Booker T unhappy with AEW over top star's booking; says he should have been a much bigger name
WWE veteran Booker T recently criticized the booking of a top AEW star. The name in question is none other than Darby Allin.
The Invisible Man has been a part of AEW ever since the company started. Darby has also held gold in the promotion and is a former AEW World Tag Team and TNT Champion. He had the privilege of being Sting's Tag Team partner during the entirety of The Icon's run in All Elite Wrestling.
Speaking on his Hall of Fame podcast, Booker T stated that Darby Allin should have been a bigger star in AEW by now and claimed that he did not benefit from being associated with Sting.
"Look at Darby Allin. Look at Darby. I mean, over the last five years this company has been in existence. Darby Allin — I mean, he’s had a great run with Sting. I don’t want to that away from him or anything like that. But I think Sting got more of the rub that Darby Allin did. I mean, I could be wrong. I could be wrong there, but I feel that way. I don’t feel like Darby Allen has been built to the star that he could have been five years later.” [H/T: 411Mania]
Booker T claims AEW is doing nothing to grow its audience
AEW is often called out for announcing matches without any back story for its shows. NXT Commentator Booker T has also criticized the company for the same issue. Speaking on his Hall of Fame podcast, the former World Champion claimed that the fans want to see entertainment out of wrestling instead of five-star matches every week.
"That show is not doing anything to grow their audience. They really aren't. They're bringing in talent, signing a lot of guys, but I really don't think the bulk of the wrestling fans watch wrestling just for the wrestling matches. And I think that [the] company is wrestling-heavy all the time. It's about going out and having five-star matches. And I just don't think the true wrestling fan is sitting around waiting to see a five-star match because wrestling is entertainment. It's always been entertainment," said Booker T.
This is not the first time Tony Khan has been advised by the veterans of the business about bringing some sort of entertainment to the All Elite Wrestling product. It will be interesting to see if things change in the future.