AEW: Samoa Joe on His Goal to Put Fan Focus Back in the Ring for AEW, Jimmy Jacobs on His Backstage Role in AEW, More News

Samoa Joe Comments on His Goal as AEW World Champion to Put Fan Focus Back in the Ring Instead Backstage Stuff in AEW

Sports Illustrated held a recent interview with Samoa Joe. One of the topics discussed included Joe’s thoughts about his main goal as current AEW World Champion is to put the fans’ focus in AEW back into the ring instead of backstage stuff.

“I understand the world of professional wrestling. I’ve seen things work at a very high level, and I understand the type of people backstage that it takes for that to happen. I try to be that person.

As champion, you’re the standard-bearer. I’m more than happy to take up that mantle. I really want to make a focus of getting the fans’ attention back on the conflict in the ring, and a lot of the petty stuff needs to melt away. Let’s get back to entertaining people.”

Joe also gave his thoughts about his goal for his AEW World title reign itself.

“My goal is to have really great matchups with extraordinary individuals, which we have in spades on this roster, and give fans a reason to tune in,” said Joe. “Something is about to go down, and it’s going to be violent. That’s the vision I have for my reign, and I’m looking forward to executing it.”

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Jimmy Jacobs Clarifies His Backstage Role & Duties in AEW

A recent episode of the Developmentally Speaking podcast featured Jimmy Jacobs as the guest. One of the topics discussed included Jacobs giving his thoughts about his decision to leave Impact Wrestling and joining AEW.

“It was time. My time at IMPACT, I had done what I was going to do there. It kind of hurt, it hurt me to…I knew my time there was over before I was going to AEW. I knew, intuitively, this is done. I’ve done what I can do, it’s been five and a half years, I felt creatively burnt out, and they need new creative blood in the company to get it propelled. The dynamic with the guys on the creative team, it had become what it was going to become. ‘This is the show we’re going to do, this is it. It can be better, I just don’t have the answers.’ That’s what it felt like. I don’t have the answers to get IMPACT where it can go. I had done what I can do with the company. At the very same time, Bryan Danielson called me. This is how reality works, this is how the universe works. I’m done here, the door is going to open here. Okay, let’s walk through.”

Jacobs also clarified his backstage role and duties in AEW.

“Mostly what I do is I format the show and organize information and communicate information. It’s been…it was never supposed to be a creative role. I was burnt out at IMPACT. I was burnt out writing wrestling television every week and I really didn’t want to do it anymore. My job at AEW really doesn’t involve me writing wrestling television. It’s far more admin.”

Jacobs also gave his thoughts about if he is interested in the idea of wrestling in AEW.

“The idea of me performing at a high level now, like, just ugh… If Tony Khan was like, ‘Hey Jimmy, I want you to start wrestling on AEW TV’ which he wouldn’t, but if he did, that idea would make me go, ‘Oh God! No. No, no.’ He was gracious enough to allow me to make a little appearance in Ring of Honor or whatever a few months ago in my hometown and that was nice and that was fine for me.’”

Transcript h/t: Fightful.com, PostWrestling.com

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AEW News & Notes

Warner Brothers Discovery recently touted AEW’s ratings for their television shows as part of their overall ratings success for their networks and brands in 2023. In an official press release, WBD stated “TNT’s ratings among Adults 25-54 grew 14 percent year-over-year, with the network maintaining its rank as the #1 cable entertainment network in prime among Adults 25-54, 18-49 and 18-34. Popular AEW Dynamite, AEW Collision and AEW Rampage reached nearly four million viewers each week across TNT and TBS. In addition, TNT’s coverage of the 2023-24 NBA regular season to date is up 13 percent among Adults 25-54 (Q4’23 vs. Q4’22), while the 2023-24 NHL regular season to date is up 53 percent among Adults 25-54 (Q4’23 vs. Q4’22).”

Deadline reported that Swerve Strickland recently joined the cast of the upcoming slasher film titled Stiletto and filming is currently scheduled to begin later this month.

Fightful’s Jeremy Lambert reported that AEW Head of Global Programming & Partnerships Shane Emerson was recently promoted by AEW to be their new Vice President Global Programming & Partnership. Lambert reported that a recent update on Emerson’s Linkedin profile revealed this new job position for him in the company.

In a recent interview with Tokyo Sports, Katsuyori Shibata gave his thoughts about wanting to finish his wrestling career with AEW. Shibata stated “I can’t work as an affiliated fighter. I guess that (New Japan’s decision) is not wrong. But if there is no place for me, then there is no reason for me to be here. I’ve regained a lot of my senses after competing in AEW, and I feel like I want to finish my career here.” Shibata also provided an update on his current health. Shibata stated “I’ve been checked by a doctor, and I’ve given him a medical certificate. If I don’t clear it, I can’t compete.” (English translation via Fightful.com)

In a recent interview with the Going Ringside podcast, AEW CEO Tony Khan gave his thoughts about wanting to hold an episode of AEW Collision at Daily’s Place in the future. Khan stated “Both shows, Wednesday night Dynamite and Rampage will be filmed in Daily’s Place which is special. We still never brought Saturday night Collision to Jacksonville. That’s something I would really like to do so, stay tuned sometime. I’ll definitely be making sure we get Collision to Jacksonville because all the other AEW shows, especially Dynamite have so much great history here and the city of Jacksonville has been so great to AEW.“

In a recent episode of the Grilling JR podcast, co-host Jim Ross gave his thoughts about how AEW’s Worlds End event felt like AEW was resetting the table for the company. Ross stated “It’s interesting. It seems like AEW is kind of resetting the table, restarting, so to speak, maybe, and I think that’s smart. I think that’s a good deal. Give everybody a different jersey and give everybody a different role. Let’s just hope they all live up to the hype and role, and it seems like we are. It’s exciting to be a part of it, and I’m happy to be a part of it.” (Transcript h/t: Fightful.com)

In a recent virtual fan signing event for Signed By Superstars, Matt Riddle gave his thoughts about his interest in working for AEW in the future. Riddle stated “Yeah, honestly, I feel like a lot of the talent when I got released, were going to try to do that. I wanted to think outside the box and maybe not rush right back into doing TV matches. TV is a lot different than wrestling on ppl or the Indies. There are commercials, they cut times, they change things. For me, right now, New Japan, MLW, the Indies, I can display my art and I’m not under such a crunch of time or requirement. I have a lot more freedom. TNA isn’t out of the picture either. There are certain things I wanted to do. I really wanted to work in Japan and I made that a priority.” (Transcript h/t: Fightful.com)

In a recent vlog, Sammy Guevara reflected about his in-ring return to AEW from his concussion injury at the December 27th Dynamite New Year’s Smash 2023 show. Guevara stated “Today we teamed with Chris Jericho, Darby Allin, and Sting, and that was pretty cool, just because Sting’s last match will be at Revolution 2024, so this is kind of the farewell tour to Sting. To be a part of that I really cool. I got to wrestle him in the summer, and now I got to team with him for the second time. It’s pretty cool. I think it’ll be a thing where we can look back thirty years from now and be like, ‘Oh wow, Sammy Guevara teamed with Sting. That’s cool.’ At least that’s what I think. I don’t know. How do I think the match went? For my first match back, literally haven’t wrestled or been in a ring doing any kind of real match-type stuff since October 1, I was definitely a little tired out there. I didn’t do too much. Luckily I was in an eight-man, but definitely we gotta step the cardio game up. I gotta get my cardio more in check.” (Transcript h/t: Fightful.com)