10 Booking Steps AEW Must Make Following Double Or Nothing 2021
8. Sign Some Dark And Dark: Elevation Regulars
When the COVID-19 pandemic setting in, AEW were forced to bulk tape their programming. The problem? Not all of their core roster were able to make it to these tapings due to travel restrictions. This did, however, mean that they could provide a platform for unsigned - and, often, unknown - independent talents to wrestle on their shows.
Since then, a good chunk of these names have grown to become huge factors on both Dark and Dark: Elevation, with some even making it on to Dynamite and earning a full-time contract in the process.
Keep this going.
It's been reported that Bear Country and Mark Sterling have officially put pen to paper, joining the likes of Lee Johnson and Shawn Dean. There's still room for more, though. 'Pretty' Peter Avalon's group come to mind immediately; why aren't JD Drake, Ryan Nemeth, and Cezar Bononi officially signed, at least that we know of, anyway? They've been in a regular role for months now, with big beefy Drake even challenging Darby Allin for the TNT Championship at one stage.
Simply put, if AEW are looking into expanding their roster, it makes more sense to binge sign these sorts of guys to fill out the roster with some future upper-echelon stars, rather than bringing in a chunk of released WWE names who will cause the main event scene to burst at its seems.