10 Ups & 10 Downs For AEW In 2019

9. Keep It Clean

Chris Jericho Aubrey Edwards
AEW

AEW has promised more clean finishes with fewer distractions, interferences, disqualifications, and other cop-outs from day one, with Tony Khan going out of his way to stress this during an appearance on Wade Keller’s podcast on the eve of Dynamite’s launch. Delivering on these promises has been one of their biggest successes to date.

F*ck finishes are few and far between. You’ll get an interference every other show, though Jake Hager running down to bludgeon an opponent on Chris Jericho’s behalf is far more palatable than referee Aubrey Edwards getting distracted by someone on the apron, or a babyface getting his attention diverted and rolled up. The bookers aren’t afraid of doling out clean pinfalls and submissions to service a story and it works by preserving the “real-sport feel” and appealing to anyone sick of such tropes.

The byproduct of this is that when AEW does eventually pull off a disqualification or other form of f*ckery, it won’t feel tired or overdone.

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Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.