The Secret Ingredient Behind AEW's Booking Success

Aubrey Edwards Justin Roberts
AEW

In contrast to all of this, Darby Allin and Jon Moxley feel true mavericks because they don't share any such connections, putting their outsider/badass lone wolf characters over.

With agency and expression encouraged, the fictional universe also expands into low and high key character interactions that add layers of soul and personality to an approach that, as with any narrative mechanism, can verge on the formulaic if enough thought and verve is not applied to it. MJF, in picking on Jungle Boy's Jurassic Express stablemate Marko Stunt to build their Double Or Nothing match, took him to the ropes. He looked over to Tony Schiavone. "Hey Schiavone, you fat prick! Tell Jungle Boy that this is his future come Double Or Nothing!"

No connection is left unturned. Schiavone - the wholesome, funny, wide-eyed veteran we didn't know we missed this much - is the perfect figure to draw heat from. Aubrey Edwards - the stern, ballsy, expressive official - is a close second. The delightful MJF Vs. Schiavone mini-feud is mirrored in Chris Jericho's ongoing spat with her. He is an a*shole for laying his hands on Edwards; she's defiant and likeable for refusing to sell his petulant bullsh*t. Some people - misogynistic, awful people - resent Edwards for "stealing focus". They're missing the point. Stealing focus from what?

CONT'D...(5 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!