Renowned professional wrestling icon Konnan has shared his candid opinions on the careers of several All Elite Wrestling (AEW) wrestlers, offering a mix of praise and criticism on his podcast, Keepin’ It 100. When asked about AEW wrestlers lacking presence outside of the Jacksonville-based organization, Konnan singled out a few notable names, including The Young Bucks, Kenny Omega, and former FTW Champion Brian Cage.
Konnan had high praise for Brian Cage, describing him as “unselfish,” but surprisingly, he viewed this trait as a problem. Cage, who has been in the professional wrestling scene since 2004, has had stints in Deep South Wrestling, TNA, Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide, ROH, and AEW, joining the latter in 2020. Despite his impressive résumé, Konnan believes Cage’s lack of self-promotion might be holding him back.
On a more critical note, Konnan shared his thoughts on AEW star Trent Beretta, stating that he lacks charisma. This assessment came on the heels of Beretta’s encounter with Orange Cassidy on the May 8 edition of Dynamite. Beretta’s recent storyline has seen him turn heel on Cassidy, but Konnan remains skeptical about his prospects. In fact, Konnan explicitly expressed interest in seeing how Beretta would be booked in the coming weeks, implying that the wrestler still has much to prove.
Konnan’s honest opinions serve as a reminder that even the most experienced wrestlers can benefit from constructive criticism. His comments on Brian Cage highlight the importance of self-promotion in the competitive world of professional wrestling. Meanwhile, his remarks on Trent Beretta underscore the need for charisma and a strong in-ring presence to truly connect with audiences.
Throughout his podcast, Konnan demonstrated a deep understanding of the wrestling industry, and his insights offer valuable lessons for up-and-coming wrestlers. As AEW continues to grow and evolve, it will be fascinating to see how the careers of these wrestlers unfold, and whether they can prove Konnan’s assessments wrong.