How AEW Just Took Fan Service Too Far

by Michael Sidgwick
Cody Rhodes
Scott Lesh Photography/AEW

The TNT Championship feels like an uninspired vehicle to do that. The joy of Jungle Boy's match with Chris Jericho late last year was in measuring his proximity to a legend, as much as the wild dynamic in itself. With a designated division of midcard acts all but imminent, this narrows similar creative opportunity - particularly since, with a rating to grab or a segment to fill, there is a shiny new temptation to build matches with tropes, and not imagination - contention battles and the like.

Perhaps this is another anxiety stemming from a brain broken by WWE. AEW has thus far subverted our expectations of contract signings, of long-term storylines, of gimmick matches, of so much that has long lost all meaning and purpose. But for now, this feels like a generic idea - a misstep designed to appease fans and possibly talent. Appease is not the same as 'award'. It's nowhere near as powerful.

Cody is going to have to sell the sh*t out of - and compete for - this TNT Championship.

It's more pyro than unscripted promo on the list of demands.

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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 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!