10 Awesome AEW Booking Moments Nobody Ever Talks About
1. The Jon Moxley Vs. Kenny Omega Build
The Jon Moxley Vs. Kenny Omega programme was built before AEW Dynamite had refined itself as a near-perfect episodic TV programme; top-heavy on in-ring, to catch all-important early ratings, it wasn't yet secure in itself or maybe good enough to present the promo/match/angle buffet.
Moxley Vs. Omega was in fact a very well-built programme, but that is caveated. It splintered across several platforms over a snake-bit period through which Moxley's elbow injury delayed the blowoff. AEW didn't package it neatly nor clearly enough for the TNT audience, but for those dedicated hardcores, a great story was told.
Moxley attacked Omega in his statement debut. He looked at the state of play at Double Or Nothing, and reordered it to become the Ace. In an inspired development, he reframed his NJPW G1 run in AEW canon as a means of preparing for his All Out opponent.
In parallel, Omega entered Mox's domain by defeating Joey Janela in a tremendous, deranged match...on Dark. This was a strong if profligate story beat that would have far better enhanced the build, had it headlined Dynamite.
Moxley's threat to bring forth a level of "beautiful, glorious professional wrestling violence" not seen in decades was electrifying, scary, and ultimately substantiated.
Tremendous, if scattered, it nonetheless creates the foundation for the most compelling rematch in an age.