How The Future Of Wrestling Might Be In Grave Danger

Cody Chris Jericho
AEW/Twitter, @JustinRoberts

AEW had outperformed expectations to a quite incredible degree to become a legitimate mainstream outfit, the Independent circuit didn't collapse in its wake, and WWE, pitiful critical reception and fan-driven revenue stream declines notwithstanding, remained capable of delivering quality and or very well-attended shows.

But an odd and unsettling feeling persisted that no next big thing was on the horizon, no potential game-changer to usher in whatever amounts to a boom in this fractured cultural age. The average age of the wrestling fan does not sit anywhere near the childhood or teenage demographics, and while the diverse complexion of pro wrestling might be the root of its growth problem - fandom is an endless lateral vista to explore - it is so diverse that something really should have caught fire. AEW at its best is a phenomenal love letter to what came before (Cody's arcs, Chris Jericho's patter), and a deft populist adaptation of modern cross-platform storytelling (the Elite Explodes saga). That it doesn't touch RAW - mostly putrid RAW, with its haemorrhaging viewership - is sobering. Scary, almost.

WWE cannot create new stars. AEW is facing a profound challenge to re-train an audience warped by WWE's practises in a classical pro wrestling curriculum, and is perhaps still struggling to convince those that passed on Dynamite after Full Gear that a frank self-assessment has been conducted. There is a strange phenomenon unique to pro wrestling that is cause for concern, too: most everybody, at some point or another, goes dark.

CONT'D...(5 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!