Former AEW star Jake Hager has made it clear that he doesn’t see himself returning to the promotion, while also delivering pointed criticism of AEW President Tony Khan and the company’s backstage operations.
Hager debuted for AEW in October 2019 and remained with the company for nearly five years before his contract expired in mid-2024. Since his departure, the former WWE and AEW star has been outspoken about his experience, and during a recent appearance on the “Off the Rails” podcast, he suggested that the door on an AEW comeback is effectively closed.
When asked if fans could ever see him back in AEW, Hager admitted that while wrestling is known for surprises, he believes that chapter of his career is over. He said,
“I mean, you know, they always say never say never in pro wrestling, but I’ve, I think I’ve kind of slammed that door shut.”
“Everything was last minute in AEW. There were so many times that it’d be six o’clock, and we’re going live at 8 on Wednesday for Dynamite, and the show hadn’t even been out yet.”
“It’s not even out at six o’clock. Like, what are you doing all week that you don’t have a live TV show written until six o’clock? That’s just one of it, you know, that I can point my finger to. I mean, that’s just inexcusable.”
“When we first started AEW, we knew a month ahead of time. We knew four weeks of storylines ahead of time. And, like, imagine how much better you can make your performance when you know what you’re doing.”
“I never got to know the real Tony, and then once I saw his true colors, I would say no. He’s not a decent person, just based on how he treated me and my situation there.”
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