8 Things You Didn't Know Were Banned In AEW
5. Taking Certain Independent Bookings
Frankly, AEW benefits from how terrible WWE is - or at least was, if you're under the belief that Papa H is the saviour - in both its creative approach and brutal schedule.
It's the reason the company exists in the first place; the early 'Change The World' marketing catchphrase was practically a euphemism for "WWE is absolute sh*te lads, let's face it, and we think there are enough of you lapsed cynics to make a new national promotion viable".
It was the company that prided itself on not being WWE and positioned itself as the babyface to the heel monopoly.
Wrestle in the style you like, you don't need to be told how to work in some Performance Center! Cut your own promos! You don't have to work house shows! But if you do want to supplement your experience and income on the indie circuit, have at it!
This is where the flattering comparison to WWE comes in; while AEW does treat its talent as independent contractors, it's only on a "...more so than WWE" basis. In WWE, it was always a bullsh*t classification, but even in AEW, who will allow its talent to work elsewhere - FTR are currently completing a dream match checklist in 2022, for example - the promotion appears to have more say than you might think.
This is at least according to Brian Cage, who when speaking with GV Wire earlier this year indicated that he was unable to earn a few extra bob over WrestleMania Weekend because Tony Khan "prefers" that AEW talent don't work smaller shows. The belief - again, according to Cage - is that Khan is wary of his talents feeling lesser than WWE by working around the outskirts of its annual city-wide festival.