WWE Hall of Famer Urges Tony Khan To Hire Jim Cornette To "Shake Up" AEW

D-Von Dudley Urges Tony Khan To Bring In Jim Cornette To "Shake Up" AEW

Despite years of vocal criticism between Jim Cornette and All Elite Wrestling (AEW), WWE Hall of Famer D-Von Dudley believes AEW President Tony Khan should seriously consider hiring the legendary manager and booker to revitalize the company’s creative structure.

Speaking on a recent episode of the Duke Loves Rasslin podcast, D-Von reflected on Cornette’s deep understanding of professional wrestling psychology, comparing his talent-building capabilities to those of ECW visionary Paul Heyman.

D-Von Highlights Cornette’s Wrestling Knowledge & Legacy

During the podcast discussion, D-Von praised Cornette’s ability to develop talent and push boundaries without losing the fundamental principles that make wrestling work:

Respect From Wrestling’s Top Stars: D-Von pointed out a recurring pattern throughout his career: “I’ve noticed that the most successful wrestlers put Jim Cornette over. I’ve always noticed that, and I’ve always found that interesting.”
Talent Development Parallel to Paul Heyman: Comparing Cornette to Paul Heyman, D-Von explained that Cornette understands the mechanics of the business: “And they didn’t know how to work. They didn’t know how the business worked. Jim does. And anybody that Jim has been with and taught, just like Heyman, they got over.”
Appreciation For His Directness: Admitting he regularly tunes into The Jim Cornette Experience podcast, D-Von noted: “I love listening to his podcast. I love looking at his YouTube stuff and all of that because he’s very real in what he says… A lot of people don’t like to hear that, but it’s the truth.”

Advice For Tony Khan: “He Would Shake Up Everything”

Addressing the current state of wrestling creative, D-Von argued that modern promotions lack the legendary minds that previously guided the industry, such as Pat Patterson or Vince McMahon.

“You know, if I was Tony Khan, I said there are no more Pat Pattersons, and even though Vince had helped during the Hogan and Andre and the Attitude Era, there are no Vince McMcMahons either. So, my thing is, why not try to get a guy like Jim Cornette to come in? Because I tell you what, he would shake up everything.”

While Cornette met with Tony Khan prior to AEW’s launch in 2019, he ultimately opted out of joining the venture and has since been one of the company’s most uncompromising public critics. While an actual working relationship between Cornette and AEW remains highly improbable, D-Von maintains that a mind of Cornette’s caliber could provide invaluable direction behind the scenes.