8 Ups & 1 Down From AEW Dark (Oct 15)

3. Making "Unsanctioned" Work

The unsanctioned stipulation is usually illogical tripe because why the hell would any wrestling promotion give airtime to a match they haven't authorised? If they're against it and don't want to acknowledge it, why would they do just that by conveniently setting 20-30 minutes aside and letting the wrestlers go at it regardless? It doesn't make any sense.

AEW have no found a way to make it make sense.

Unsanctioned matches work in this promotion because they don't contribute to the wrestlers' win/loss records. In AEW, "unsanctioned" doesn't mean unauthorised, just that, in Justin Roberts' words, the promotion "takes no responsibility for what's about to happen," and won't keep it on the participants' records. The wrestlers can do whatever the hell they want; they just get credit for it.

We saw it with Jon Moxley vs. Joey Janela at Fyter Fest and again last night. This is a neat little booking technique that allows them to book insane matches like this without complicating the rankings.

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Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.