They're sending Hook, and he's got music, too.
AEW has added to their list of licensed music by licensing Action Bronson's 'The Chairman's Intent' for Hook's entrance theme. He joins Jungle Boy (Tarzan Boy by Baltimora) and Orange Cassidy (Where Is My Mind by The Pixies) among those with licensed music.
Speaking with Pitchfork, Hook shared that using the song was his idea, saying, “I’ve been an Action Bronson fan since I was in sixth grade. I would hear him shout out all these old school wrestlers, old school strong man shit, and all these old athletes. With that and the New York vibe, I had a feeling that my dad would fuck with it as well. When I showed him, he loved it.”
Hook's father, Taz, became friends with Action Bronson not long after learning about his music and, as it turns out, the rapper was a fan of his and grew up watching ECW. “Recently Taz hit me up saying that Hook was making his debut and they wanted to use that song,” Bronson said. “I was like, ‘Absolutely.’”
AEW President Tony Khan also commented on the matter, saying, "I liked it; I liked the idea, and I wanted to support them. We reached out to the publishers and we worked something out. I am paying a fee, but they probably could’ve raked me over the coals a lot more than they did. It seemed like they wanted to work out something fair, so I was OK to pay a fair fee. It’s a great song, and Action Bronson’s a great guy.”
For Khan, who has been trying to cultivate the feel of ECW in certain respects, particularly in relation to the use of mainstream music, licensing 'The Chairman’s Intent' was described as “an investment in the presentation of a very important young wrestler.”
Hook makes his in-ring debut on tonight's episode of AEW Rampage when he takes on Fuego Del Sol. The match was filmed this past Wednesday following Dynamite. Hook commented on how it felt and said, “It was hard as fuck, honestly. It was tough, man. I was excited. I felt like I could run through a brick wall before going out there. Having Action Bronson for my debut in New York? It was surreal.”
Fightful will have live coverage of AEW Rampage this evening beginning at 10 p.m. ET with a post-show review immediately following its conclusion.