On June 30, 2021, Sonjay Dutt signed with AEW as a producer. It wasn’t until April 6, 2022 that Dutt made his debut on AEW television to signal his new on-screen role as a manager.
On a recent edition of The Sessions with Renee Paquette podcast, Dutt discussed the origins of his “Pencil” gimmick.
The pencil behind Dutt’s ear has become a big part of his character, and the man himself shared how it started in the first place. He said,
“I’m looking at about a hundred “Property of Sonjay Dutt” pencils right now. Where that started, so. Lethal and I were about to do our first shot when we got linked together. And I had my pencil, which was always there. This is not something that I concocted for this gimmick. I always have the pencil in the ear, I love to take notes, that’s the only way I can actually function. You asked me earlier how do you function, a lot of it is taking notes. I always have my green little book, my moleskin, and my pencil.”
“So Lethal says take your pencil out, we’re about to do this live shot. I looked at him and said you know what, I should keep it in. It just stayed in from there.”
Dutt further explained why he puts the pencil behind his ear instead of keeping it in his pocket. He said,
“One week, I remember a pen had exploded in my suit jacket. So I switched to pencils, and I always would put it in the back of my ear because [I don’t have to think which pocket], it’s always in my ear. It just kind of stuck.”
“I have a little silver portable sharpener that I have in my suit coat pocket, that is always there ready to sharpen. There’s nothing better than a finely sharpened #2 pencil, Renee. (laughs)”
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