It's Official: AEW Is As Good As WWE Is As Bad

Randy Orton The Fiend
WWE

Elsewhere, Kenny Omega Vs. Fénix was a mind-melting state-of-the-art banger best measured against a soundboard than a star ratings system, for how what the living rooms that watched it must have heard. Darby Allin Vs. Brian Cage and Jungle Boy Vs. Dax Harwood were two very different but equally sublime realisations of the classic face versus heel dynamic. The exhilarating Beach Break main event never stopped peaking.

WWE TV matches are so drab and formulaic, even when they're good. Worked in a certain rhythm back-and-forth in a numbing movez blur, they are forgettable when they aren't shoddy. Kyle O'Reilly is elevating NXT's output - guy is a killer perpetual motion machine - but the overall standard is bogged down by wonky dynamics.

On the subject...Christ. The Fiend is manipulating Alexa Bliss via psychological torture, and he's the babyface in a programme opposite a sadistic pyromaniac. Riddle is chickensh*t heel. Playing babyface. NXT has just initiated a rivalry between a heavyweight doomsday prophet, who just stared down beloved legend Edge, and the heel Cruiserweight Champion. Charlotte Flair is an obnoxious entitled...babyface who just laughed, ner-ner-ner-ner-ner, because it took two babyfaces to gang up on and eliminate her from the Royal Rumble. There are pure babyfaces in WWE. Kevin Owens overcomes odds, and Bianca Belair just cut a very touching babyface promo after...ganging up on Charlotte Flair. But this, again, is drastically removed from the profound feeling surrounding Hangman Page, the underdog spirit of Jungle Boy, and the fair's-fair vengeance unleashed by Jon Moxley.

Rewarding investment is not up for debate.

CONT'D...(4 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!