WWE Hall Of Famer Jim Ross was recently interviewed by ESPN to promote this weekend’s All Elite Wrestling (AEW) Double Or Nothing pay-per-view (PPV). Ross discussed key decision makers in WWE lacking product knowledge, and how high the expectations surrounding Double Or Nothing are.
Here are the highlights:
Key decision makers in WWE lacking product knowledge:
I’ve always had a little bit of creative freedom to express myself. Over time WWE kind of reeled that back in, I guess they had some of that research or it was due to personal philosophy, I don’t have a clue, but most of them don’t understand wrestling — they are in administration there.
They are great marketers, they’ve got some brilliant, brilliant people in WWE, no doubt about it, but I think some of the key decisions are being made without an inordinate amount of product knowledge, which is not going to make them happy to hear, but that’s the way I look at it. Vince could do better by surrounding himself with a different kind of consultant or writer or creative people or whatever.
How high expectations are for Double Or Nothing:
I’m excited about the fact that we can build a company through our experiences and be talent-friendly, but the bottom line is that the pressure on the talents to provide a helluva match on a regular basis. And with great effort and storytelling that’s logical and plausible, is not going to end.
The burners are all going to be turned up on these guys. They’ve never been in an environment where as much is going to be expected of them as they are with this company. We’re young, we’re green, we can’t be fumbling out of the box.
In one place, it’s going to be fun to work, it’s going to be enjoyable, communication is going to be good, respect is going to be the underscoring word, but the expectations are going to be higher on the AEW guys, in my opinion, than they ever were anywhere they’ve worked. Anywhere.
Read More: Jim Ross: ‘I Feel Like I Have Plenty Of Miles On My Tires”
