TNA wrestler reflects on AEW experience: ‘Felt like a signed extra’
Bear Bronson opened up about his experience in AEW and compared it to the environment in TNA.
Speaking with Busted Open After Dark, Bronson compared working with AEW and TNA. He cited that he felt like an extra on AEW with not much to contribute with his presence. However, on TNA, he was instantly welcomed by the roster and personnel.
“So if I could explain the difference between the two and I’m not throwing any shade here but when I was with AEW, in all of five years, from start to finish, I felt like a signed extra, if that makes sense. Where you’re just kind of there whether you’re there or not, it doesn’t really make a big difference, and on the complete other end of the spectrum is with TNA. I actually feel like an important part of the piece moving forward, and it’s funny because I came to the company at the same time as The Righteous who I’m very close with, and we both have very similar journeys, where we feel like we found a new home, where we are like, ‘We can really sink our teeth, and give all of our talents and give everything we have to push a company forward.’”
“I feel like even in my first weekend with TNA, I felt welcomed immediately by the entire roster, all these people I don’t know. The team, the entire team I just met, I felt welcomed immediately.”
Bronson officially signed with TNA in January this year. He was previously associated with AEW and ROH for nearly five years. Despite not competing on AEW since the latter part of 2024, Bronson was still signed until his contract expired. He participated on the indies before joining the TNA roster.
Rosanne Raphael is a wrestling writer with over three and a half years of experience covering all things related to the industry. From a kindergarten teacher to PR Associate to turning her lifelong passion for the industry into a career, Rosanne is currently writing for F4W Online where she focuses on wrestling news, analysis, and storytelling.
Rosanne previously contributed to Sportskeeda as an Assistant Content Manager.
When not consumed by wrestling, Rosanne is a musician and an aspiring artist.