AEW's Secret Weapon (You Won't Want To Watch)

Joey Janela
AEW

The execution of the philosophy is lacking. Dark and Dark: Elevation are fun, if functional shows that exist to stat-pad records for no measurable benefit. The shows are at this point a secret of sorts that make more sense of the the rankings system and the goings-on in general. But most don't watch it, and there's little incentive to watch it; AEW only acknowledges the shows with a ticker tape graphic running down the results. Is a supplementary YouTube revenue driver - albeit one that doubles as an effective platform to hand raw talent reps - really worth rendering the most important revenue driver nonsensical to the vast majority of fans?

Or are the fans at fault for not watching everything?

It's an interesting question. Do they have an excuse not to watch? Writing as a generally effusive AEW critic, yes, they do. Dark and Dark: Elevation are inessential programmes. Certain feuds are isolated there, so it's not just a predictable blitz of squash matches, but it's difficult to watch something like Joey Janela Vs. Sonny Kiss - not without its charm and its graft - and consider it truly "Elite". Moreover, AEW was sold since its inception as an alternative to WWE. The quarterly pay-per-view model operates in total contrast to WWE's normalised calendar. It's almost a bit rich to ask every fan to sink so much time into these shows when the league was sold as something special and elusive - particularly since it feels like AEW is ashamed of Dark and Elevation almost. Private Party weren't put over for their hidden gem Dark: Elevation run because it didn't happen. They were simply "the number one ranked team". Elevation almost exists as a preemptive answer to a pedantic question more than an entertainment vehicle.

What's the solution?

CONT'D...(4 of 6)

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Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick (Creative Writing BA Hons) is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over a decade of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential UK 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 AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and 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!