Since the passing of Jon Huber (Brodie Lee in AEW) on December 26, 2020; Brodie Jr (-1 in AEW) has become a regular on various AEW programming.
Brodie Jr has cut promos, accompanied members of Dark Order to ringside, and gotten involved in the action at times in AEW. It was also revealed that Brodie Jr signed a contract with AEW that kicks in when he turns 18, assuming Brodie Jr. wants to continue with his wrestling career.
While most fans have enjoyed Brodie Jr's presence on AEW television, there have been criticisms of his appearances following his father's death. Taking to her Instagram stories, Jon's wife and Brodie Jr's mom Amanda addressed any criticism.
“I’ve loved pro wrestling my entire life. It’s been my world for 19 years now. I still love it more than most things in this world.
I try to ignore the s--t online, but know I see it. I see the snide comments about Brodie’s involvement. The use of the word exploitation. It’s disheartening.
Our world crumbled.
AEW has helped us pick up the pieces.
It’s easy to be distrustful of any corporation and I’d be lying if I didn’t constantly think the rug was going to get pulled out from under me. It hasn’t. Even when it felt like everything was pulled out from under me, this wasn’t.
They let Brodie feel like he’s a part of something. Notice there’s no storylines involving him. Just him being connected to a huge part of him that’s missing.
What everyone doesn’t see on the other side of social media is a kid who is carrying so much grief yet so much joy. A kid who is excelling in his therapy. A kid who despite the worst few months of his life got 10-A’s and 3-B’s on his report card last week. On days we go to AEW you are all missing him doing his school work from a hotel room because going to AEW is a privilege. Or sitting with Aunty Megha working in math problems.
They also make me feel like I’m a part of something. We make the drive every other show so I can spend time with people who remind me of the best parts of being alive. People like @meghalegalgirl10 & @margaret.stalvey who sit in the crowd next to me and let me vent & cry & laugh & breathe in a world that wants me to be weighed down with grief.
My Instagram isn’t grief porn. It’s never going to be a place where I want people to come and feel sorry for me. It’s photos of my journey. So come join me. Just know I didn’t die the day my husband did, I’m very much alive and full of fight. I’m not made of glass. I’m a diamond and like a wise friend shared with me, ‘hard times put the shine in the diamond’.”
Brodie Jr most recently appeared alongside Tay Conti on AEW Dark: Elevation and is scheduled to accompany John Silver to the ring for his AEW Dark match against John Skyler on the March 16 episode of the program.
TJ Wilson (Tyson Kidd in WWE) spoke about his training sessions with Brodie Jr and his enthusiasm for wrestling. You can find his comments by clicking here.