Why AEW Has Just Helped Triple H In A Big Way
Even after three years, it would be quicker to list AEW’s massive creative failures than run through the many major and mInor successes. Outside of one specific period for one specific promotion, this level of credit couldn’t be applied to any North American pro wrestling show since the year 2000.
The rule-proving exception above? Triple H’s 2014-2016 NXT - a tight and taped hour on the Network that ultimately had little or no correlation to what went down on Mondays and Fridays.
Contrast that to Dynamite presence as a live weekly television and show, and somewhat appropriately, impact is key. All Elite Wrestling - through persistence, patience and promotional excellence - restored faith in pro wrestling for those that had it eroded by Vince McMahon’s effortless monopolised dreck, and set about retraining those that never knew anything but that.
The product absolutely raised the bar for minimum talent and fan expectations. But when surveying the scene in the glorious post-script of All Out 2021, few could have anticipated WWE in 2022 actually clearing it. When Sami Zayn revealed the t-shirt to the world, the feeling washed across swathes of the fanbase that this was without question the most engaging angle in North America. Viewing figures supported it too, and even many of those had probably actually tuned in on the chance they might see Bray Wyatt return, which is quickly morphing into something else massive Triple H has at his disposal.
Hunter was gifted innumerable quick and easy wins when he took over from somebody that should have been replaced years - decades - before he was as a creative force. But even with those qualifiers, this reversal of momentum was unexpected.
The War Of 2024 might be about what MJF’s next move is, but suddenly, 2023’s looks even more fascinating. AEW’s loudest sales pitch on launch was one The Elite had trumpeted for years - “Change The World”. On balance, it looks like they might have actually done it. But will it be Tony Khan or Triple H that gets to take advantage of all that has helped shape this bold new wrestling universe?