Tony Khan recently revealed that a pioneer of rock music production is a huge fan of AEW and is especially fond of Christian Cage.
Rick Rubin, one of the most acclaimed music producers of his generation has worked with everyone from Public Enemy to Slayer to Johnny Cash, reportedly can’t get enough of AEW.
During a pre-ROH Death Before Dishonor media scrum, Khan discussed both the new direction for ROH moving forward as well as Rubin’s All Elite fandom:
“There are some wrestling purists who I have told that they’re really going to enjoy the Ring of Honor shows. Great example, my friend Rick Rubin, who is just an awesome awesome guy and I hate to name drop him, and I rarely do. But I really like him a lot. He loves pro wrestling so much, and he’s one of the smartest people I know, and just a really, really, really cool, really good person.
You know, I think this is a wrestling show Rick Rubin is really going to enjoy. Just an example of someone I know, he watches all the AEW shows, he loves them and talks to me about stuff all the time. Christian Cage, in particular, has been killing it in his eyes. I really respect his thoughts and his ideas and I just love Rick and this is a show, I think, Rick’s really gonna enjoy.”
When it comes to Christian Cage, Rubin is far from alone in his sentiments. Since turning heel on Jungle Boy, Cage has rediscovered his villainous voice and garnered massive heat from AEW fans on a weekly basis.
While his heel work in both TNA and WWE often garnered acclaim, the tasteless, diabolical persona he’s playing at the moment appears to’ve struck a chord with many viewers. For now, it is successfully filling the void left by the still MIA MJF.
Rubin’s interest in professional wrestling has gone beyond just being a fan in the past. Jim Cornette’s Smokey Mountain Wrestling promotion received funding from Rubin from its October 1991 inception right up to its December 1995 demise.
The short-lived southern-style rasslin’ promotion enjoyed a cult following at the time.
H/t to Fightful