AEW To Ban Chair Shots To The Head

AEW will no longer allow wrestlers to perform unprotected chair shots to the head, according to a report in SB Nation.

The move comes following the protracted controversy that surrounded an in-ring segment between Cody Rhodes and Shawn Spears at Fyter Fest. At the culmination of the time limit draw between Rhodes and Darby Allin, Spears appeared in the ring and hit his forthcoming opponent in the top of the head with a chair.

Rhodes crumpled to the floor, bleeding from the back of the head, before being helped out of the ring. Given the issues surrounding concussions the move was widely criticised in both fan and media circles, but it appears as though this will bet the first and last one in the company as the organisation will be outlawing the spot going forward.

AEW Owner Tony Khan responded quickly following the incident, revising the company's safety practices internally before speaking publicly. “You could build the safest airplane in the world, and if there’s pilot error, there’s pilot error,” Khan said in his press conference, “That was not good". The reports in SB Nation, attributed to "a source with firsthand knowledge of the situation" state that this will not be allowed either on TV or PPV going forward.

The decision will likely be greeted warmly by those in the business, with numerous former pros and medical experts speaking publicly about the dangers concussions pose to the human brain. While the spot has certainly driven interest in the match ahead of tonight's AEW All Out PPV, it's incredibly unlikely it'll be seen again.