Before AEW had that press conference after All Out, there was a contentious moment or two during the media scrum after Forbidden Door. It’s just that instead of CM Punk going off on his co-workers, the drama in Chicago was part of the show, with Jay White complaining loudly and often to Tony Khan about how there was no holder to display his IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, then berating the poor member of the AEW PR team who set one up, only to have White’s belt slip off and clatter loudly as it fell.
Even knowing that White carries his persona into situations like that, it was a little unsettling to see in person. But as White explained to NBC Sports Boston, it’s pretty common in his NJPW work and shows the freedom that company (and AEW, as evidenced by the Punk drama) gives performers compared to what U.S. wrestling fans may be accustomed to seeing (h/t to Fightful for the transcription).
“Some of it is by design and a lot of it is maybe without me realizing it,” White said. “For example, after Forbidden Door, we had the post-show press conference and for some reason, people were taken aback by how I was, or surprised, where if you had seen a second of me talking after matches, you would know what to expect.
“It’s different to a lot of people, especially over in the states, that are maybe used to the wrestling they see on TV, which can be a lot more performed where this platform that I have through New Japan, I have a bit more freedom with stuff to say and do whatever I want. People can buy into that and enjoy it a bit more.”
Always an outstanding in-ring performer, White has taken things to the next level in terms of his awareness of how to connect with audiences in all situations. That includes on social media, and, yes, press conferences.
With that in mind, if AEW ever invites the Catalyst back for another big event, it might want to make sure everything is set up perfectly for him after the show. It won’t eliminate the chances of a public tongue-lashing, but it should at least reduce them a bit.
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