Gail Kim isnâ€t backing down after sparking massive backlash over her controversial take on AEWâ€s Riho — and now she claims former AEW staffers are telling her they felt the same way.
During a recent appearance on the Huge POP podcast, Kim addressed the outrage that erupted when she said Riho wasnâ€t “believable†in the ring. She attempted to clarify the context behind her remarks, explaining that her discomfort came from watching a specific match where Rihoâ€s presentation made her uneasy.
According to Kim, it was the way Riho appeared — combined with an unfortunate camera angle — that triggered her discomfort, which ended up coloring her view of the match.
“For me I saw that one segment and I remember feeling uncomfortable. Because yes, she appeared to look very young and dressed in that match as a little girl in my mind. When the cameraman shot up her skirt, I felt uncomfortable and that set the tone for the match.â€
She went on to say that she believes the match may have been against Nyla Rose, and reiterated that her judgment had more to do with her own reaction to the presentation than Rihoâ€s skills.
“When I said she wasnâ€t very believable in that match, thatâ€s because I wasnâ€t comfortable from the start. If you get my terms… in this age of the child, the Jeffrey Epstein era, I just felt really uncomfortable and thatâ€s what I meant by it.â€
Kim then revealed that her concerns werenâ€t isolated. She claimed that people who used to work backstage at AEW confided in her, telling her they shared the same uneasy feelings.
“I actually had former AEW people who worked there, say to me, ‘I agree with you. I would be backstage and I felt the same way.â€â€
Despite everything, Kim tried to make it clear she wasnâ€t dismissing Rihoâ€s wrestling abilities altogether.
“Listen, not everyoneâ€s gonna feel that way but by no means is she not a believable wrestler in the current day — itâ€s just that I havenâ€t seen her.â€
This controversy exploded after Jim Cornette publicly supported Kim, leading to even more discussion about how Riho is portrayed on AEW television. Kim insists her comments stemmed from personal discomfort — not from an attempt to discredit Rihoâ€s talent — but the online wrestling community continues to be sharply divided.
Gail Kim says she was just being honest about how a single match made her feel. But when it comes to public perception, honesty might come at a price.
Please credit Ringside News if you use the above transcript in your publication.
Do you think Gail Kim was out of line, or did she just voice something others were afraid to say? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comment section below.
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