10 Times The AEW Locker Room Must Have Been VERY Awkward

5. When Santana And Ortiz (Allegedly) Fell Out

Santana Ortiz
AEW

It's one thing for two wrestlers who don't get along to work a programme against one another. It happens all of the time, is happening a lot in AEW at this very moment, and goes one of two ways.

1) The storytelling is magic because it's believable, at least in the inherently daft context of pro wrestling. The shots are stiff and unloaded with a furious zeal, the action is tight because there's no way they're getting upstaged by this pr*ck, and it plays out to a heightened atmosphere because it could all implode. It never does, but that is the magic, when worked correctly.

2) The wrestlers can't cooperate, and, not clicking harmoniously, they get lost in clunky sequences marred by eye-rolls and get out of holds with more petulance than worked struggle.

Imagine a tag team booked to be as close as brothers falling out, for real - as indicated by Konnan - and then having to pretend to get along. Also, imagine laying out a complicated match with both men in it. The vibe would be bleak, and while it wasn't too noticeable - since they were involved in a 10-man faction war - they walked around with faces liked smacked arses for a few months there.

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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!