Former NXT star Velveteen Dream has taken to Instagram to publicly criticize the booking and structural elements of All Elite Wrestling. The comments followed a segment he watched on AEW Collision involving Anthony Bowens and Max Caster, which he characterized as inefficiently produced.
Dream specifically targeted the segment with Bowens and Caster, stating the company takes too long to reach the conclusion of its matches and storylines. “I’m watching the show and these guys really don’t know how to f–king put together a wrestling show,” he said. “They took too long to get to their finish; they’re telling too many stories in a match. Are you gonna tell the story of Max Caster and Anthony Bowens getting back together or not?”
His critique extended to AEW’s overall production, which he claimed suffers from either a lack of producer oversight or talent being given too much creative freedom. “In AEW there’s miscommunication and misunderstanding,” Dream stated. “It just tells me that you’re either allowing the talent to book their own segments or your producers really don’t know what they’re doing.”
The former WWE talent also took issue with the promotion’s use of multi-person squash matches, arguing the practice diminishes the roster. “I don’t understand why you bring six guys out on TV just to get them squashed,” he commented. “It does nothing for the talent, it devalues your show, and it devalues any value you put on it.”
He suggested the issues could be resolved with better guidance and fundamentals. “I think these guys could be a lot more efficient if they had some leadership and some experience in their corner that they actually listen to,” Dream said, adding that talent needs “more reps in the training facility—if they even have one in AEW.” (h/t Ringside News)
Dream, whose real name is Patrick Clark Jr., has been away from a major promotion since his WWE release in May 2021. His departure was not framed as a creative or performance-based decision but occurred amid significant public controversy.
Clark’s release from WWE followed serious allegations made against him in 2020 during the #SpeakingOut movement, which included accusations of sending inappropriate messages and explicit images to minors. While WWE’s internal investigation reportedly found no evidence to warrant action, the public backlash was a significant factor in his departure. Clark has consistently denied all allegations of misconduct. Reports also indicated that behavioral issues contributed to the company’s decision.