The Secret Ingredient Behind AEW's Booking Success

The Young Bucks FTR
AEW

In AEW, connections abound. This universe of myriad inter-connected parts allows for deft cause and effect, creating a relentless sense of storyline advancement, character development and multiple match-up permutations, negating almost entirely the rematch crutch bastardised elsewhere.

Take the segment in which FTR made their debut on the May 27 Dynamite.

The Young Bucks and Matt Hardy faced off against Joey Janela and Private Party in the opener. During the match, the Bucks found themselves in the maw of the Butcher and the Blade watching ringside. Marq Quen's injury played a pivotal role in the finish. His team lost, with all three men lacking direction and momentum. Matt Hardy, doing a small, good thing, of the sort that gently gets him over as an avuncular, beloved veteran, helped Quen to the back. This allowed for an even post-match fracas with the Bucks and the debuting FTR that didn't absentmindedly babyface the Butcher and the Blade. This was a deft slice of booking in itself - it was a neat in-character touch - but it was revealed the following week that Hardy had decided to mentor Private Party in the aftermath of their impressive, spirited loss.

In the course of a single segment - one segment of pro wrestling television - AEW created two new alliances and two matches for the short-term and the long game. Matt Hardy has aligned with Private Party; Joey Janela, despondent at yet another loss, this week found direction with Sonny Kiss. The segment booked FTR Vs. the Butcher and the Blade and built towards FTR Vs. The Young Bucks.

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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!