Josh Mathews on How He Has “Fallen In Love With Wrestling Again” in AEW

A recent episode of the AEW Unrestricted podcast featured former WWE and TNA commentator and current AEW producer Josh Mathews as the guest. One of the topics discussed included Mathews’ thoughts about how he had been trying to get into AEW ever since the promotion was founded and how he had reached out to AEW producer Sonjay Dutt and AEW Senior Vice President & Co-Executive Producer Michael Mansury following his departure from TNA in 2025.

“I mean, honestly, since the inception of the company, I have been trying to work for AEW. I used to bug a certain EVP all the time about getting a job there and coming over. And when things were first kind of starting, I mean, if we’re just letting the cat out of the bag completely, you know, I was with another company, obviously, and then Sonjay Dutt went over. So I was bothering him about it all the time, like, ‘What is it going to be? Like, what is it about? What have you heard? What’s going on?’…

With the change of management and ownership [at TNA], things didn’t work out. And I called Mike Mansury and called Sonjay again. And a year later, here we are. And I’m on this podcast with you guys. And it’s been great.”

Mathews also gave his thoughts about how he has fallen in love with wrestling again during his time in AEW.

“Being here for the last year, and I’ve told this to Tony Khan, I have fallen in love with wrestling again. AEW has done that for me. And I loved wrestling as a kid. It was my favorite thing. It’s all I ever wanted to do. I think my story has been told pretty well over the years. But being here and seeing the passion, the dedication, the teamwork. You and I were talking before we started this about how in Australia you guys were over there and it all just comes together magically. And it isn’t for a lack of an incredible team being built by some amazing people.”

Mathews also gave his thoughts about how he feels like he is back in the major leagues for the first time since his departure from WWE and it is not meant to be an insult towards TNA and his time working there.

Transcript h/t: F4WOnline.com