It looks like AEW are trying to avoid talent leaking information in a subtle manner.
During AEW Double or Nothing weekend, AEW held an all hands on deck PR meeting. The meeting was lead by Adam Hopkins.
Fightful Select have reported that significant talking points included Bryan Danielson apologizing for talking about tree semen while the company also made sure talent knew about telling media things “off the record”.
The meeting was led by new public relations hire Adam Hopkins, who had over 25 years experience in WWE and was looked at as a shocking firing earlier in 2023. Hopkins has been with AEW the last couple of months, and had been backstage recently. We’re told that he spoke on some favored terms, some preferences of AEW as a company, and offered some of his experience to the meeting. The importance of media literacy was stressed in the meeting as well. Talent were told that they’re aware that plenty of them speak with “dirt sheets,” but to make sure to establish “off the record” in particular situations, and to make sure that those they’re speaking with are aware of what that term means. We’re told that this didn’t seem like a finger wagging situation, and was more about informing talent and staff how to better protect themselves and the company from misinformation. On an even lighter note, Bryan Danielson spoke, and said that maybe he isn’t the best person to give advice considering that when he was supposed to be promoting a Kenny Omega match, instead he garnered headlines about how he said apples were tree semen. Claudio Castagnoli spoke, and put forth the importance of media interviews as a way to promote yourself, your story, and the on-screen program. Those that we spoke to about the meeting spoke highly of it, specifically Hopkins. His experience was put over by numerous in attendance at the meeting, and one top talent had referred to him as a game changing hire for the company in that particular department. Another talent said that the meeting was very useful.
Fightful Select
We will have to wait and see how this meeting will influence how AEW news breaks in the future. For now, the company will look to have a successful PPV tonight.
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