The Secret Stat Behind Why AEW Matches Mean More

Respecting his audience's brainpower was one of AEW chief Tony Khan's biggest promises when interviewed by Pro Wrestling Torch's Wade Keller prior to Dynamite's launch in October 2019. Avoiding screwy finishes was key to this.

"We haven't done disqualifications, we haven't done ridiculous ref bumps, and we try and present a wrestling show that doesn't insult people's intelligence," Khan said. This was a savvy move. For years fans have complained about the myriad inconclusive finishes plaguing WWE television. The President, like his EVP, was distancing his product from Vince McMahon's.

Khan has since delivered on this oath. Spectacularly.

At the time of writing, AEW has produced eight pay-per-views with Buy In pre-shows, 52 episodes of the Dark web series, 50 of Dynamite (including the Homecoming, Anniversary, and Bash at the Beach specials), plus three dedicated to the Deadly Draw Women's Tag Team Cup Tournament. Per CAGEMATCH, a total of 632 matches have made air thus far.

Rummage through this mountain of content and you'll find only a single disqualification, one countout, two time-limit draws, and one true non-finish: a double countout. That's an average of one every 126.4 matches.

WWE has already booked six in September.

In one company, the screwy finish is a go-to booking practice. The other avoids it like the plague.

CONT'd...