The New Level says AEW already feels less corporate than WWE
Summary
– Kofi Kingston and Austin Creed say AEW feels less corporate than WWE
– Creed described the backstage atmosphere as having grassroots energy
– Kingston says AEW gives wrestlers more freedom with matches, promos, and presentation
Kofi Kingston and Austin Creed have only been in AEW for a matter of days, but they are already noticing a major difference from their time in WWE.
During an appearance on SI’s The Takedown, the new AEW World Trios Champions were asked to compare the backstage environment in AEW with what they experienced during their final years in WWE.
Creed said entering AEW immediately felt different and compared the atmosphere to the contrast between a large corporation and a company still operating with a grassroots mentality.
He described the environment as refreshing and said the people involved appeared focused on making things better for everyone around them.
Kingston agreed with that assessment and said he did not feel the same sense of corporatization during The New Level’s first experience in AEW.
Instead, Kingston said the atmosphere felt like a group of people working together to produce the strongest show possible.
He also believes that the environment directly affects what wrestlers can create once they step into the ring.
According to Kingston, allowing passion to drive decisions can influence everything from the moves performers use to the direction of their matches and the way they present themselves.
Kingston acknowledged that a wrestler’s basic responsibility remains the same regardless of the company.
Performers are still expected to deliver memorable matches and make the most of whatever circumstances they are given.
The difference, according to Kingston, is that AEW feels like it gives wrestlers a looser leash.
He specifically pointed to matches, promos, and overall presentation as areas where talent appears to have greater freedom to follow their own instincts.
Creed and Kingston debuted for AEW at All In before immediately winning the AEW World Trios Championships alongside Swerve Strickland.
Their move already represented a major professional change after years within WWE, but both men now say the biggest difference may be the amount of creative control they feel they have.
