Why It Is Literally Impossible To Hate AEW

Bryan Danielson
AEW

You might like the incredibly physical technical wrestling of Jon Moxley and Bryan Danielson, but think that Elite melodrama is poorly-acted cringe. You might love the intricacy and continuity of this epic saga of friendship and, at the same time, roll your eyes at the teleportation and corrupting mist of a House of Black stable that dangerously approaches supernatural territory. You might love the dark aesthetic and heavy entrance music without thinking Alex Abrahantes looks the kid who's much too old to go trick-or-treating, and yet still bemoan the irreverent comedy of Orange Cassidy. You might think the lung-bursting spot-fests are amazing, and still look at Danhausen and wonder just how important a few merch cheques really are. You might think the lung-bursting spot-fests are contrived and shindieriffic, but still appreciate MJF's revival of classical, every-move-matters North American wrestling.

Every wrestling fan has to like a little bit of AEW, and like that little bit a lot. What's missing? What style or genre has AEW not presented on television?

Technical wrestling. Brawling. Lucha libre. Death match. Melodrama. Super-indie hybrid. Hoss fights. Cinematic. Madcap DDT-style irreverence. Good, old-fashioned babyface versus heel North American wrestling. Strong style. Tags. Trios. Plunder wars. You can't not like one of these styles of wrestling if you are a fan of wrestling.

Perhaps you can't stand the idea of a WWE wrestler defecting. They're disloyal. Or, you're pitifully unaware of how WWE actually expanded to a point that you've even heard of the f*cking thing.

CONT'D...(3 of 6)

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Contributor
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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!