10 Terrible Wrestling Moments (Saved With One Genius Fix)

6. AEW's CONSTANT Backstage Interruptions

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AEW

The terrible moment:

AEW is in the dreaded in-between phase of its quarterly pay-per-view model, so the sky probably isn't falling, but Jesus H. f*cking Christ does it feel like the promotion is descending into self-parody with the ceaseless backstage interview interruptions. It's hardly something as a bad as an all-time WrestleMania disaster, but by AEW's typical standards, yes, this trope is terrible. Peel the roof off any arena AEW plays and take a peek. Heels roam the halls, waiting for their rival to talk. They're either hiding, or the babyfaces can't see two metres in front of them. Either way, it's a sh*tty, fake-feeling trope that they know is sh*tty and fake. They've taken the piss out of it often enough, via Eddie Kingston, and now, by running these contrived Rampage set-ups every week, they're taking the piss out of you.

The genius fix:

Create a set of rules and, consequently, a set of standards. Discipline drives creativity. Set a limit on how many interrupted promos (and post-match beat-downs, and obvious match results) occur on each episode. Recognise that not every minor TV match requires a contrived angle to build it. Embrace the concept of a simple fixture more often; it better maintains the illusion of a league.

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!