The True Story Behind PAC Quitting AEW

That original finish saw PAC go over Hangman Page at Double or Nothing ahead of a genuine dream match with Kenny Omega at a later show, presumed to be the as-yet-unnamed August 31 return to the Sears Center.

This is the crux of the issue: PAC feels a certain loyalty to the Dragon Gate promotion in which he broke through, and wishes to repay the debt by protecting the integrity of its top prize. It is a noble stance, particularly in this ignoble industry. As is AEW’s, for that matter. The company, sensing the waters in the UK, decided against booking a time-limit draw. That finish proved very unpopular in his awesome RevPro battle against Will Ospreay, and the company is under time restraints on the pay-per-view. AEW wants to build fans for the long-term war. In adhering rigidly to this philosophy, a battle has been lost.

It’s a mess, a huge mess hard to reconcile for those willing to support AEW in this venture. AEW, as a make-good of sorts, is due to release the footage under its official umbrella - making this politicised schmozz the first-ever canon match promoted by the promotion in which clean wins and losses are paramount.

AEW didn’t merely lose out on a marquee, money match packed with show-stealing potential: the upstart league lost out on the opportunity to present an ex-WWE name star in an incredibly flattering light. AEW lost out on the opportunity to present itself as the manifested ideal WWE alternative to both the targeted, disillusioned fanbase and talent pool alike.

This is AEW’s Lex Luger-on-Nitro moment in grim reverse.

Meltzer has hinted at a more than adequate replacement. “[It is] incumbent on them to do something better,” he said. “They have a new story.”

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