Brian Kendrick Comments On AEW Exit

Back in February of 2022, Brian Kendrick was briefly employed by All Elite Wrestling following his WWE release and the former Spanky was scheduled to take on Jon Moxley in his AEW debut. 

Offensive comments Kendrick made in videos from 2011 and 2013 resurfaced prior to his Dynamite match, though, and AEW President Tony Khan pulled the former WWE producer from the show as a result.

Among the conspiracy theories Kendrick discussed, he claimed the Holocaust was overblown to justify the creation of Israel, claiming only 250,000 Jews were murdered. He also said the gas chambers in Nazi concentration camps were for delousing. 

Kendrick apologised for the comments at the time, saying the claims were never his beliefs, and the former WWE Cruiserweight Champion has since spoken further on Duke Loves Rasslin. 

"Back then, I was trying to create some sort of buzz and I didn't care who I offended. When it gets thrown back in your face, one, it's embarrassing, two, you're forced to reflect on it. I'm sorry. I'm sorry for being so cold-hearted and trying to profit off of tragedy. I suppose that's what it was. I was trying to gain off of other's tragedies but making conspiracies and creating a buzz for myself to gain bookings. It was a terrible idea. Even if it hadn't affected anybody, it's horribly embarrassing. I am sorry for anybody...to people I hurt, for making light of stuff that happened to them or their family. I hope you accept that," Kendrick said.

The 42-year-old also reflected on being fired by AEW before he even made his debut. 

"I did lose my job. I fought hard for a few months to get my release from WWE in hopes to go wrestle, that's what I want to do. I wanted to wrestle. I managed to get my release and get an opportunity with AEW. I had a contract and they didn't that, at this time, it was not the right time to keep me employed. Things need to get figured out. I understand. It's the way it is," he began.

"Luckily, I haven't lost many friends. I've had a lot of friends reach out. Some friends reaching out really made me cry and touched me. I understand the humour in it too. 'Cry me a river, this guy loses his job, the guy who goofed on the holocaust.' I understand the cosmic humour in all of it. Jokes on me. These weren't videos that were under a hot mic. I knew what I was saying and what I was trying to do was trying to offend. The truth is, at a certain point, you have to start taking life seriously and p*****g people off and offending them are two different things. It's one thing to p**s them off. It's another thing to offend them. I don't want to offend anybody, but ten years ago, I didn't give a s**t."

If Kendrick will receive another chance in professional wrestling remains to be seen, but this is what the man himself had to say: "That's for the individual to decide. I would say that, I don't want to be in a place of judgment. I don't want to be the one who decides if I have a shot or not because it's not for me to decide. I recognise I have my own flaws."

H/T to Fightful