Jim Ross believes AEW should reconsider its stance on running live events and house shows, saying he disagrees with the company’s current philosophy of avoiding them.
Speaking on the Grilling JR podcast, Jim Ross explained that he sees house shows as an important part of both talent development and fan engagement.
“I do believe that the house shows are extremely important to revisit from time to time,” Ross said. “So that your green talent have a place to work in front of a paying audience.”
Ross noted that live events allow younger wrestlers to gain valuable experience outside of television tapings.
“That’s essential to learn how to do that,” he added.
The WWE Hall of Famer explained that if AEW were to run house shows, he would base them heavily around ongoing television storylines and rivalries to give fans something familiar.
“You book what’s on television,” Ross said. “You want people to see on television, see in that live event non-televised.”
Ross also suggested that Darby Allin, as AEW World Champion, should regularly work singles matches on any potential house show cards to continue building his momentum.
“I probably would put Darby Allin in singles because he is your champion,” Ross explained.
Ross later returned to the subject and directly stated that he disagrees with AEW’s decision not to run regular live events.
“In AEW’s case, there are no house shows, no live events,” Ross said. “And I don’t agree with that philosophy, quite frankly.”
While acknowledging the financial and logistical challenges involved, Ross still argued that the long-term benefits outweigh the difficulties.
“You gotta have the infrastructure. You gotta have the personnel,” Ross said. “It’s not as easy as it sounds.”
Jim Ross Believes WWE Starting To Run House Shows Again Is A Sign For AEW To Start Running Them
Jim Ross also pointed to WWE continuing to run house shows as proof they still hold value within the wrestling industry, particularly for developing younger performers.
“I believe that’s a great recruiting tool for talent,” Ross said.
AEW has rarely run traditional house shows since launching in 2019, focusing almost exclusively on televised events and pay-per-views.
