A former WWE champion has praised a recent AAA match as the best bout of 2026 while delivering strong criticism of WWE’s current creative direction.
Speaking on the 100th episode of his podcast, The Stevie Richards Show (quotes courtesy of wrestlingnews.co), alongside co-host James Romero, 21-time former WWE Hardcore Champion Stevie Richards discussed the mask vs. mask showdown between Ludwig Kaiser and Chad Gable, who competed under the El Grande Americano personas at AAA Noche de Los Grandes on May 30 in Monterrey, Mexico.
The match received widespread acclaim from fans and critics, with Romero describing it as a leading contender for Match of the Year. Richards agreed with the praise and questioned why WWE has not consistently showcased either performer’s full potential on its main roster.
“How can WWE get both these guys so wrong in so many different ways?” Richards asked.
Richards credited AAA’s storytelling approach, which has reportedly been influenced by The Undertaker behind the scenes. Richards argued that the match succeeded because it was built around a compelling story rather than simply creating a match first and adding a storyline later.
“It wasn’t a match looking for a storyline; it was a storyline that led up to a match,” Richards said.
Richards was particularly complimentary about The Undertaker’s reported role, even suggesting that the Hall of Famer could be considered for Booker of the Year if the momentum continues.
Stevie Richards Blasts WWE’s Creative Process
Stevie Richards and James Romero also criticised the company’s broader creative process, describing the product as overly corporate and focused on commercial interests rather than storytelling. Richards claimed WWE has become “creatively bankrupt” because too many outside priorities influence the creative process, while Romero argued that the system often limits creativity rather than encouraging it.
Despite their criticism of WWE, both men had high praise for Gable and Kaiser. Romero called Gable the best wrestler in the world today, while Richards compared him favourably to Olympic gold medallist and WWE Hall of Famer Kurt Angle. Richards noted that Gable has continued to get over with audiences despite not receiving the same level of sustained push that Angle enjoyed during his career.
He also praised Rey Mysterio‘s contributions to AAA, suggesting that the wrestling legend has a strong understanding of what modern audiences want to see. However, Richards expressed concern that WWE could undo the momentum built by Gable and Kaiser once they return to the company’s main roster full-time. He pointed to LA Knight as an example of a performer he believes WWE has struggled to maximise creatively, arguing that Knight’s recent usage has failed to capitalise on his popularity.
