10 Dream Scenarios For Wrestling's New BOOM Period

2. The Structure Of Contracts Changes

Bryan Danielson ROH Thumb
AEW

In general, the typical length of a wrestler's WWE or AEW contract runs longer than the character can stay over. 

A lot of AEW fans want Chris Jericho to go away, to use one example. Haunted by rumours, fading as a star, AEW feels stuck with him. The matches are rough, losing to him means nothing, and the alternative is that he starts to win. He has outlived his usefulness. 

It's not just Jericho: the relentless machinations of episodic wrestling TV damn everybody in the end. Jon Moxley is one of the coolest wrestlers of his generation. A great promo. An intense, credible ass-kicker with a style unique to himself. An aloof, blood-drinking, witty hero. But he's also getting a bit...familiar in AEW. Some really wanted him to take some time off in 2023, but were much nicer about it. It was more "Go on Mox, you'e earned it" and less "Please go away immediately, Chris, I'll drive you to the Fozzy tour myself". 

Wardlow is doomed to repeat his wins squashes/loses the big one/disappoints his boss/has match with boss/loses the big one loop. It's incumbent on the promoter to keep "at it" with their investment, but this often just results in the same stuff happening over and over again. There are a finite amount of things for a wrestler to do on a show that lasts forever. 

Deals need to be shortened underneath the main event crop.

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!