8 Things That Could Trigger AEW’s Downfall

7. Homegrown Stars Not Working Out Long-Term

Slowly cultivating a pool of homegrown talent around its all-star cast of those who have already cracked the mainstream has been a great triumph of AEW's first few years. MJF, 'Hangman' Adam Page, Jade Cargill, Britt Baker, Darby Allin, and more have emerged as attention-grabbing presences whose best years lie ahead, but have already captured the audience's imagination. That so many of these names stand as legitimate quarter-hour ratings draws shows Tony Khan's booking can get people over.

It's inevitable, however, that at least a few of those earmarked as future stars won't work out long-term. AEW is understandably banking on its younger wrestlers to carry the promotion forward once the Punks, Danielsons, and Omegas have sailed into the sunset, and has done a better job of future-proofing itself, talent-wise, than the other major American promotion. Nonetheless, the jury remains out on Page's ongoing World Championship reign (even if many of the complaints thrown at it aren't being made in good faith), Jungle Boy is yet to marry his explosive ring work to tangible confidence, and the gap between Baker's character work and wrestling remains.

None of the above is the finished article. At least some must become this long-term. Most have the potential to do so (specifically, Cargill and MJF), but ensuring they hit that level will be amongst AEW's biggest challenges over the next few years.