10 Things AEW Can Learn From WCW Nitro's Debut

10. Start Off With A Hot Match

Jushin Liger Brian Pillman
WWE.com

It's doubtful that many casual TV viewers knew who Jushin 'Thunder' Liger was when he entered the Mall Of America for the first match in WCW Nitro history. To their credit, rather than filling in the blanks, the announce trio of Eric Bischoff, Bobby Heenan and Steve McMichael let Liger's in-ring work do the talking.

The Japanese legend and Brian Pillman served up one of the most unique matches Monday nights had ever seen.

AEW must do the same. The start of their TV show is not a place for stars like Chris Jericho, Cody or The Bucks. That's pointless when they could capitalise on the sheer number of fresh eyes watching their product to present a match so hot it'd burn fan fingers if they even dared to pick up their remote controls.

It doesn't need to be a straight one-on-one match either. All Elite could get away with showcasing their new tag division, or perhaps they'd rather show off how good women's wrestling will be in the new company. One thing's for sure: that first match, just like Liger vs. Pillman was in '95, has to set the tone.

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.