10 Dumbest Wrestling Props Ever
8. A Hat
Do you want to know why AEW won the Wednesday Night War, which was never going to swing back in NXT's favour before it was shunted by the NHL?
It wasn't because the pro wrestling media is biased.
It wasn't because, as Vince McMahon and Triple H both suggested, that AEW was "new". NXT UK was new when it debuted, and nobody watched that.
Nor was it because Tony Khan paid for the seats himself and handed out tickets to people on the street, which was quite possibly the most deranged and desperate take unleashed by people who really should see somebody.
It was because NXT told stories that weren't remotely engaging, where AEW's framework generated stories worth investing in. The secret to AEW's booking, since they actually adhered to it, is that every match has ramifications. Winning matters. Winners advance up the card. There are stakes to every match, even the meh undercard attractions.
Without a rankings system in place, and his booking magic fading, Triple H lost sight of the NXT's underdog feel-good factor. Instead of telling stories, he thought of silly nothing premises to arrive at matches that were guaranteed bangers. It was easy, hollow, and not particularly essential.
KUSHIDA Vs. Cameron Grimes was a ***3/4 match on paper, but it was booked because KUSHIDA stole his hat, so who could possibly give a sh*t?