What AEW's Second Show MUST Look Like

Ricky Starks Darby Allin Brian Cage
AEW

The wrestling fan who chooses to watch live does so primarily for live professional wrestling matches. For the third hour to work, as the commercial revenue driver all of this ultimately is, it needs to promote big-time pro wrestling.

AEW, if the third hour becomes Dynamite lite, runs the risk of burning through its combinations. There are loads we've not yet seen - even undercard fare, like the inevitable Brodie Lee Vs. John Silver/Colt Cabana matches, are left to simmer and in theory mean more when they happen - but the novelty AEW has thus far preserved may lower in value. The longer 2020 rolls on, the more frequently AEW runs matches back. Cody hung a lantern on this trend last week, but his acknowledgment doesn't entirely excuse it.

A balance is required, and to manage it, AEW would do well to take inspiration from a very unlikely source: WWE Main Event. Not Main Event in its current incarnation, but the 2012 launch. The debut episode was headlined by a Champion Vs. Champion clash between CM Punk and Sheamus. The match itself was sold through promos and video packages in the first half of the show as a big deal worthy of your time and its own platform.

Something adjacent to this might address that balance. Certain Dynamite matches need more time than they are allocated. Darby Allin Vs. Ricky Starks from September 24 was awesome - a kinetic, details-rich war so tight in its grip of the audience - but it went 09:59 in the opening slot.

CONT'D...(4 of 6)

Advertisement
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!