How The Future Of Wrestling Might Be In Grave Danger

Wrestling is a teetering ladder bump in 2020.

by Michael Sidgwick
AEW Blood & Guts
AEW

Your writer, in an altogether different phase of lockdown grief, penned an article entitled 'How Exactly Wrestling Will Return Better Than Ever'.

It took an incredibly optimistic view of the morality of the North American government branches and wrestling and television industries, and a very, very naive understanding of the science behind this ongoing crisis. In a state of pure denial, a scenario was dreamt up in which pro wrestling promoters would coordinate their first live shows in front of fans, when it was magically safe (enough) to do so consistent with government guidance. With the curve flattened to a line, a festival would ensue: a huge season premiere week doubling as an ultra-competitive race to recapture the attention of fans.

AEW would reopen to the public with the abandoned Blood and Guts Dynamite special; NXT something in the vein of TakeOver: Return; the main WWE rosters a bonanza spectacle of returning legends, title matches, and a huge angle or two to drop that episodic hook. All of it would be enhanced, even beyond an unprecedented thank-f*ck spirit, by what is arguably the greatest collection of talent ever assembled rested and motivated to an extent the industry had never seen.

It was going to be amazing, except it was all total bullsh*t; a source of great internal shame to the man who pitched it.

CONT'D...(1 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 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!