Frankie Kazarian on Why He Left AEW: 'What I Appreciate About Pro Wrestling and the Way I Like It Presented Was Not Happening at AEW'

WWE Hall of Famer Kurt Angle welcomed Frankie Kazarian as his guest on The Kurt Angle Show.

Kazarian was on to talk about his time working with Kurt in TNA, AEW and more. Kazarian explained why he left AEW with two years left on his deal.

"When I left last year, I still had two years left on my contract when I left," Kazarian said. "I made the decision to leave. I still had two years left. I probably could have been there much longer. I re-signed at the end of 2021 and hindsight being what it is, I probably shouldn't have, but again, AEW, I was there since before day one. I was there when this was a germ of an idea. I was there discussing this company when they didn't even have initials attached to them in these rooms with Cody and The Bucks and Page and Sky and C.D. So again, I was committed. I was like I want to try to, you know, ride this thing out."

Kazarian said that there were things about pro wrestling that he likes that weren't being done in AEW. He said, "It just became apparent to me that what I like and what I appreciate about pro wrestling and the way I like it presented was not happening at AEW, and that's not an indictment of them. It's just what they perceive as good television wrestling and what I do are different things, and just the business model, everything."

"Again, it was one of those things I feel, and still do to this day, that I feel that I have so much more to offer than what I was being utilized for in AEW. So I bet on myself and I made the decision to walk away and I am very thankful I did. It's by far the best decision I could have made where I am right now."

Kazarian made his return to Impact Wrestling in January. Last night at Against All Odds, he defeated Eddie Edwards. You can listen to the entire interview at AdFreeShows.com.

If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit AdFreeShows.com with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.