Stokely Hathaway aspires to be an inspiration in AEW.
During a recent interview with The Root, Stokely Hathaway opened up about representing Black culture through his appearances and promos in AEW.
“I try to appeal to everyone but obviously I’m Black. I love Black culture, as I should, [and] I wouldn’t change who I am, what I love, for the world,” he said. “When I first got into this, my goal was to have other people who look like me go, ‘Oh, I can do this too.’ Not to necessarily be a manager, but whatever they want to do, right? I’m on national television, twice a week, and hopefully some kid who looks like me or who can identify with what I do, they can hear the references, they can watch the promos, and they go, ‘Oh, that’s cool, he’s appealing to me. Maybe I can do this too.’ So it may sound crazy but that’s been my goal.”
“The other interesting part of that is honestly some of what I say may fly over people’s heads, so it’s been kind of a struggle to appease both worlds,” Hathaway admitted. “Obviously, I want to keep doing what I’m doing, but AEW’s demographic is a little different. It’s me trying to blend in so many things and so many demographics and just trying to make it work. I don’t think I’m there yet but obviously, that’s a challenge. And people like me look forward to those challenges and just trying to make it work to where, even if you aren’t Black, you can go, ‘Oh, I know what he’s talking about. I get it. That’s funny.’”
Hathaway joined AEW in May earlier this year following a three-year stint with WWE where he managed a number of talent in NXT. Prior to WWE, he got his start on the indie scene with time spent in Ring of Honor, EVOLVE, and MLW. He’s currently the manager for “The Firm” featuring MJF, W. Morrissey, Ethan Page, Austin Gunn, Colten Gunn, and Lee Moriarty.
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