The two major wrestling promotions, WWE and AEW, have handled their talent differently, leading to varied levels of success for wrestlers who have switched between the two companies. Therefore, the success rate of wrestlers who have switched between WWE and AEW has been different.
Some of the recent big-name talents include Linda Starr, Toni Storm, FTR, and Swerve Strickland, who have prospered in AEW after parting with WWE, while on the other hand, we have Cody Rhodes, Jade Cargill, and CM Punk, to mention but a few, who are key figures in WWE after working in All Elite Wrestling.
A Key Lesson That Booker T Has on Talent Management
WWE Hall of Famer Booker T recently shared his thoughts on how these companies utilize talent on his “Hall of Fame” podcast. In the case of Booker, the biggest determinant that defines a wrestler solely and completely is how a company positions itself. Specifically, he referenced superstars that switch between WWE and AEW, explaining how their careers were affected by such a switch.
On the other side, Booker T used Adam Cole as an example of a man who hit it big with WWE NXT and became irrelevant when he arrived in AEW. Adam Cole in WWE and NXT especially was one of the most overrated wrestlers. However, ever since the move to AEW, Cole has been “lost in the sauce,” and well, injuries did it for him again.
Booker emphasized that being sidelined in the new company has made Cole “out of sight, out of mind,” contrasting WWE’s focus on keeping their stars in the spotlight. This difference of opinion, as Booker said, defines WWE’s ability to build superstars, while All Elite Wrestling simply wants wrestlers.
The WWE vs. AEW Star-Making Machine
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Thus, according to Booker T, WWE has an edge over AEW since WWE truly invests in creating stars. WWE carries on constant efforts to make their talent better and more popular, while they have not been incredibly successful in dedicating the same focus to their wrestlers. The best example of such an approach is the NXT WWE, where the career of a star such as Ethan Page is a great example of proper talent management as well as the impact it has in shaping the lives of wrestlers.
In Conclusion
According to Booker T., while reflecting on the differences between WWE and AEW, he underscores that the former was better at managing its talent. While WWE is an established company that prides itself on manufacturing those larger-than-life superstars and making sure they are relevant, All Elite Wrestling seems not to know how to keep its talents relevant once they get out of the gold dust period.
The examples of Ethan Page, who managed to establish himself in WWE, and Adam Cole, who struggles in AEW, contribute to considering talent management significant. The future of the two companies depends on how they are going to develop and support these stars as wrestlers and as business undertakings.
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