Ex-AEW Employee Denies Being WWE Leak
A former AEW figure has hit back at WWE rumours.
After a career that took him across the independent scene while staring for Ring of Honor, Jimmy Jacobs signed with WWE as a writer in 2015. However, he was unceremoniously fired in October 2017 after he took a photo with Bullet Club during the Cody Rhodes-led “invasion” of WWE which was featured on the Being The Elite YouTube show.
Following his departure, Jacobs resumed his in-ring career while also working as a producer for TNA Wrestling from late 2017 until 2023. That June, he moved to AEW, but the partnership failed to last.
In October 2024, it was reported that Jimmy Jacobs had left AEW citing burnout and a desire to step back from life on the road. According to the report, the two sides parted ways on good terms, and AEW saw the move as an opportunity to freshen up their creative team.
Jimmy Jacobs Hits Back At WWE Claims
During an interview with Mark O’Brien of Bodyslam.net, Jacobs looked back on his time in AEW and gave an insight into life working for Tony Khan. When asked about his exit, Jacobs claimed he mostly did admin for the company before denying he was a leak in WWE.
“I would challenge anybody to name one segment that I wrote and produced at AEW,” Jacobs said. “Mostly, what I did at AEW was admin stuff… I was a channel for information. There were people that had this narrative that I was a leak in WWE, which I absolutely 100% was not. It was just a complete fabrication. I still honestly haven’t gotten used to being judged by lies.”
When getting into AEW in more detail, Jacobs broke down the work Khan has put in to make the company a success, and the differences in creative strategy between AEW and WWE.
“Tony Khan had a lot to juggle from the beginning. It’s not just about putting on good wrestling; it’s about building a brand, keeping fans happy, and keeping a roster of talent motivated. Tony always knew there was going to be criticism. Whether it’s about creative decisions, the talent roster, or how AEW was performing compared to WWE, it’s all part of being in the spotlight.
Tony didn’t take it personally, but he definitely had to find ways to manage that pressure. It’s about communication. Tony has always been really transparent with the talent. AEW is a place where wrestlers have more control over their characters and how they’re portrayed on TV, but that also means they expect more.
Tony had to manage that balance between giving talent the creative freedom they wanted and making sure the overall product worked. AEW has never been static. There’s always something new, and that’s something Tony has been really good at—constantly evolving the product to keep the fans engaged.
It’s tough because you’re competing against the biggest wrestling company in the world, but Tony has really carved out a niche for AEW.”
After leaving AEW it was claimed Jimmy Jacobs was backstage for Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling’s first event on October 19. The new promotion is owned and run by former TNA Wrestling boss Scott D’Amore.