10 Times AEW Were Moments From Disaster

2. The First AEW Match Doesn't Take Place On An AEW Show...Or Have A Finish!

PAC turning up in full gear for the AEW launch press conference in January 2019 highlighted so much of the company’s original ethos.

’The BASTARD’ wasn’t announced ahead of time, but went nose-to-nose with Hangman Page as a way to reintroduce himself to North American mainstream wrestling following a WWE freeze out. Immediately setting up something of a dream match between a top star-elect that had called his spot as AEW Champion, the energy and enthusiasm was through the roof for both the the contest and the company's scope.

Unfortunately, PAC was unable to make the date/didn't wish to lose as Open The Dream Gate Champion for Dragon Gate (the story was never confirmed beyond speculation), and a make-good was agreed with Wrestlegate Pro in Nottingham to run the match as a surprise for the live crowd and YouTube. If all of that wasn't weird enough, it didn't go to a finish. This, more than the location of the match itself, stood in stark contrast to a crucial company tenet when the organisation launched for real.

 
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Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation nearly 8 years. He primarily produces written, audio and video content on WWE and AEW, but also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 35 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz" Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast and its accompanying YouTube channel, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 62,000,000 total downloads. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times, GRAPPL, GCP, Poisonrana and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has covered milestone events in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, London and Cardiff. Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in sports, music and culture magazines The Crack, A Love Supreme and Pilot. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it singing far too loud watching his favourite bands play live. Follow him on X/Twitter - @MichaelHamflett