10 Misconceptions About AEW You Probably Believe

4. The Wrestlers Don't Even Look Like Real Wrestlers

Adam Cole AEW
AEW

What does a real wrestler look like, anyway?

The perception of AEW as an irredeemable disgrace is shared by a cross-section of fans/trolls. They're either ultra hardcore Fed loyalists or acolytes of the Cult of Cornette. Cornette is hardly a Vince McMahon-like body guy. Above all else, he likes a rugged heel physique that isn't perfectly in shape. Look who he managed. Look who his favourite modern tag team is. Also: he's a huge fan of Adam Cole, as were ultra hardcore Fed loyalists when he headlined TakeOver shows.

So why, then, is Cole singled out for abuse?

It's because desperately unfulfilled people project their insecurities onto him. He's the strangest target. He's almost a parody of a handsome, successful man, and what's more, he knows he isn't the biggest guy and has developed a defensive counter-driven wrestling style that suits his body type.

These people can't even lick the boot correctly.

Powerhouse Hobbs, Keith Lee, Wardlow, Brody King, Lance Archer...AEW is positively teeming with giants. Jade Cargill is the most quintessentially WWE wrestler in wrestling, and she's All Elite.

Can't acknowledge that, though. The initials are different. The W is in the wrong place, there's only one of them, and what's that A doing there?

 
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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!