8 Ups & 3 Downs From AEW Collision (June 17)

Downs...

3. We Need To Talk About Wardlow...

A year ago, it seemed destined that Wardlow would be the one to topple MJF for the AEW World Championship as and when the Salt of the Earth inevitably won the promotion's top prize.

Now? Not so much so.

To say the booking of Wardlow across these past 12 months has been odd, would be a monumental understatement. The War Dog has gone from can't-miss main event prospect, to an utter afterthought. Sure, he's had three reigns as the TNT Champion since this time last year, but the powerhouse is treading water right now.

This is no fault of the talent himself, but where does Wardlow find himself moving forward? Does he get revenge on Christian Cage and Luchasaurus, and claim back the TNT Title? That could once again place him in the same sort of rut he's been in. Does Wardlow move on to something or someone else? Possibly, but it's hard right now to take him seriously as going after someone higher up the food chain, with him positioned like a nobody in recent months.

Tony Khan needs to decide just how much potential he thinks Wardlow has, and where he views the former Pinnacle man in a year or more's time. If Wardlow really is seen as a future top tier player, there needs to be significant adjustments made to his presentation right now.