Kofi and Austin Creed are already looking beyond the ring as they begin the next phase of their wrestling careers in AEW. Following their All In 2026 debut, the pair discussed what they see as one of the most appealing aspects of joining Tony Khan’s promotion: the freedom to pursue personal interests and business opportunities without facing the sort of restrictions they believe can limit performers elsewhere.
Speaking on TMZ Sports’ Inside the Ring, Kofi described the terms available to AEW talent as particularly accommodating for wrestlers who have passions outside of weekly television and live events. While neither Kofi nor Creed detailed specific contractual language, Kofi made clear that the ability to explore projects beyond wrestling was a major point of excitement as they entered AEW.
“There’s a lot of things in there [contract] that are very player-friendly, right? Like wrestler-friendly, you know, in terms of being able to go out and do what it is that you want to do, there’s not really a lot of restriction, and that’s really exciting,” Kofi said.
The former WWE Champion framed that flexibility as more than a simple perk. For talent whose identities, interests and long-term ambitions extend beyond their in-ring work, having the chance to develop outside ventures can shape the entire experience of working for a wrestling company. Kofi said he appreciates knowing that a performer can follow a passion without worrying that someone else will stop the project for reasons outside the wrestler’s control.
For more background on this topic, read Tony Khan Reportedly Reached Out to Mike Tenay for AEW Grand Slam Mexico Appearance.
“To know that if you have a passion, you can go out there and follow it without worrying about someone telling you that you can’t do it for whatever reason,” Kofi said.
A new opportunity beyond the ring
Kofi’s comments point to a broader appeal in AEW’s talent environment. Wrestlers are increasingly public figures with careers that can include streaming, gaming, podcasting, acting, merchandise, fitness, music and other entrepreneurial pursuits. A contract that permits performers to build in those spaces can offer meaningful value, particularly to veterans who have already developed substantial audiences and interests of their own.
For Kofi, the opportunity is not solely about reducing limitations. It is about having a path to continue evolving as a performer and creator. AEW’s schedule and presentation will naturally put the focus on his wrestling, but he sees room for more than one professional pursuit. That prospect is especially significant for an established name arriving with a clear sense of what he wants to accomplish during this chapter.
The comments also reflect the confidence Kofi has in Khan’s stated approach toward his roster. Kofi specifically praised the AEW CEO’s desire to see talent succeed. That outlook, in Kofi’s view, makes it easier for wrestlers to consider new projects without treating their outside interests as separate from their value to the promotion.
AEW has become a destination for performers seeking a variety of creative opportunities, but Kofi and Creed’s arrival creates a particularly notable example because their plans extend into a major entertainment field beyond professional wrestling. Creed has spent years cultivating a gaming presence, and he now sees a chance to continue that work while collaborating with people in the AEW locker room.
Austin Creed sees room to grow gaming plans
Creed’s interest in video games has long been central to his public profile. He created the popular UpUpDownDown YouTube gaming channel and has spent years bringing wrestling personalities into gaming content. The channel helped demonstrate that wrestlers can connect with audiences in a setting that is distinct from matches, promos and conventional wrestling programming.
As he enters AEW, Creed is looking at the potential to continue making video game content in ways that fit his own creative goals. He spoke enthusiastically about being able to work across his two biggest passions, professional wrestling and video games, while retaining a meaningful stake in the results of the work he creates.
“You know, over the years, we’ve done a lot of stuff in the video game industry. So I feel extremely lucky to be able to have not one but two passions. So, you know, pro wrestling and video games and the ability to do stuff in that space in the way that I want to do it, knowing that I will be the one reaping the fruits of my labor as that tree grows and possibly being able to bring other people in the locker room into that to bear that fruit as well,” Creed said.
That ambition is not limited to a personal platform. Creed specifically raised the possibility of involving other people from the AEW locker room. That could create opportunities for wrestlers to showcase their personalities in a different format while introducing gaming audiences to talent they may not otherwise encounter. It is also an avenue for Creed to use experience he has developed over years in the gaming space.
Creed said the range of possibilities is energizing because of how many ideas he and Kofi have to explore. The pair are not presenting their AEW run as a narrow wrestling-only venture. Instead, they appear eager to test different concepts, find out what works and discover where their abilities can take them.
“It’s a crazy feeling because we have so many ideas and so many things that we want to do and try and see if we’re good at,” Creed said.
The UpUpDownDown distinction
There is, however, an important distinction in Creed’s gaming plans. Although he created and helped build UpUpDownDown, the platform is owned by WWE. That means any future gaming content tied to Creed’s AEW tenure would not simply be a continuation of that WWE-owned channel under a new banner.
The ownership situation does not diminish the experience Creed brings with him. His work in gaming has made him one of wrestling’s most recognizable crossover figures in that area, and he has already shown an ability to create content featuring fellow wrestlers. But it does clarify that the next project would need to be its own endeavor, developed separately from the existing UpUpDownDown brand.
That reality may make the creative freedom Kofi described even more meaningful. If Creed is to launch or help shape new content involving AEW talent, he will be starting from a different position than he occupied with his previous gaming platform. The opportunity to build something new, and potentially share that platform with wrestlers in his new locker room, appears to be a key part of what excites him.
Could Tyler Breeze enter the picture?
One possible familiar collaborator is Tyler Breeze. Breeze was previously involved with UpUpDownDown and recently saw his WWE contract expire. He has hinted at an interest in joining Khan’s promotion, opening the door to a potential reunion with Creed in an AEW setting.
At this stage, Breeze has not been confirmed as an AEW signing, and there is no indication that a gaming collaboration has been arranged. Still, his history with Creed makes the possibility easy to understand. Breeze’s presence in the same promotion could offer another recognizable face for any future gaming content, particularly given their shared history on the WWE-owned platform.
For now, the larger story is the optimism Kofi and Creed are expressing about their new environment. Their All In 2026 arrival gives AEW two established performers with a history of working together, but their stated goals show they are thinking well beyond their immediate in-ring roles. Kofi sees a wrestler-friendly structure that supports individual passions. Creed sees a chance to combine wrestling and gaming in fresh ways while potentially creating opportunities for his colleagues.
How those plans ultimately take shape remains to be seen. The pair have not announced a specific gaming project, named participants or provided a timetable. What is clear is that they view their AEW contracts as a platform for broader creative work. As Kofi and Austin Creed settle into AEW, the company’s ability to support those ambitions could become an important part of their identity in the promotion.
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Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.