Tensions between AEW and GCW are flaring up, with extra particulars popping out in regards to the Willie Mack/GCW state of affairs. In line with the “Wrestling Observer,” GCW proprietor Brett Lauderdale had booked Mack for December 14’s GCW present from Los Angeles, however Mack not too long ago referred to as Lauderdale to say AEW had pulled him from the present and all future GCW dates. Studies counsel Lauderdale was unaware of Mack’s contractual obligations with AEW, or that he even was beneath contract to start with, since Mack has wrestled just some dates for his or her sister promotion, ROH, since February.
Wrestlers signed to AEW and/or ROH are sometimes allowed to take different impartial bookings, main most to imagine that AEW pulled Mack due to the disparaging feedback made by Effy, a high-profile GCW performer. Effy steered on his podcast that Shad Khan pays Tony Khan to keep away from his sports activities groups, and alleged AEW is shedding big quantities of cash. Effy additionally took exception to how shut AEW’s reserving of the Hammerstein Ballroom was to GCW’s reserving of the identical venue. In line with Dave Meltzer, Lauderdale reached out to AEW’s Sonjay Dutt, however Dutt denied AEW had pulled Mack. Nevertheless, Mack himself informed Lauderdale that Christopher Daniels, AEW’s Head of Expertise Relations, explicitly informed him to not do the present due to the Effy controversy.
AEW is downplaying their involvement, framing the ordeal as miscommunication. In line with Meltzer, “The AEW aspect is that Mack informed Daniels in regards to the reserving, however stated he felt uncomfortable with the state of affairs (he booked the dates earlier than there have been any points with Effy) … They stated this become a miscommunication in how the story was conveyed to GCW and that they didn’t pull him nor stress him.” This follows AEW’s earlier resolution to drag Ricky Starks from GCW occasions, which can be believed to be over Effy’s inflammatory feedback.