9 Lessons AEW Should Learn From Revolution 2021
It is always better to under-promise and over-deliver than have a show end with sparklers.
What did you think of AEW Revolution 2021? Thumbs up? Thumbs down? Was AEW's first pay-per-view of the year a thrilling display of pro wrestling fireworks, or was it a damp squib exemplified by piddling pyrotechnics?
Somewhere in the middle, truth be told. There was a lot to love about this show and there was just as much to dislike, and a lot of that will come down to what you want from your professional wrestling. If you want classic matches with clean winners and obvious consequences, this might not have been the show. If you want cowboys drinking with cults, this was a lot of fun.
It won't go down in history as an all-time great AEW show, quite the opposite in fact, but there is plenty that the fledgeling company can take away from the event. Tony Khan and co are at a very exciting part of the promotion's existence, where there remains enough goodwill in the bank for mistakes to be made and lessons to be learnt.
If nothing is absorbed from the lesser parts of Revolution, this will go down in history as a decent show with an unforgettable ending, for all the wrong reasons.
The most important lesson is that exploding barbed wire deathmatches are never a good idea, surely?
9. Energetic Openers Are Always A Good Idea
AEW didn't get everything right with Revolution, but the promotion couldn't have chosen a better match to open the show. In fact, isn't it in everyone's interests if The Young Bucks defend the AEW Tag Team Championships in the opening match of every pay-per-view, at least until the time comes for them to drop them?
High energy opening matches are an absolute must for pro wrestling shows no matter the size or perceived importance. It is a trope as old as time, on echoed in rock albums and thriller novels alike, where the opening song and chapter is an in-your-face call to arms that gets the adrenaline pumping ahead of what should be an exciting time for all involved.
The Young Bucks vs. Chris Jericho & MJF was every bit the exciting opener that this show needed, despite the relatively old-school methodical style employed by the heels. Matt and Nick are absolutely perfect in this role, possibly the best to ever do it, and AEW is very lucky to have them. Nobody does thrilling tag team wrestling better, not now, not ever.
The Young Bucks vs. Whoever & Whoever should be every AEW pay-per-view opener, until the end of time.