Since the founding of AEW in 2019, numerous celebrities have appeared on the program or vocalized their support. Snoop Dogg, Stephen Amell, Kevin Smith, Rosario Dawson, T-Pain, and Shaquille O'Neal have all made an appearance at the wrestling company, and now, another notorious name has joined the list.
Martin Kove, who is known for his role as John Kreese in The Karate Kid and Cobra Kai, added his name to the list of AEW's All Elite celebrities. It has been 38 years since Kove first portrayed the role of Sensei Kreese in The Karate Kid. He not only played the role throughout the Karate Kid trilogy but reprised the role in Cobra Kai.
Kove made his AEW debut in a segment with the AEW Women’s World Champion, Dr. Britt Baker DMD, Jamie Hayter, Rebel, and Mercedes Martinez, who were being interviewed by Tony Schiavone. Baker warned Martinez that she needed to get the job done in her match with Thunder Rosa that was scheduled to take place later that night. Baker remarked that she had the best group behind her, as well as the best sensei. Once Martinez was out of earshot, Baker asked Kove what she should do if Martinez failed to get the job done. Kove remarked, “Finish her. No mercy.”
Throughout the segment, Baker sported a Cobra Kai t-shirt. Kove's remarks are a reminder of the phrase utilized by those who train at the Cobra Kai dojo: “Strike First. Strike Hard. No Mercy.” During the match between Martinez and Rosa, Kove would be shown in the audience, watching the match closely. Following Rosa's victory over Martinez, Baker, Hayter, and Rebel would appear, and Baker would once again turn to Kove for guidance. This ended with Martinez and Rosa suffering at the hands of the group.
Kove was not the only celebrity spotted at the AEW show. Earlier in the night, Melissa Joan Hart was spotted in the crowd. Unlike Kove, Hart didn’t involve herself in any of the onscreen matches or storylines and appeared only as a fan. As Kove tapped into one of his most iconic roles, it’s impossible not to value AEW's willingness to create an arc for those that want to involve themselves in the show directly. Even Dawson, who jumped on the back of Malakai Black, was supported by her friendship with Cody Rhodes, who feuded with Black at the time.
Even though Kove gave Baker and her crew some advice throughout his time at AEW, he will not be the last famous face to appear on AEW television. As AEW continues to expand the areas they perform in, they will continue to attract fans from all over the world, including a few celebrity faces here and there. While they may not get involved in the same way Kove did, he is far from being the last surprise up AEW's sleeve.
Source: AEWonTV