Bobby Lashley, AEW World Tag Team Champion known as “The All Mighty,” shared insights about the challenges he faces in professional wrestling, particularly against smaller opponents, during a recent appearance on the F Y’all podcast. Lashley highlighted the need for matches to be believable, referencing a recent bout at All In: Texas where he and his partner faced the teams JetSpeed—comprising Kevin Knight and Mike Bailey—and The Patriarchy, which includes Christian Cage and Nick Wayne. This focus on storytelling underlined Lashley’s concern about the shift in how wrestling matches are presented and received by fans.
The Shift in Wrestling Storytelling Over Two Decades
Lashley reflected on the wrestling environment when he began his career more than 20 years ago, noting that legendary figures like Undertaker, Batista, Matt Hardy, MVP, JBL, Rey Mysterio, and Eddie Guerrero emphasized narrative over flashy moves. He explained that the older generation focused on how the wrestling story made sense to the audience, a contrast to what he believes is the current trend. Lashley expressed frustration, stating,
“I’m glad this is being talked about because this is something I’ve been going through a lot today and yesterday. That’s where I came from. When I first got into wrestling over 20 years ago, the people that were there were Undertaker, Batista, Matt Hardy, MVP, JBL, Rey Mysterio, Eddie Guerrero. The biggest thing they did was, they didn’t care about the moves. They thought about the story and how it made sense. The generation has moved a little bit because it’s different now, and it’s something we’ve had a hard time adjusting to, because, just like you’re asking that question, the crowd has to ask that question too.”
—Bobby Lashley, AEW World Tag Team Champion
Challenges of Making Matches Believable for New Fans
Lashley highlighted that many current wrestlers focus primarily on the moves themselves, rather than the storytelling aspect, which may alienate newer or less experienced wrestling fans. He illustrated this by comparing wrestling to a real-life confrontation, arguing that a believable narrative involves characters reacting in ways consistent with real scenarios rather than immediately resorting to physical conflict. Lashley emphasized the importance of this approach, explaining,
“These guys, and it’s not everyone, but a lot of people that are wrestling now, they try to embrace that. ‘Everybody is the same,’ so they just have matches. When you bring someone that is not a pure wrestling fan, somebody that is just starting out being a wrestling fan and you bring them to their first show, they see me standing in front of this guy and they see this guy doing stuff to me. They’re like, ‘What, that doesn’t make sense.’ If he were walking down an alley and this guy is walking there, he would just be like, ‘You want to fight?’ And he’d just be throwing punches? He’d be like, ‘Hold on, let me try to talk my way out of this’ or find a different way to defend themselves. There is a story that you tell. For me, when we go into some of those things, we have to tell those stories. I try to push those stories, but sometimes when we’re with different people, they don’t want to think about the story, they just want to think about moves they are doing. Shelton is way better at it than me. Shelton is like, ‘Nope, we’re not doing that.’ When they try something in the ring, he just won’t let them do it. Shelton is very forgiving and he gives himself like crazy. I love working with him. Shelton is like, ‘Cool, I’ll do anything for you, but just give me some respect of saying there are certain things I won’t do because of my character.’ He does it very diplomatically and he is great with it. That’s the fun part of the story. If he comes at me, I’m going to be ripping his ass apart. He has to figure out a way to get out of that. We have to be able to fight, and sometimes it’s hard doing it to certain people because they don’t want to believe that. I’m strong and I can fight. They know this. I always tell people, that’s the hardest thing with me. Let’s figure that out. When you come to me, don’t search out certain moves you want to do. Let’s figure out how you’re going to beat me. It’s hard to do it. I have no ego, I have none.”
—Bobby Lashley, AEW World Tag Team Champion
Balancing Ego and Realism in Wrestling Personas
Exploring the role of ego in professional wrestling, Lashley explained that he does not allow ego to influence his performances. His background as a decorated wrestler and MMA fighter informs his approach, where he blends realism and character to maintain credibility in the ring. Lashley said,
“I’m not an ego-driven person. If I wanted to have an ego, I would go back to MMA and fight people. That’s where you put your ego. You want to test yourself, test yourself there. Professional wrestling, we’re putting on a show for (the crowd). I put my ego away, but I still say, ‘This is my character. This is me,’ which is not an easy person. I have a proven track record of beating grown men bigger than me. Ass whoopings. Even on the wrestling side, I have won nationals three times, I’ve fought MMA, I know how to box. I’m not an ego-driven person, but we have to take that into consideration when we put together this match.”
—Bobby Lashley, AEW World Tag Team Champion
Persistence Over Ego Drives Lashley’s Success
When asked if ego is necessary for success in wrestling, Lashley emphasized his career progression was fueled by consistent effort rather than ego-driven behavior. He rejects tactics like undermining others or office politicking, choosing instead to focus on improving his craft. He described his ongoing dedication even at his current stage, revealing,
“I’ve made it really far, all the way to the top. It took me a lot longer because I don’t. I’m not one of those guys who is going to go out there and bury other wrestlers. I’m not one of those guys who will go to the office and fight for things. I just work my ass off. That’s all it is. I keep trying to show a better and better package. I started in WWE and then I went and fought just to better my character and then I came back. Even at my age right now, I get my ass up in the morning and do cardio, and then I lift later on.”
—Bobby Lashley, AEW World Tag Team Champion
The Importance of Storytelling for Wrestling’s Future
Bobby Lashley’s reflections underscore a tension in modern professional wrestling between athletic display and narrative coherence, especially as the fan base evolves. His insistence on telling a believable story that respects character strengths and limitations points toward the challenges wrestlers face in engaging diverse audiences. As Lashley continues competing at a high level alongside peers like Shelton, his emphasis on storytelling could influence how future matches are crafted, potentially encouraging wrestlers and promoters to balance spectacle with dramatic realism more effectively.
