Frustrated AEW Talent Advised to Collect Paychecks and Stay Home in “Win-Win Situation”

AEW President Tony Khan has faced criticism recently for keeping some of his talent under contract even though they don’t want to stay with the company. In response to this, AEW talent who are unhappy about not being used are now being advised to stay at home and still get paid.

While speaking on his Hall of Fame podcast, Booker T advised AEW talent who feel unhappy about not being used to simply stay at home and keep collecting money. He mentioned that while he doesn’t have all the details, he has heard that Tony Khan is paying wrestlers a lot of money to stay home and do nothing.

Booker T encourages them to take the money if they’re not being asked to work, suggesting they stay on the contract until it expires, and then move on.

“I’ve heard, I could be wrong because I don’t know, you’re talking about contracts and whatnot. I’ve heard that Tony Khan is paying these guys so much damn money just to sit at home and do nothing. Yeah, you know, take the money, sit back, and if Tony Khan doesn’t want you to do anything and he’s paying you an exorbitant amount of money, take it, you know what I mean? Until the contract is up, and then move on. So, that’s the way I see it.

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Booker T sees it as a win-win situation for someone like Ricky Starks if the rumors are true. According to Booker T, Tony Khan is paying these wrestlers a substantial amount of money, and he understands why Khan would want them to follow his directions since he’s the boss. Until their contract expires or they are released, the wrestlers are bound by the terms of the deal, but Booker T doe not know the specifics about Ricky Starks’ situation or contract.

“I say Ricky Starks, you know, he’s in a win-win situation as far as I’m concerned, if it’s told the way it’s been told. And the way it’s been told is Tony Khan is paying these guys a whole lot of money, so I can see Tony Khan wanting these guys to do what he’s telling them to do. I mean, he’s the boss, and these guys aren’t under contract until the contract expires or until he releases them or whatever. They are under his will, that’s just the way I see it. I could, like I say, I don’t know the ramifications as far as Ricky Starks and his contract or anything like that.”

Ricky Starks has already admitted uncertainty about his future in AEW and whether he will ever return to the company. On the other hand, talent like Danhausen are not being used by AEW despite being under contract as well. In fact, Khan’s refusal to release talent was recently linked to Ethan Page’s NXT success. Regardless, we’ll have to see whether Ricky Starks and other AEW talent will end up taking Booker T’s advice and just take the money and stay home in the end.

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