10 Reasons Why The AEW Backlash Is Irrational

7. And Hell, Even If They Were...

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AEW

AEW books hosses now. AEW books a sh*tload of hosses. There is enough beef in AEW right now to kill Red Barclay.

This take - this bad faith take - is now formally antiquated.

Brian Cage's appeal lies in how ripped he is, but how his musculature doesn't stop him working a modern athletic style. He is explosive enough to launch into strikes, and gets around that ring very quickly, but is equipped with the power to hand him a kayfabe advantage over the peers that look frail in contrast to him. The broken brain could make the argument that he's not a traditional hoss, and that he doesn't work a style too removed from that which AEW is criticised for (which, again, is bad faith, since WWE NXT is at least equally indulgent)

But Lance Archer is a big man. He works like a big man. Everything he does, he does to accentuate his frightening height and power, from his lunging pounce to his Blackout finish that looks like he launches it from the top of a skyscraper. Wardlow is an awesome '90s power move throwback; Brodie Lee, give or take a suicide dive (that looks tremendous) is a giant of a boy.

To deny it is to say that 2+2 = Marko Stunt is tiny *cry-laugh emoji*.

AEW lauded itself as a professional wrestling "buffet", and has now comprehensively substantiated the marketing.

 
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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!