10 Biggest AEW Scandals

1. Not EVERYBODY Is All Elite...

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The media blitz, vlogs and podcasts together paint a picture of AEW as a refreshing creative environment.

More acts are over in arenas than aren't, and they seem to get fired up at the prospect of performing using the artistic license with which they are trusted. Between lower third chyrons and short black-and-white films, opportunities to get over are awarded and taken, even if they last but seconds. These are small accompaniments to the patient, long-term booking ethos at the core of a promotion that is mostly a meritocracy. There are talents who get TV time because they are friends with the correct people, but, as yet, AEW hasn't pushed any performer - at least heavily - that fans aren't interested in. A mate of management doing an undercard job doesn't count.

It's a happy workplace with glittering morale. There's no such thing as a Triple H cupping his ear GIF.

Or at least there wasn't, until Brian Cage's wife buried AEW recently for refusing to do much at all with Brian Cage. Her criticisms took over the discourse a few weeks back. She claimed that Cage had everything, is a superstar, and AEW must be incompetent for not getting the most out of a talent that got over everywhere else.

This attempt to discredit AEW's rep didn't really work - Cage was a great upper midcard heel who didn't show the fire required to get his recent vengeful babyface arc over - but the days of keeping every talent happy are over, as was always going to happen following the aggressive roster expansion.

 
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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 current Undisputed WWE 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!