The Secret Genius Behind AEW’s Talent Roster

Jon Moxley
Ricky Havlik/AEW

The structure and personnel of this talent roster is key to understanding AEW’s various philosophies. It is conspicuously low on established, quasi-mainstream performers—by design.

The top of the AEW card incorporates names known to and beloved by the core audience. Kenny Omega, the Best Bout Machine, is an objective draw and the consensus best performer on the planet—and if Will Ospreay has surpassed him this year, Omega is talented and driven enough to reclaim the throne. The handsome and charismatic Hangman Page is a TV star on the wrong platform. Or at least, he was.

Chris Jericho underwhelmed at NJPW Dominion on Sunday, but this is a man defined by reinvention and motivated, through arrogant hatred, to make fools of his “mark” detractors. Cody has perfected and made fashionable a classic style so many lapsed fans mourn. The Young Bucks, as both state-of-the-art athletes and tenured psychologists, are at this point the best version of every great tag team. Jon Moxley is the hottest thing going in pro wrestling. In 2011, in a dilapidated FCW warehouse, he promised to blow the doors off everything you thought you once knew about this industry. In 2019, that promise has materialised in genuinely life-affirming fashion. Each main event act is in, or is rapidly approaching their prime, Jericho acting as the rule-proving exception.

AEW’s main event scene oozes quality, aura, versatility, a cool factor, established quality and potential alike—but it is that emerging undercard that holds the secret.

The roster has caused consternation within some circles. Some are concerned that the relative lack of marquee names is toxic to the company’s mainstream ambition. Philosophies don’t draw. Astute marketing doesn’t draw. Potential doesn’t draw. Pro wrestling is a star-driven industry, and AEW’s roster is comprised of more relative unknowns than household names.

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Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and surefire Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!