10 Awesome Ideas That Were Cut From AEW
Kenny Omega Vs. Hangman Page was almost even more perfect...
AEW is not remotely shy about cutting sh*tty ideas.
It's actually a great value the promotion wears proudly; as Cody said in his seminal "Ellis Island" promo, they "listen". Nothing is ever perfect immediately, but the quest for perfection, driven by positive fan engagement, is admirable.
They listened when the Nightmare Collective turned packed arenas quieter than the April 2020 Dynamite tapings and abandoned the stable following widespread criticism. Similarly, they listened when the Dark Order initiation angle of December 18, 2019 was panned, and dropped what was to be a sprawling programme with the Elite in 2020. They listened when people started to roll their eyes at the constant interrupted backstage interviews last year; now, in a small, appreciated touch, two upcoming opponents will promote their fight in a prearranged backstage segment conducted by Tony Schiavone. This new way is far more sports-oriented than contrived sports entertainment.
They also listen to the talent; as this clip demonstrates, Jon Moxley clearly thought the flute solo in the Troggs' original 'Wild Thing' was not exactly badass, and Tony Khan forked out for the X cover version immediately thereafter.
Weirdly - for reasons that are understandable and otherwise - they have also cut some awesome ideas...
10. Blood & Guts Was Meant To Happen In FEBRUARY, Not March 2020
The date on the most cursed, depressing pro wrestling match graphic of all time reads March 25.
That was the date on which AEW was to debut its version of the WarGames attraction. The hype surrounding the match was monumental. It was thought - before AEW ultimately took the gimmick match in a more sports entertainment direction than was thought or indeed advised - that the promotion would nail the minimalist bloodshed of the original. This thing was fantasy-booked everywhere. (The best finish, incidentally, would have seen Hangman Page notice that Matt Jackson was selling his back in Chris Jericho's Liontamer and, because their mutual tension was so thick, surrender under an ambiguous motive).
It never happened, of course; as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the show was moved from the Prudential Center to an empty Daily's Place, and the creative decision was made not to squander a match in such bittersweet circumstances.
Per Talk Is Jericho, the original Blood & Guts - which would have been even better than the Newark match, since Nick Jackson would have been in it - was actually pencilled in for the February Atlanta Dynamite taping. The first ever WarGames match was held in that exact city, which inspired the pitch, but it was ultimately thought a more romantic idea than a good one. It would have removed focus from the Jon Moxley Vs. Chris Jericho main event at Revolution, and that was that.
For well over a year.