10 Wrestling "Botches" That Were Totally Intentional

7. Don Callis Enables Suspension Of Disbelief

PAC Thumb FINAL
AEW

On the Full Gear 2021 go-home show, AEW concocted a tremendous go-home angle that glowed with Kenny Omega's trademark deep thinking.

He and Hangman Page conducted a professional conversation in a high-stakes, understated big-sell designed to portray the upcoming match as a serious contest informed by two years of emotional gravity. Of course, this was undermined by Omega's heel chicanery, which was deftly obscured by a fantastic deliberate botch.

The camera operator kept blocking various shots. It was distracting, but not to an extent that it ruined the angle. "Noticeable" is a better word. This was a gorgeous and realistic detail because the camera operator wasn't a camera operator; it was Don Callis masquerading as one, and he naturally wasn't very good at pretending to do the job. Ultimately, this was a dorky little detail that wasn't of any real importance - it was just rewarding to those pedantic tw*ts, like your writer, who appreciate them.

On a less ideal note, this winning subtlety also worked because AEW's production unit isn't quite perfect.

It all added up to make the babyface look less like an idiot, which is the most important thing.

 
Posted On: 
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!