Lance Archer has been in NJPW in recent months, taking part of World Tag League and team with Minoru Suzuki.
Before making the trip to Japan, Archer had been a regular on AEW Dark programming, but not AEW Dynamite or AEW Rampage.
Following the final bout of Suzuki-gun at the December 23 Road to Tokyo Dome event, Archer cut a promo and let out some frustrations, saying he was tired of doing nothing and wanting AEW to "stop bullshitting" him when he returned.
Appearing on Busted Open Radio, Archer clarified his frustrations with AEW.
"Everybody lets something out here and there, once in a while. There was a little angst coming out. Like I said in the promo, I come in and kick ass, I don't kiss ass. I do my part. Now it's up to other people. I don't take anything away from my time with every company I've been a part of. The fact that you're congratulating me on the successful stuff I've done in Japan recently is all because the company allows me to do it. There are not a lot of places and opportunities that can and do allow the talent to go and be part of other bookings, companies, and places. I'm very grateful for my job. I don't want my frustration to come across as I'm being ungrateful or not happy with the job that I do have. I just know what I could and should be doing. It kind of boils over once in a while. It's not a knock on anyone in particular, it's just the situation at hand. I know what I could and should be doing," he said.
Archer continued, "That's why I continue to say I'm very grateful for being part of AEW and what they allow me to do. Otherwise, those opportunities wouldn't exist. I'm going to continue to push forward, that's what I've always done. The little bit of frustration, if you watch that promo, wasn't just in one place, it's kind of been my whole career. I know what I could and should be doing and I'm ready for it to happen now."
When asked where he sees himself on the card in AEW, Archer replied, "For me, personally, I've be a part of the company and big situations, fighting for the main title and the TNT title two different times, fighting and successfully winning the IWGP US Title against Jon Moxley. I think I've created a base to who I am in the company, but things have kind of gone awry. I'm okay with the idea of a slow rebuild and reinventing myself and finding my place within the company to get back to fighting for those championships. I understand, right now, just jumping into that picture, may or may not be something that the fanbase can accept because you have guys like MJF that just absolutely encapsulated the wrestling world, Ricky Starks, and all these names that have been built to that point. I have a good base, I think I need to be rebuilt, and I think I can. That's what can start with the 'Murderhawk Monster' and get back to the point of fighting for those championships and being a champion."
Archer has been aligned with Jake Roberts for the majority of his AEW run, although they haven't always been on-screen together due to Jake's health issues.
When asked if he still wants to work with Jake, Archer said, "I would love to still be with Jake. He's worked on his health. He's gotten his health under control, he was recently in San Antonio talking with the company and they are happy with where he's at and what he's doing. It could be a great part. I don't think there was ever a point where Jake and I grew apart, there was just situations with his health and the direction I was going that separated us, but it didn't take us apart. I didn't turn on him, he didn't turn on me. It's possible he and I could be back together. Part of that rebuilding is with Jake 'The Snake' Roberts and the 'Murderhawk Monster' Lance Archer."
It is unknown when Archer will return to AEW television. Fans can read Jake's comments about returning to AEW by clicking here.
Fans can find results from the final Suzuki-gun match by clicking here.
If you use any of the quotes above, please credit the original source with a h/t and link back to Fightful for the transcription.
