10 Things Everybody Gets Wrong About AEW

8. "The Dark Order Is Hokey"

Brandi Rhodes AEW
Lee South/AEW

The Dark Order act looks hokey, but it isn't hokey at its narrative core.

That infamous air-punching, throat-f*cking closing angle was not well received, at all, but the overarching take - "spooky bullsh*t has no place in AEW" - is misguided. Maybe. It's tricky. Is there a supernatural component to the Dark Order? In a vignette, they spoke to Alex Reynolds through his TV set. Was this to be taken literally, or was it a crisis of mentality dressed up in pro wrestling theatre?

Regardless, this isn't tacked-on, let's-do-some-spooky-stuff for the self-professed "buffet" that seeks to appeal to every wrestling fan. The Dark Order fit neatly into AEW's holistic "wins and losses matter" mentality. An act loses, ritually. They - the Beaver Boys, and as foreshadowed, Brandon Cutler - begin to feel like losers. The Dark Order include them to make them feel less like losers. The Dark Order lend gravity to the thematic framework of the company, and it's tethered to reality more so than supernatural hokum. The creepers are in fact disaffected incel types inducted as mere grunts to allow the top guys to win; in that respect, the act at its core is no different to a stable like Evolution or the nWo, even the Inner Circle. The top guys are manipulating the lower tier to preserve their power.

The presentation (so far) is bad; the concept is not.

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!