All Elite Wrestling has set a new path for a professional wrestling company. But they have failed on their first plan for success.
Back in January 2019, along with several cringe worthy TNT commercials, AEW was born based on the idea of them being wrestling’s outcasts, the “underdog”, and “it’s us vs. them.”
Barely two years later, the original concept of the company has failed to be what they have just become.
Now let me first be clear and honest:
Yes the relationships with NWA, Impact, AAA, and now apparently New Japan are cool. It allows to get creative with matchups and tie up some angles left open across the world. The idea of Omega vs. Okada on TNT is indeed mind blowing.
Tony Khan for now is the main one benefiting from this. Sooner or later Don Callis is going to want his piece, as will Billy Corgan. NJPW is use to having their way with their relationships (just ask ROH if they ever recovered from NJPW dominating them). AAA is a bit unhappy but is still playing ball due to Omega being their champ, but what happens when Khan is going to be asked to give back?
He hasn’t been asked yet and he is very protective of his talents as he should be. Hopefully everyone can play nice with each other.
Now with that said, let’s look at the other side of this.
It’s the side no one wants to acknowledge or talk about.
It’s the fact that AEW on its own has failed. It is apparent that AEW is going to be focusing on its top matches with outside AEW talents featured.
So where is the opportunity? Where is the building of new top stars?
For everything AEW originally claimed to be, these new relationships to be kind, are stalling the development of new stars for the foreseeable future.
People are talking more about potential cross promotion matches then the current talent on the roster.
They promised diversity and yeah well that went out the window almost from the start, and this is not going to help that get any better. For the little company that was going to take on the world, the certainly need the world to take it on.
There is zero reason to believe these crossovers will not be a success, but it will be at the cost of the core of what AEW was supposed to be.
I am well aware of the heat this article will get me and to be honest, I do not care: The original Wednesday Night War is over and AEW lost.
Instead they decided to create a new war, let’s see where this one takes us and at what cost.
JCD