It's Official: The AEW Roster Is FAR Too Big
Killer Kross didn't become All Elite, thankfully. It's already overkill...
What's wrong with AEW, why is it so difficult to pinpoint, and why is the most rabidly enthusiastic fanbase in all of wrestling slowly agreeing that all isn't quite "right" with the promotion?
It used to be the case that, if you were to post something to the effect of "Very good Dynamite, not great, but very good" on social media, you'd get grief for admitting that you hadn't achieved the state of nirvana by the 2:00:00 mark. Recently, and this is partly anecdotal, the online reaction feels distinct from the mostly very noisy arenas. That, it should be pointed out, is the most accurate, objective barometer there is. Still, at the very least, the build to Double Or Nothing simply does not have the same unmissable, major show quality with which AEW sold fans on the incredible Revolution pay-per-view.
The pacing on Dynamite and Rampage is all over the shop. The sequencing of the TV shows is breakneck, which collides in an ugly, weird way with Tony Khan's slow-burn approach to the actual stories. The final build to Double Or Nothing doesn't really feel like the emotionally intense culmination of long-term storylines (with one seminal exception), and more of an unfocused, convoluted attempt to get several name acts on the card. The women's division continues to be an afterthought, though there's little change there. The Owen Hart tournament has been uneven. When worked in the unmatched spirit of a tournament (Dax Harwood Vs. Cash Wheeler), it has soared. Elsewhere, it has felt too much like a driver of various midcard storylines. Little registers to its maximum potential; it's as if Khan doesn't grasp how maniacally energetic he can be, and how his base doesn't have the same ability to take something in and jump straight into the next segment.
Ultimately, the core issue is that Khan hasn't exercised enough restraint when assembling his roster.
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