How AEW Turns Trash Into Treasure

Candice LeRae Shayna Baszler
WWE.com

AEW takes fading stars and reheats them by instantly promoting them as big deals, in contrast to the younger stars the company is very careful to delineate as talents to keep an eye on. It’s an ambitious approach loaded with risk—AEW debuted Jack f*cking Swagger on TNT—but the conviction and imagination gets it over.

This all ties in with the idea that angles, not matches, are going to settle this emerging Wednesday Night War. AEW, to quote the driving force behind it, is doing the work. NXT, in contrast, asks the audience to do the work on its behalf.

That approach has not retained viewers, even when unopposed. The formula is basic—too basic—and the presentation of the angles is contrived. A star wins a match. The celebration is cut short by the sting of an entrance theme. An over or returning star emerges on the entrance ramp. Mauro Ranallo, putting in more of a shift than creative, sells the show-down as something monumental in that excellent combat sports voice. A challenge is hinted towards with a silent expression or brief, basic dialogue. Each pair of eyes is fixed on the other. The live crowd reacts; the crowd at home in meant to infer this.

NXT books match graphics, not matches.

CONT'D...(4 of 5)

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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!