10 Ups & 10 Downs For AEW In 2019

8. Depth In The Tag Ranks

SoCal Uncensored Ricky Havlik
AEW (Ricky Havlik)

The booking hasn’t always been perfect, but the level of depth on AEW’s tag roster is astounding and should help them take what is already the best duos division in mainstream wrestling (a low bar, admittedly, even in New Japan) to the next level in 2020, as the lesser-known tandems start catching on to greater degrees.

The Young Bucks, Proud & Powerful, Lucha Brothers, and inaugural champions SoCal Uncensored are known, bankable commodities with established qualities and reputations. Private Party, though green, are captivating at their best. Jurassic Express have an over big guy/little guys dynamic, Best Friends are much more than certified boy-poppers, The Dark Order’s rebirth as incel cult leaders is well underway, and Hybrid 2 are excellent gatekeepers. Alliances like Cody and Dustin Rhodes can be thrown together on a whim at any time, too, while CIMA’s Strong Hearts boys are ready to be brought in on occasion as well.

It’s a stacked roster that should yield greatness once the tiers become clearer, particularly if the younger teams develop the way they should.

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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.