It's Official: AEW Has Broken Its Most Sacred Rule

HOB Death Triangle
AEW

They never entertained the idea of Cody challenging for the World Title again. Also, if it's not over, what a sh*tty angle. Jericho got heat for all of five seconds. The finish was an omni-botched shambles, the overall result somehow worse. 50/50. 50/50 booking in AEW.

In the early phase of the promotion's existence, this was not the case. Cody was done as a World title challenger and deftly transitioned into a feud with MJF. There was no small measure of revenge; he had to wait months to try and get it. Darby Allin didn't trade wins with Brian Cage. It took him over half a year to slay his monster.

Kingston Vs. Chris Jericho isn't some rule-proving exception to that ideal; the ideal is slowly fading. Who actually won the half-year saga between the House of Black and Death Triangle? House of Black won the trios matches, but PAC currently reigns as All-Atlantic Champion and won the title in a match that Malakai Black was in. PAC himself went 50/50 with Andrade lat year, who went 50/50 with Cody Rhodes in his next programme. Darby wins some and loses some too nowadays, and his value has diminished as a result.

50/50 booking is more necessary than fans would like to admit - many wrestlers have to be kept "strong," otherwise they won't resonate as stars - but this recent shift is very notable.

We're nowhere near the deadening bullsh*t levels of WWE, but we're quite far away from the all-or-nothing drama that once made AEW so uniquely compelling.

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!