10 Worst Moments In AEW History

5. “December 18”

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On December 18, 2019, the risible Dark Order and their profoundly unthreatening “creepers” drew fake blood from the throat of Matt Jackson, treated Kenny Omega like an underling, and, when attempting to punch Dustin Rhodes, missed by a good foot. These creepers, clad in black lycra, resembled the interpretive dancers in the most pretentious amateur play you’ve ever been forced to watch. 

This atrocious, unacceptable scene could only be described as what wrestling must look like to the non-fans who think you think it’s real. 

Widely and heavily panned, this angle almost single-handedly killed the idea of AEW as an alternative for the discerning fan. 

This, you could argue, was the best thing that could have happened to the promotion. Tony Khan disbanded the old booking committee comprised of himself and the Elite, scrapped plans for their big Dark Order programme, and took the lead creatively, resulting in what might remain the outfit’s true peak: the build to Revolution 2020. 

Or, alternatively, Tony Khan should have trusted his instincts all along - and then continued to trust his gut instead of listening to the various egomaniacs and carnies who would continue to get in the way…

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!