10 Important Decisions AEW Have To Make
Ten important decisions that could define AEW's legacy as they prepare to debut on TV in October.
With WWE seemingly acknowledging their "new competitor" in their Q2 conference call, it seems AEW is officially on the radar. But just like WCW and IMPACT before it, there are many decisions that can bring you from competitor to outcast in the wrestling world.
The multitude of bad decisions leading to the death of TNA and birth of IMPACT should serve as a cautionary tale. There was a moment in time when people realistically believed that they were the new big dog coming for WWE's head. But they ended up spending most of their time chasing their own tail.
AEW can't be the new WCW, or the better TNA. They need to build something all their own that will stand alone as WWE's greatest threat ever. And a lot of that will come from the decisions they make. They can't ignore what has caused other companies to fail in the past. History is bound to repeat itself, but AEW cannot. For example, not hiring Vince Russo as their head writer or Hulk Hogan to do anything is a good start. Now they just need to keep on the right track with what comes next.
10. CM Punk
After Jon Moxley stood on top of the poker chips at Double or Nothing, you could hear the fans start to murmur: If they can get Moxley, could they get Punk? The signing does make sense in what AEW is trying to build. Much like Jon, Punk had a negative experience and exit from the WWE. After years of dedication and building his name in the indies to become a mega star, he got fired on his wedding day. Definitely enough reason to support the competition.
No doubt commanding a massive pay day in the process, Punk could be open to a return. Many fans point to All Out being in Chicago, Punk pencilled for Starrcast III, and the red stars on the posters as confirmation. Even his most recent comments about getting a text offer from AEW and Cody saying he "wouldn't be surprised to see him back in WWE" all seem to make fans' belief intensify. Perhaps he could get himself involved in the main event, staking his claim for a shot at AEW gold. Maybe even a Chris Jericho and CM Punk feud on AEW soil just in time for television.
But the question becomes: is it worth it for AEW? A huge contract to an inactive ring performer is much different than catching Moxley on his way out of WWE. A move like this could bring comparisons to WCW, grabbing already established stars and signing them to big deals. But the consensus here is that this one should be a no brainer. But what if this does become a pattern?