During a recent interview on TMZ Inside The Ring, WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henry offered some pointed advice on what he believes AEW needs to do to improve its creative process and close the gap with WWE. The former AEW coach and commentator suggested that the company should empower its veteran champions and rely less on personal relationships when making booking decisions.
“I think the number one thing that would really set it off is to let people that were champions, that are, for lack of a better sense, walk the walk, let them have more input, and not let it be about friendships and relationships,” Henry stated.
He then used a classic wrestling adage to emphasize his point about locker room hierarchy. “They always say, don’t let the prisoners run the prison,” he said. “You have to be able to have people that have been there and done that to really run it. You know Tony has his hands on everything. He wants to do what he wants to do. If I were a billionaire, I’d be the same way.”
Henry also stressed his philosophy that wrestlers must always prioritize the story and the business over themselves. “You work for the business. You don’t work for yourself,” he explained. “Going into business for yourself sucks for everybody, and it’s gonna make you look bad. It’s gonna make you look selfish, and you endanger the fabric of pro wrestling when it’s about you and not about the story.”
Mark Henry served as a coach, commentator, and on-air talent for All Elite Wrestling from 2021 until his departure in 2024.
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article, please credit TMZ Inside The Ring with an h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
