10 Ups & 7 Downs For AEW In 2020 (So Far)
7. A Genuine Youth Movement
Creating stars takes time. Rarely is an instantaneous process, particularly when starting from the ground-up, meaning levels of patience not normally associated with today's wrestling fanbase are required.
Everything is atomised in 2020 and attention spans are at an all-time low, leading to criticism when hot up-and-comers aren't immediately thrust into the same spotlights as the Jon Moxleys, Codys, and Chris Jerichos. This is unwarranted. Throwing a Sammy Guevara, Darby Allin, or MJF in at the deep end, when they weren't ready, could have drowned them, with AEW's slower, more meticulous star-building processes the smarter choice for long-term gains.
The aforementioned prodigies are all under 30. Each has made immeasurable gains since signing with AEW, but again: this time takes time. Guevara vs. Allin will be a pay-per-view headliner a few years from now. MJF, meanwhile, is well on his way to becoming pro-wrestling's greatest old-school heel. Give him another year or two and he'll be ready to replace Jericho forever.
Filling out the youth movement are the likes of Private Party, Jungle Boy, Sonny Kiss, Kris Statlander, Penelope Ford, Ricky Starks, as well as more obtuse talents like Wardlow and Austin Gunn, whose ceilings aren't as clear. Yes, Jon Moxley and Cody are on top now, but AEW is doing an outstanding job of gradually building the next generation, using the existing stars to hold the fort and draw money until they're ready.
Just be patient.