10 Secrets Behind The Rise Of AEW

8. The Real Start Of It All Nearly Didn't Happen

Becoming All Elite
Being The Elite

The success of Being The Elite informed the complexion of and confidence behind the All In endeavour.

Between footage of an exhausted Matt and Nick Jackson making the towns and daft one-off skits, the YouTube series evolved into a compelling episodic beast that both supplemented ROH and NJPW canon and carried the warming vicarious hangout vibe of a sitcom. The comments sections under BTE during its 2017/8 peak often claimed that it was a better show than WWE Monday Night RAW.

It was shorthand that initially served to put it over by enthralled fans as a tribalistic dig - a daft YouTube series is better than the wrestling flagship! - but when the events of the show overlapped with ROH Supercard of Honor XII, it was very much true. The show was incredible, as hilarious as it was laden with must-see plot threads.

It almost didn't happen.

Kenny Omega was apprehensive about filming a proper road diary. It didn't seem like a fun use of his time; he much preferred the BTE precursor in which he and the Bucks created silly six-second videos on Vine, and had to be talked into a longer-form continuation.

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!