8 Wrestlers Who Could Be Revealed As Leader Of The Dark Order
Exalted One, we knew you'd come...
As broken by the Wrestling Observer's Dave Meltzer, original plans for the 'Exalted One' - the leader of the divisive Dark Order act - called for the AEW debut of Marty Scurll on December 18.
This did not happen; in what could prove to be an inspired, company-saving masterstroke, Ring Of Honor offered Scurll a hugely lucrative deal - WWE main roster money for just 40 dates - and the booking pencil. This scuppered what was itself an inspired plan; Scurll, in Being The Elite canon, was left to rot by his stablemates. They formed AEW, as Scurll was contractually unable to join them, and the concept behind the Dark Order was premised on his revenge. Scurll, the Villain, was to insidiously control the company from beyond and attempt a full takeover once within. It was a great pitch - one made congruous with his motivation - but AEW were outbid.
AEW boast a strong track record of adapting plans gone awry. PAC's absence from Double Or Nothing created the Kenny Omega Vs. Jon Moxley programme, and his eleventh hour return informed its intensified bloodlust.
Is another masterstroke - one desperately needed to rescue an act that is dying on the vine - imminent?
8. Kevin Sullivan
Pros:
Knows his way around removing a hood to reveal himself. AEW, which is 95% brilliant, has this weird habit of thinking casual fans have deep knowledge of the Independent fringe (Butcher and the Blade) and the obscure reaches of the past (Dr. Luther) when debuting a surprise act.
Kevin Sullivan is famed for being spooky, more or less popularised spooky in modern pro wrestling, and the creative figureheads of AEW have shown keen interest in paying respect to pro wrestling's territorial past and mining it for ideas. Tony Khan has made clear his love for the territory days, and his idea to borrow from the Florida territory to get over AEW's signature Lights Out match is interesting; it was in the Sunshine State that Sullivan inspired the supernatural gimmicks that WWE became so beloved of, so the President is at the very least aware of the Prince of Darkness.
Cons:
His influence and attendant respect haven't made it through to 2020; a trailblazer in his time, Sullivan is too inextricably linked with the Dungeon of Doom to have survived in terms of credibility. Isn't going to grab a WON ****1/4 rating in a six-man tag.
Probability: 2%