15 Misconceptions About AEW You Probably Believe

8. “AEW Fans Are Easily Pleased Freakazoids”

Kenny Omega
AEW

This is one of the wilder critiques levelled against AEW, and what a self-own: the fans go nuts for almost everything!

Isn’t…isn’t that good?

Apparently not. You see, AEW fans making noise is evidence that they’ll eat anything up. This sort of atmosphere isn’t compelling evidence that AEW has developed a loyal, vocal, enthused fanbase. No. The fans are just dumb fools who will enter a state of slack-jawed bliss at the mere sight of a suicide dive.

Obviously, there’s a cult mentality within the AEW ultras contingent. There are people who refused to believe it was possible to question the idea that Kenny Omega, big match specialist, didn’t work a singles match at the first All In: London. There are people who will admonish you for saying that a bang-average episode of Collision is just a glorified Dark: Elevation. People like this exist in every single fandom.

The majority of AEW fans want a great, hot product. Christ knows we haven’t had to suffer so much cringeworthy talk of “restoring the feeling” if every AEW fan thought the feeling had never left.

If AEW fans were not discerning, you’d still be suffering through the harrowing slow motion Adam Cole comedy vignettes. You aren’t. AEW sensed that its discerning fans were not moved by the product of 2023 and 2024, and have made various, well-received changes to it.

This is a recurring theme of Tony Khan’s career as a promoter and booker, even if he sometimes takes too long to arrive at it.

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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!