Impact Wrestling World Champion Austin Aries was a recent guest on
Keeping It Real with Konnan. During the interview, Aries explained some of the main differences between WWE and Impact, specifically in regards to the creative processes in each company.
Aries said the main difference is the creative freedom he's given in Impact. Aries felt stifled in WWE because everything was produced and micro managed that it didn't leave room for him to offer his own input into what he was doing.
"It is completely night and day, right? It is really hard to compare the two because, first of all, the size of the beasts are different. The size of what you are producing, teams, a lot of it, a lot of factors," Aries said
. "I think what it benefits for a guy like me, and a day like this where I may already have an outline that I am doing an in-ring promo that day, and then when I get there we have a sit down into what we want to get accomplished with the segment, but from there a lot of times, they let me go fill in the blanks and paint the picture. Then, I can go back and give them my ideas of what I am thinking and whether something is good, or if I have some questions it is a really cool atmosphere."
Aries then praises the current leadership at Impact. He states the importance for companies to identify which superstars need micromanaging and which superstars don't.
"It is very collaborative, which it should be. I think the thing is with a strong leadership is that you know the guys that need to be managed and the guys that can kind of manage themselves because you know you can't give everybody equal times," he said. "I am grateful to know that they can leave me alone and take care of whatever I need to take care of which leaves time for the young guys and girls who are where I was 10 years ago when I needed that guidance and leadership. Micromanage where it should and otherwise get out of the way and let people do what they need to do, which is why you brought them there to begin with."
Aries also talks about not watching a lot of professional wrestling these days and many more topics regarding his career in the business.