Only they can decide that

A WWE and ECW legend has revealed that he is open to working with AEW. The veteran in question, Shane Douglas, has one condition for doing so, however, revolving around the company’s motivation to improve its position in the industry.

Over the past six years, AEW has grown tremendously as a major budding US-based wrestling promotion. The promotion’s success has positioned it as a legitimate rival brand to WWE, a fact that cannot be denied in light of the Stamford-based company’s recent counter-programming attempts against All Elite Wrestling, among other related business moves.

AEW’s success also owes itself in part to the knowledge and experience that its veterans bring to the table, including older in-ring competitors like The Hurt Syndicate, Adam Copeland, Christian Cage, Dustin Rhodes and Billy Gunn, as well as backstage personnel such as Dean Malenko and Chris Hero, to name only a few. Now, another wrestling legend, Shane Douglas, has discussed his interest in bringing his talents to All Elite Wrestling.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, The “Franchise” explained that he would be willing to work for the Tony Khan-led company, but only if the promotion refuses to get complacent with its place in the industry, and is willing to make use of his experience and expertise to develop its position even further.

“So AEW has to ask itself a question: do they want to become a major player in this business, or are they comfortable being the smaller alternative on the side? I know where I stand. I’ve never been content being second best at anything. So to answer the question — yes, I could work with [All Elite Wrestling]. I can work with just about anyone, as long as they truly want what I have to offer. And only they can decide that.” [H/T- Ringside News]

Shane Douglas’ critique of AEW’s product

Elsewhere in the same video, Shane Douglas talked about how in his view, AEW’s booking and presentation strategies have not evolved over the past few years. This is why things have not improved drastically for the company, the 61-year-old implied, stating:

“I’ve been around long enough to see that old saying about insanity play out — doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. If [All Elite Wrestling] keeps doing the same thing year after year and expects things to suddenly change, why would they?””

Whether All Elite Wrestling might ever hire Douglas in any capacity remains to be seen.