How AEW Built The Perfect Tag Team Division

FTR Dynamite
AEW

Jim Ross had a conniption fit at the desk, and Chris Jericho called a backstage meeting demanding a consistent approach to rule enforcement. This did happen, to an extent, but, months later, AEW deftly folded this philosophical debate into onscreen canon.

Wrestling, and Christ knows we've seen the ugly side of this mentality in recent weeks, is all about getting away with it; a predetermined pseudo-sport, it functions to stretch the living hell out of suspension of disbelief. AEW, with the recruitment and booking of FTR, are getting away with bending the rules to maximise - and now, justify - the excess excitement of those cocaine bangers. Bring more of them on. Don't hold the tag rope. Dive more than strike. FTR's southern-style wars and the mentality that drives them will ultimately benefit from the glorious styles clashes to come. FTR Vs. Lucha Bros. books itself as a dynamic. Wrestling should be germane to wrestling and its stylistic differences as much as it is personal conflict.

AEW have perfected that, too.

SCU were better sentimental winners than they were World Tag Team Champions, in truth, not that they hadn't earned the distinction by grabbing the MVP crown in the very early days of AEW. The reign wasn't fantastic, overwhelmed as it was by a very uneven defence at Full Gear and an aborted draft of the Dark Order storyline.

AEW boasted the best tag team division in the world months and months before they perfected it, but that was the lowest of bars. NXT had de-prioritised its once-great tag team division since the move to USA; New Japan was shockingly apathetic; WWE's main roster is a joke that's not funny anymore.

December changed everything.

CONT'D...(2 of 6)

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Contributor
Contributor

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 surefire Undisputed WWE Universal 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!