7 Promises AEW Have Made Since Launching (But Haven't Kept)
4. No "Ridiculous" Storylines
Another one from Tony Khan's appearance on Wade Keller's podcast, this promise saw the AEW President note that while the company's storylines wouldn't be lacking in drama, they'd stem from what happens in the ring, personal issues, and grudges. There'd be less focus on what he called "preposterous, ridiculous" angles; music to the ears of fans sick of such things in other American promotions.
While the bulk of AEW's biggest storylines - from Cody vs. Chris Jericho to the ongoing Kenny Omega/Hangman Page/Young Bucks saga - do fit this remit, you don't need to look far for examples that don't.
The Dark Order's vignettes are immaculate but dragged down by the rest of their presentation, with the goofy cult languishing from an ice-cold debut and that disastrous 18 December angle. The Nightmare Collective's spooky nonsense is the biggest blight on Dynamite at the moment. Kris Statlander, a tremendous wrestler, is playing an alien on national television. The Butcher and The Blade have become literal butchers using literal blades to hack meat in vignettes.
None of these things has anything to do with wrestling (or, indeed, sport) and while they vary in quality, they don't fit the product that was initially promised.