9 Ups & 9 Downs For AEW In 2022

8. A Successful Balancing Act

FTR Acclaimed
AEW

Many might have this as a 'Down', but Tony Khan has performed a successful and sensible balancing act with FTR and the Acclaimed.

Wrestling fans want an act to get behind and an act to root against, even if the former isn't necessarily a babyface and the latter isn't necessarily a heel. As we've literally watched unfold several times over this year, it is a confusing, conflicting experience to watch two likeable performers work a main event storyline. You like them both, and as a result, you don't want to invest in either man losing. CM Punk lost something by going up against Hangman Page and Jon Moxley consecutively. Tony Khan actually thought about this suboptimal dynamic when faced with the dilemma of the FTR Vs. Acclaimed race.

Both caught fire as babyfaces, but they couldn't be pushed at the same level at the same time; there's only one AEW World Tag Team title, and if both teams feuded over it, neither would be as over as they are. You'd hear the same confused drone that has cloaked too many arenas this year.

Tony went with the Acclaimed, even though FTR are the better in-ring act, because they generate the same deafening pop but shift more merchandise and perform better in the Nielsens. They are one of the biggest draws in the entire company at this point.

FTR received the scant consolation prize that is the ability to make all of their career goals come true, between working revered 30 minute main events in New Japan Pro Wrestling, being managed by Bret Hart, partnering Ricky Steamboat, and wrestling the Briscoes in two wildly acclaimed dream matches...

...that were sanctioned by Tony Khan, but don't let that get in the way of a piss-poor podcast grift.

After a middling and convoluted start, marred by constant three-way matches and a dire Hardyz run, the AEW Tag Team division on the whole enjoyed a very, very good 2022 across its hilarious skits and emotionally charged in-ring output.

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Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!