Sonjay Dutt Explains Decision To Join AEW, Making Sure His WWE Suits Didn’t Go To Waste
In January 2019, Sonjay Dutt signed with WWE in a producer role after serving as a producer in TNA/IMPACT, during and following his in-ring career.
Dutt would leave WWE in June 2021 and very quickly join AEW as a producer.
Speaking on the AEW Unrestricted podcast, Dutt explained his decision to join AEW.
“My previous employer, where I worked previously, I kind of didn’t see Sonjay Dutt fitting in with the future of that company. I made the moves that I needed to make to feel fulfilled professionally once again. Everything kind of happens for a reason and everything kind of worked out. Coincidentally, next week will be one year since I joined AEW. At the beginning, when you quit a job, it’s a bit taxing mentally to figure out if I made the right decision. I have a wife and kids, but I will say this, every single day in the past year since I’ve been in AEW, I realize that I made the right decision. Absolutely,” he said.
On-screen, Dutt wears a suit as he accompanies Jay Lethal and Satnam Singh to the ring. Backstage is no different and host Aubrey Edwards joked how Sonjay wears suits in AEW where there is no dress code.
“Where I worked for before, there was a dress code,” Sonjay exlpained. “I was never a suit guy, but when I learned there was a dress code, I said, ‘Everything that my father told me growing up,’ he instilled in me, ‘You have to look the part. You look professional for people to take you seriously.’ It never really stuck until my mid-30s when I got this job. ‘Okay, now I understand what he’s saying. This is why he was saying it.’ It stuck with me and I became a suit guy and started buying suits. It’s weekly television, there is a dress code and I dove in and fell in love with it. When I came here and realized it wasn’t necessary, I figured, ‘I have a closet full of suits, they are not collecting dust. I’m going to come to work, hope people take me seriously. It’s my first day here and I’m going to look the part.'”
Dutt hasn’t wrestled since 2017, but remains on television as the manager for his best friend Jay Lethal and Satnam Singh.
Lethal is set to challenge Samoa Joe for the ROH Television Title at ROH Death Before Dishonor. You can view the current lineup for the show by clicking here.
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