14 Ups & 5 Downs For AEW In 2021

6. AEW: The Promo Company

MJF CM Punk
AEW

Not since the halcyon days of mid-'80s JCP or 2000 WWF has a wrestling promotion boasted so many exceptional, diverse talkers.

CM Punk is reaching his caustic, quotable best, locating with trademark expert precision how to sell a fight, pop a crowd and be just enough of a prick to extract the most tension. MJF and Eddie Kingston were two worthy, different sparring partners; the former a performative, vicious peacock, the latter a raw, unhinged, hero who got so lost in the story that he looked perpetually on the verge of eruption. Don Callis was incredible in his role as a pompous d*ckweed, and his client, Kenny Omega, cycled through modes of irreverent wit and grandiose villainy.

Bryan Danielson's no-nonsense sh*t-talking supplemented his sh*t-kicking with brilliant understatement. Hangman Page's softly-spoken style endeared him to an empathetic audience and hid in plain sight the power of his fire. Arn Anderson was as good as he was in 1986, Taz was in typically brilliant, instantly bellicose form and Chris Jericho, when he wasn't doing lame singalongs, sold the living sh*t out of Blood & Guts with incendiary babyface spiels.

Dr. Britt Baker radiated as much harsh wit as star power. Cody captivated the same people he divided. Ethan Page's promo game was tight as his t*ts. Jon Moxley's bad mood deal, if tinged with a bittersweet note now, was terrifying. Lio Rush is a great, cocksure, collected presence.

Miro, Matt Jackson, Ricky Starks: all sold matches with their excellent skills, and encouragingly, several talents not known for their verbal ability are stepping up. Jungle Boy has learnt from Christian Cage's scathing sarcasm to justify his elevation.

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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!