The Disturbing Truth Behind AEW's Obsession With WWE

Saraya AEW Loser
AEW

Saraya's babyface run was deemed to fail because she arrived as an entitled figure who cut promos indicating that she was there to kickstart another revolution. The apathetic crowd response to her match with Dr. Britt Baker at Full Gear underscored that no revolution was required - at least, not one that Saraya was to lead. This wasn't Twitter bubble stuff; the live crowd rejected Saraya.

Tony Khan pivoted, and turned Saraya heel, but again, she's Standing Up For WWE, and nobody is reacting to her like she's Vince McMahon. Fans aren't behind Jamie Hayter because she rose to major league prominence in AEW; they're behind her because she's a killer, stiff pro wrestler capable of elevating the division close to best in class. This flat nWo retread isn't working. The acting is bad and only serves to underscore that there's no real, competitive hatred here. Tony Khan is playing to the gallery.

AEW positioning itself as the irritant "challenger brand" is only half the problem. It makes AEW feel like the number two promotion, yes, but AEW fans - the ones who matter - don't hate WWE quite enough to justify a long storyline based almost entirely on their lack of interest in it.

Certain digs at WWE still work. CM Punk ripped the piss out of the WrestleMania 38 ticket sales last year, and drew a massive pop, but his incredible programme with MJF won't be remembered for that. It will be remembered as a textured story, a war between characters so complex that they were able to perfect the blood feud and question its old-fashioned contrivance at the same time. Nobody fondly remembers the "less famous Miz" line; they remember the feeling elicited when MJF manipulated Punk into taking pity on him, and if he might have actually deserved pity.

When the whole story becomes about WWE, that story fails. AEW fans enjoy enjoying AEW more than they enjoy hating WWE. All Elite Wrestling is better when they show their fans that they're better at storytelling than WWE. That is the first rule of storytelling, and AEW continues to break it.

Tony Khan has proceeded because he's on the pulse of the wrestling fandom, and by his own admission has read about wrestling online every day for 30 years - but is he guilty of listening to the wrong people here?

CONT'D...(4 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!