hold back: “I can create a whole thread of video clips where AEW talent take shots at WWE. But when the ass kicking becomes too much it’s ‘please enjoy all wrestling.’”

Another fan addressed Rhodes directly, offering a nuanced take: “I enjoy wrestling and am a big fan of AEW, as are many others. As a passionate supporter, I believe it’s fair for fans to critique a product they watch and pour money into every month. Discussing these issues shouldn’t be seen as an attack on the wrestlers, as that’s certainly not the intention.”

Fans also took aim at AEW’s storytelling and leadership, with one commenting, “Could you maybe tell @TonyKhan to start telling captivating stories? It’s absolutely wild that Max and Swerve are having a match already without a story being told.”

The backlash extended to AEW’s President, Tony Khan, who has previously made public statements positioning AEW in competition with WWE. One tweet read, “Dustin, I love you dude, but Tony is tribalist. HE started the fire that is burning his house down.”

Another user called out the inconsistency in AEW’s messaging: “‘Harvey Weinstein of pro wrestling’ ‘Stop picking on us.’ The hypocrisy is palpable.”

While Rhodes’ intentions may have been good, the overwhelming fan response highlights growing frustrations with AEW’s creative direction and perceived double standards. The exchange has sparked conversations about whether criticism should be embraced as constructive or dismissed as negativity.