Awesome Kong Discusses Feeling ‘Unheard’ During Her Time In AEW

AEW

Awesome Kong has discussed her frustration with AEW after stint in the company.

Kong was one of the earliest members of the AEW women’s division after debuting with the promotion at their first event, Double Or Nothing 2019.

Following a run with Brandi Rhodes in the Nightmare Collective, the former IMPACT Wrestling star went on hiatus in early 2020 to film the Netflix series GLOW before her contract wasn’t renewed in 2021.

Speaking with Chris Van Vliet on Insight, Awesome Kong was asked about her run with All Elite Wrestling and being part of the Nightmare Collective.

She answered:

“I don’t want to sound like I’m bashing the crew over there at AEW, especially since we were just up and running. We are all new executives and trying to think outside the box and really give it to y’all. Something new, something that hasn’t been seen. We’ve seen it all. We were trying to give you something that you haven’t seen. I felt unheard. I wasn’t in control. All I could do was say, ‘I have this idea of XYZ.’ I couldn’t get in the room where final decisions were made. Believe me, Kia [referring to her real name Kia Stevens] stalked that room. I would stay there after big meetings and pick up the water bottles and cups like, ‘Huh, Y’all need…you need me to go? Okay’ [Laughs]. I tried to get into that last meeting where decisions were made. Never had a chance to. ‘That’s just not going to happen, so I’m not going to push it.’ When you see this [makes a box with her hands] is who they are comfortable with making decisions, that’s not a read or a critique, that’s just who was comfortable making decisions. What do you do? It’s out of my control. If I had control, give me 15 minutes of Kia. Kia’s 15 Minutes of Fame. ‘Go out there and steal the show from them boys. You, you, you. Nyla (Rose), go steal the show from the boys.'”

This is obviously not the first time that fans have heard of frustration with the booking of AEW women’s division since the start of the company.

Kong announced her in-ring retirement at the NWA Empowerrr event on August 28, 2021 and was inducted into the IMPACT Hall of Fame at Bound For Glory later in the year.

Keep track of the AEW women’s division’s win-loss record in 2022 (for televised matches) at this link.

Quotes via Fightful

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• unheard
• frustration
• Awesome Kong
• AEW

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