10 Ups & 10 Downs For AEW In 2019
Downs…
10. Lacklustre Entrance Music
While AEW’s entrance music situation isn’t as dire as harsher critics may profess (Kenny Omega, Cody, Hangman Page, Chris Jericho, and more all sport slick, professional-sounding joints), many of AEW’s stars walk out to lacklustre tracks.
Pride & Powerful’s music is too light and bouncy to fit a grimy heel tandem. The Lucha Brothers’ unimaginative trap farts around the dopy, dopy “Lucha Brothers, MexiKings / Cero Miedo, meet us in the ring” refrain. Jimmy Havoc’s track is a Jimmy Hart version of AFI’s “I Hope You Suffer” lacking in the original’s venom. Hybrid 2’s electronic beats sound like they were downloaded from a free production music website, as does Britt Baker’s synth-led butt rock. Brandon Cutler’s is way too imposing for someone whose appeal is that he’s an overmatched, unthreatening everyman who digs Dungeons and Dragons. The list goes on.
Entrance music is one of the most important parts of a wrestler’s presentation so while AEW’s isn’t as dire as it’s often made out to be, it’s a definite area for improvement. WWE remain the market leaders in this department. It’s up to AEW to catch up.