If there’s one criticism about the WWE it’s that there’s a lack of energy. While the wrestlers are working their tails off, the promos and matches sometimes come off as wooden.
So much of it’s repetitive and without energy or personality, and one thing that it could be blamed on is the WWE over scripting every moment. It’s an argument that several former talent and writers have mentioned, so there is at least a possibility for that.
In contrast, AEW is fun because the wrestlers are having fun. They seem to have an extra bounce to their step and it adds to the overall excitement.
There’s a saying in sports that a team takes on the personality of their coach, and Athena talked about how Tony Kahn is a bundle of energy as he practically teleports around backstage and hypes everyone up and encourages them before every match.
Different energy
In an interview with NBC Sports Boston, Athena talked about what working with AEW is like and the differences between there and WWE.
“Normally it’s like, ‘All right. Go out there, blah, blah, blah. Cool, you know what you’re doing.’ And then on the other end, you’re getting Tony like, ‘You pumped for this?! You ready to go?!’ And I’m like, ‘Yeah! Let’s go!’ I don’t know how to explain it. He’s so high energy and so positive that you just want to feed off that aura. I’m like, ‘I want that caffeine level that you’re at, but I’m afraid I might have a heart attack!’
“For fourteen hours, there’s not a drop. Not a drop. And he’s extremely appreciative that everyone is there. I don’t know how to explain it, but so far, I’m just like, amazed. I could people watch Tony all day long because you want to go so much harder for him, out in the ring and stuff. You’re like, ‘Yeah! He’s pumped! He loves it! Yeah!’”
She went further by explaining that in the WWE perfection is demanded at all times, and if one falters, they get ripped into, but Triple H was the exception to that rule.
“I think the best way to describe it is I think the former place, if you will, demanded perfection. It didn’t matter what curveballs were being thrown at you, there was just very stoic energy of, ‘All right, this is what we expect out of you. Do it.’ And if you don’t do it, you get ripped a new one. Sometimes it’s like, ‘Okay, cool, we understand problems happen.’ But there was never that high energy.
“Hunter was the exception to that, I will say that. But coming into AEW, you get pumped, you get excited. Every match, he (Tony) is there. He’s in the huddle with everyone. I’m like, ‘Where did you come from?’ I feel like he’s just teleporting backstage; I’ll leave one area and see him talking here, but in some kind of way, he’s doubled in front of me. I’m like, ‘How? You were…’
“He cares, and he shows outwardly that he cares. And it’s not demanding perfection, it’s like, ‘Hey, you go out there and do the best damn job. And if it’s perfect, I’m happy. If it’s not, I’m happy. I’m just excited that you’re here, willing to put your body on the line for this company.’ That’s the type of energy. So, it’s like, ‘All right, I’m going to go put my body on the line! Let’s go!’ The energy, the aura backstage, it’s so different, it’s so positive. Everyone wants to help each other, everyone is just excited to be there, right? Which is weird because I’m not used to that on any level. It’s so exciting.”
The energy and enthusiasm a boss or own puts out can make all the difference in the world, and it sounds like Kahn knows that.
This also verifies that he’s a wrestling fan that appreciates everyone working for him to entertain AEW fans.
He may have his faults and need to improve in areas, but as long as he has that passion and appreciation AEW will continue to be a fun experience for wrestlers and fans.
What do you think about the difference in energy and feel between the WWE and AEW? Let us know in the comments below.
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