"That really shocked me" - 61-year-old veteran spills the beans on unfortunate backstage conduct in AEW

AEW has had access to a wealth of wrestling knowledge through its association with several experienced veterans of the sport over the years. However, All Elite producer Jerry Lynn believes that not many in the Tony Khan-led company’s locker room have taken advantage of that.

Despite putting on a consistently dynamic TV product and reliably compelling pay-per-views, AEW, and its roster, both continue to receive their respective shares of criticism. Talent from the All Elite locker room supposedly not seeking out advice from the many veterans the company has employed since its inception has been a regular theme of such criticism.

Interestingly, Jerry Lynn, who serves as a coach and producer in All Elite Wrestling, seemed to suggest in a similar vein that not a lot of wrestlers in the Jacksonville-based company seek advice from legends such as Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard. The veteran noted that Hangman Page was an exception and is always open to suggestions.

Speaking on Wrestling Shoot Interviews, Lynn stated:

“When Jake and Arn were there and Tully, not a lot of guys were picking their brains and if I was assigned a match and I was stuck in a part, I would go to them and go, ‘you got any ideas? I’m stuck here,’ so that really shocked me,” Lynn remarked. “I thought, you got this wealth of knowledge and no one’s, there was a few, but not a lot of guys picking their brains, man I would have been on them. As far as me, like Hangman, I’ve had quite a few of his matches and he’s always been open to my suggestions and stuff.” [H/T – Wrestling Inc]

Incidentally, Adam Page had drawn some ire for commenting that he does not take advice from veterans in an interview a couple of years ago.

Jerry Lynn also shared his views on another top AEW star dishing on his absence

During the same interview, Jerry Lynn also commented on the candid remarks shared recently by Ricky Starks regarding his ongoing hiatus from AEW.

The 61-year-old drew a parallel between talent nowadays airing their grievances on social media platforms and in interviews to similar things wrestlers did in the past.

“I can’t speak for him and why he did it, but years ago when it was just the sheets, a lot of the guys would leak info and stuff so they would get talked more favorably in their matches. Like, that’s why, and now, I think a lot of it is getting attention,” Jerry Lynn said. [H/T: WrestlingInc]

Starks, of course, has been missing from action in AEW since March 2024.