10 Ways AEW Has Made Other Wrestling Unwatchable

1. Pay-Per-View Builds

AEW Full Gear Set
AEW/Kevin Sullivan

Quite often, it never feels like there's a WWE pay-per-view days ahead of the Sunday on which it is presented. This isn't just because WWE only bothers to promote three or four matches ahead of time, rendering whatever is subsequently added automatically inessential.

The storylines in WWE don't escalate to this amazing, must-see crescendo. You are never so hyped that you can't stand the wait. Even the rare, very good storylines are squandered ahead of the shows. Bayley Vs. Sasha Banks happened on SmackDown and of course it went to a DQ. It's like they don't want you to want this.

They create the exact opposite of that undying need because they either don't know what the f*ck they are doing or they don't care, and think you're dumb enough to gratefully receive the constant drip of animal feed across TV and PPV. That, or they think Bayley is the heel because she deprived you of the match. Creative is the heel. We are intelligent enough to grasp this, but the kicker is that they think we are dumb. Some of you are, but that's by the by.

The wrestlers barely touch ahead of an AEW pay-per-view.

The tension is prolonged, enriched, in a bid to convince you to pay for the f*cking show this sh*t shouldn't be this f*cking difficult Jesus Christ

Contributor
Contributor

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!