Bear Bronson Reveals AEW Just Viewed Iron Savages As An Enhancement Tag Team

Former AEW star Bear Bronson has spoken about his departure from the promotion, recalling a conversation that led him to believe he needed to go somewhere else.

Bronson left AEW when his contract expired on May 31. Best known as a member of the Iron Savages alongside Beefcake Boulder and Jacked Jameson, he hadn't wrestled on AEW television since a loss The Outrunners on the November 30, 2024 episode of Collision.

During a recent appearance on The Wrestling Junkie podcast, Bronson noted that someone in the AEW office informed him that the company viewed the Iron Savages as a lower card act, saying:

"I do feel like I was put in a box. Right before I left, I had spoken to an office person where I asked them, 'We're being very good team players. We do everything that is asked of us and we give zero pushback. Tony really likes the Iron Savages characters'. He was kind of the only one that did. He loved the motorboating and all that. I feel like I can take anything and try my best and have fun with it. I do feel that was a little to my detriment because it is something he thought was entertaining. 'Great. I'm making my boss happy.' I asked them, 'Is this something that can grow bigger? Over the next year, can we rise up the card?' They were very honest. Someone got back to me and said, 'No, they just see this as an enhancement thing'.

"That's when I was like, 'Oh man, I gotta get the f*ck out of here'. That answered it. That wasn't the last straw, but it was a big straw where, what I was doing wasn't right. It is now confirmed I'm being complacent with my spot. CM Punk and Steve Austin say it; if you're in this business and your goal isn't to be a top guy, or close to the top guy, you shouldn't be there. I believe that, too. Your dream isn't to be the guy already in the ring and lose in 30 seconds. Your dream is to main event WrestleMania, to be a star, to be the top guy, to be the best performer you can be. When they told me that, sirens went off in my head. 'I have to get the f*ck out of here'. That's no knock on them. They have a lot of signed people and a lot of people to cater to. Tony Khan and AEW are not sitting at home thinking about Bear Bronson. I don't blame them for that. That's not their fault. I need to pull back and when I do leave, I have to recollect".

Bear Bronson will likely be forging a path as a solo performer going forward, after distancing himself from ex-partner Boulder, who was released by AEW in February after being arrested for domestic battery.

H/T Fightful

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