The Disturbing Truth Behind AEW's Obsession With WWE

Cody Rhodes
Scott Lesh Photography/AEW

You'd think, then, that this unhinged level of emotion was fertile grounds for pro wrestling storytelling, particularly since everybody is extremely online. Also, AEW exists - in addition to being financed by a billionaire, which helps - precisely because WWE killed the enthusiasm of a generation of wrestling fans. The AEW base isn't made up exclusively of those who watched Being The Elite, were deep in the weeds of the US indie circuit, and were drawn to ROH and NJPW; many of its fans wanted big-time episodic TV wrestling. They gravitated towards AEW because they wanted a major league weekly experience booked by somebody who didn't hate them. WWE was the enemy.

The thing is, over the last year, the "Stand Up For WWE" character in AEW's fictional universe hasn't got over anywhere near as much as was hoped.

Early, yes, it worked, but only in limited, snarky doses. Cody Rhodes - ironic in retrospect - had some wry fun at the expense of WWE's invisible wall. The Young Bucks seemed locked in a competition to stand at the absolute dumbest angles possible when watching matches next to a backstage monitor.

Even by 2020, it got old, as most in-jokes do. The debuting Miro's "Shove your brass ring up your ass" spiel was a try-hard, edgy cliché. He meant it, and more than most was justified in saying it, but the thrill wasn't there anymore. It wasn't Jon Moxley's Talk Is Jericho appearance. The cool thing had become the lame thing - and then, two years after this had been established, AEW integrated the lame thing into its canon.

The decline of this trend accelerated with the Jericho Appreciation Society Vs. Blackpool Combat Club programme.

CONT'D...(2 of 5)

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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!