In this thought-provoking video, we delve deep into the highs and lows of All Elite Wrestling (AEW), exploring the storm that AEW brought to the pro-wrestling stage in 2019. From the exhilarating matches of "Double or Nothing" to the weekly excitement of "Dynamite," AEW's mission was to provide a fresh, fan-centric alternative to traditional wrestling.
However, amidst the success, criticisms arose, focusing on Tony Khan's decisions and AEW's approach to creative storytelling. Join us as we break down the mistakes AEW has made, from the absence of a dedicated writing team, inconsistent wrestler bookings, and challenges within the ranking system.
As we reflect on AEW's missteps, it becomes clear that Tony Khan, despite steering the promotion to incredible heights, has encountered challenges. Join the discussion on what went wrong and how AEW can learn from its mistakes to continue evolving in the world of professional wrestling.
What are your thoughts on AEW's journey so far? Share your opinions in the comments below, and don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell for more insightful wrestling content.
You can also visit our site: https://www.sportskeeda.com/wwe
#CMPunk #CodyRhodes #AEW #TonyKhan #Wrestling #Sportskeeda
However, amidst the success, criticisms arose, focusing on Tony Khan's decisions and AEW's approach to creative storytelling. Join us as we break down the mistakes AEW has made, from the absence of a dedicated writing team, inconsistent wrestler bookings, and challenges within the ranking system.
As we reflect on AEW's missteps, it becomes clear that Tony Khan, despite steering the promotion to incredible heights, has encountered challenges. Join the discussion on what went wrong and how AEW can learn from its mistakes to continue evolving in the world of professional wrestling.
What are your thoughts on AEW's journey so far? Share your opinions in the comments below, and don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell for more insightful wrestling content.
You can also visit our site: https://www.sportskeeda.com/wwe
#CMPunk #CodyRhodes #AEW #TonyKhan #Wrestling #Sportskeeda
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SportsTranscript
00:00 I terminated Phil Brooks, CM Punk.
00:07 All Elite Wrestling burst onto the pro wrestling stage like a storm in 2019, offering a fresh,
00:13 well-funded alternative to the traditional landscape of the industry at the time, dominated
00:18 by WWE. Their mission was clear, to create a fan-centric wrestling promotion that emphasized
00:24 athleticism, compelling storytelling, and an inclusive roster. From the double or nothing
00:30 pay-per-view launch to the weekly dynamite TV shows, AEW hit the ground running, captivating
00:38 audiences with an exhilarating onslaught of matches that truly hit the five-star mark
00:45 and a commitment to progressive wrestling storylines. They were different. They were
00:49 not WWE, but they were also big time. However, within the glimmering success, there were
00:55 also moments where AEW president Tony Khan and others behind the scenes have made decisions
01:00 that have faced criticism. Promotion faced challenges in its women's division, and lately
01:05 fans have also questioned the booking of storylines overall, where occasional inconsistencies
01:10 have hindered the impact of certain feuds and over-the-top characters. So let's talk
01:16 about it. What are the mistakes that AEW has made up until now? It's Sportskeeda Wrestling,
01:21 I'm Kevin. Get into the comments below and let us know what you think.
01:25 AEW doesn't have the same creative structure and management of WWE. Though the comparisons
01:30 are always going to be there, they're driven by a team of industry professionals and Tony
01:35 Khan, and the talents in the company are given a lot of creative freedom to express themselves
01:40 and their characters in a way they want that may not feel as on the script as WWE does
01:47 sometimes. And while this could benefit certain wrestlers, the shows can come off sometimes
01:51 a bit disorganized, possibly contrived without writers. Tony Khan has his favorites, and
01:58 he should. It's his company. And that has caused him, though, to naturally overlook
02:02 other wrestlers who've gotten organically lost in the shuffle. Look at Keith Lee, who
02:07 came over from WWE with a lot of buzz. This is a guy who had a clean victory over Randy
02:12 Orton. At first, he was treated like a big deal. He even became a tag team champion with
02:16 Swerve Strickland. But at the moment, they lost the titles. It felt like Tony wanted
02:22 to push someone else except Lee, and that was Swerve. And Swerve has all the attention
02:28 on him, even beat Hangman Page, a former AEW World Champion. Meanwhile, Keith Lee has sort
02:33 of been lost in the shuffle, having a writer or maybe some type of segment coordination
02:39 could maybe get Keith Lee on TV more. And he's not the only person that has this problem.
02:43 He's just an example of AEW's stacked roster of very, very overtalent that is very, very
02:51 lost in that shuffle. See, we keep going back to that phrase, too. In AEW, there are a ton
02:56 of wrestlers, but only a few of them get screen time. Look at someone like Miro, who has Superstar
03:01 written all over him, and it felt like he disappeared from the company for a long time.
03:06 One week he was on Dynamite, the other week he was gone. The company has been inconsistent
03:11 when it comes to booking some wrestlers, and this problem could be solved with maybe some
03:16 formal production team who can play a pivotal role in shaping the storylines week to week
03:22 in the long term and give the characters more development, not just being sprung on us when
03:28 we didn't know they were even going to be there. Additionally, writers being experts
03:33 in crafting and engaging promos and segments to the overall sense of just, you know, watching
03:38 a TV show with a story in it could help as well and empower the wrestlers to deliver
03:43 compelling performances beyond their in-ring abilities. This is a collaborative effort.
03:49 Sure, it should be different from WWE, but using some of the things that WWE has done
03:54 to be successful wouldn't be that big of a problem, would it? This is still a TV show.
03:59 Do what a TV show is supposed to do.
04:01 The sense of being overwhelmed and juggling a lot continues as AEW also acquired Ring
04:07 of Honor, which is just another brand under their banner, but also one that has a ton
04:12 of history, a massive video library that has some of the biggest names in the business
04:17 in the last 20 years, but it just feels sometimes like an afterthought. It cannot be a one-man
04:24 show forever. If Tony Khan is running this entire thing, maybe the company could benefit
04:28 from having some other creative people involved, plotting out the long-term storyline so something
04:34 like Ring of Honor, which has so much value, doesn't feel like just another thing.
04:40 Another major critique of AEW is the ranking system. When the company introduced it, it
04:45 was heralded as a revolutionary sports-centric approach to emphasize wins and losses, meaning
04:51 things with the top-ranked wrestlers getting the title opportunities, like they would in
04:56 a real sport, not just a scripted TV show. However, as time progressed, it became increasingly
05:02 apparent that this system encountered significant hurdles that undermined its effectiveness.
05:07 Yeah, that means you actually have to follow the rankings, right?
05:11 The fundamental premise of the ranking system was to provide a structured framework where
05:15 the wrestlers could climb the ladder based on their performances, creating a clear path
05:19 to championship opportunities. Yet one of the primary issues that emerged was the inconsistencies
05:25 there, oftentimes wrestlers who were not even in the top five challenge for the world title.
05:31 Because of this, fans found it hard to grasp the logic behind a ranking system, leading
05:35 to confusion and a lack of focus and credibility with it to begin with. While AEW's attempt
05:40 to institute the ranking system was admirable, its execution kind of failed. Sometimes they
05:46 follow it, sometimes they don't. During an interview with Comic Book in 2022, Tony Khan
05:51 seemed to admit that the ranking system was a mistake in some way. Well, the lessons learned
05:56 from this shortcoming of a ranking system serve as a valuable reminder of the complexities
06:01 inherent in marrying a sports-oriented approach with the entertainment world of professional
06:08 wrestling. Sometimes you can't have both.
06:10 AEW has also introduced the concept that has worked in MMA but may not work in pro wrestling
06:15 of interim champions. This was done to maintain the prestige of the title during a champion's
06:21 absence. An interim champion is typically introduced when the reigning titleholder is
06:25 unable to defend the championship due to injury or other circumstances. The intention behind
06:31 this was to ensure that the championship remains active and relevant, and not absence from
06:36 the primary titleholder. However, in the case of AEW, the implementation of an interim champion
06:42 has faced substantial challenges and criticism, leading to considerable debate within the
06:47 wrestling community. Do you need it?
06:50 Apparently, AEW does. The first time they used an interim champion was for the TNT Championship.
06:56 This happened when TNT champion Cody Rhodes couldn't defend his title against Sammy Guevara.
07:01 In the meantime, Guevara fought Dustin Rhodes for the interim TNT Championship.
07:05 AEW has also used the interim title for the AEW World Championship. Only days after winning
07:11 the title, CM Punk had to take time off due to injury. This led to the introduction of
07:15 an interim champion. It was ultimately Jon Moxley who won the championship, defended
07:20 it day in and day out, only to be called the interim world champion. It just feels less
07:25 than.
07:38 Toni Storm was called an interim women's world champion when she won the title because
07:42 the former champion Thunder Rosa had to relinquish the title due to injury. Storm ended up losing
07:48 the title to Jamie Hayter, and soon it was announced that the designation of the interim
07:52 world champion was dropped. This is all confusing and just feels convoluted, right? To some
07:58 degree it does, right?
08:00 It just ended up being too confusing and honestly took away from some of the importance of the
08:03 championships to begin with. When Moxley held the AEW interim world title, he really proved
08:09 that he was one of the best. But then when Punk came back as the world champion, it felt
08:13 odd like Mox was just filling in for it until Punk returned. To make things right, AEW had
08:18 Moxley beat Punk on Dynamite to unify the titles. It felt like a lot of effort to fix
08:23 something that could have just been avoided. They could have just taken the title from
08:27 Punk when he got hurt, which is what they eventually did after All Out, after he won
08:32 it back. I know that's not something they planned for, but that's the way it played
08:35 out.
08:36 Well, you knew we were getting here, the backstage issues. Well reported, CM Punk getting into
08:42 it into a legitimate confrontation physically with Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks, who
08:48 are executive vice presidents with the company, following the AEW All Out pay per view where
08:53 he got injured in that main event match with Jon Moxley. The press scrum that followed
08:58 that show was an absolute red hot mess. Punk going off controversially on the executive
09:06 vice presidents of the company right next to Tony Khan in front of the press. It was
09:11 just not good. There's no proper way to spin it. Even Tony Khan later on in the press conference
09:17 trying to take shots at WWE felt like a really desperate distraction maneuver. But everyone
09:23 was focused on what Punk just said and how he just went crazy. And then things got worse
09:29 backstage. This isn't the only backstage issue between talent and AEW that has been reported.
09:36 It's just the biggest example of it. It's pretty clear that when certain wrestlers have
09:40 a lot of power, they can cause some issues behind the scenes. This has happened in WWE
09:45 and WCW in the past. The executive vice presidents, Young Bucks and Kenny Omega being top tier
09:52 wrestlers and also decision makers behind the scenes in the company has created some
09:56 issues on the surface that you can see. Cody Rhodes was also an executive vice president
10:01 with AEW when it started, but he decided to leave the company for WWE in 2022. That was
10:07 a huge defection that turned out to be another mistake by AEW, not being able to retain top
10:13 level talent who have these issues backstage. To be honest, AEW did not use the American
10:19 Nightmare to his full potential. He was stuck in mid card feuds or upper mid card feuds
10:25 rather than winning the world title because of some weird scenario where he said he couldn't
10:29 challenge for the world title because of a loss to Chris Jericho at Full Gear 2019. Yeah,
10:35 that was a questionable decision in retrospect. He was booed relentlessly at times during
10:39 his promos in AEW because of this and the jump to WWE was only a logical decision for
10:45 him in retrospect as well. Cody got an incredible reaction upon his return to WWE and he became
10:51 even more popular as the weeks went on. His promos are connected to WWE's fan base and
10:58 he seems destined to become a champion there. He is still a favorite to end Roman Reigns
11:02 historic streak. AEW could have made him into that type of megastar on their platform, but
11:08 instead they let him go to a rival promotion. Why? We don't exactly know, but still, losing
11:14 Cody and losing other talent like him is a big problem. If you want to compete with WWE,
11:20 you have to compete for the talent. Back on the CM Punk topic, we already discussed
11:24 the All Out media controversy, the big brawl out at All Out and what happened with it.
11:29 Yeah, there were suspensions and injuries, it had an effect then, and there was some
11:33 thought of the uncertain times of his return to AEW after the brawl out. But almost a year
11:40 later in June of 2023, he made a comeback and even got his own featured role on a new
11:45 AEW weekly television show, Collision. Bringing him back to AEW was a no brainer, a big star
11:52 who could draw fans and sell tickets. But Tony Khan failed to get both parties on the
11:57 same page for the sake of the company and the heat kept increasing between people that
12:01 are believed to be in the Punk camp and believed to be in the Young Bucks camp. And it continued
12:08 into AEW's biggest show, All In, Wembley Stadium, their biggest night, where CM Punk took a
12:15 dig at Punk on camera unnecessarily with his "Cry Me a River" line that sparked a backstage
12:26 confrontation between Jack and Punk, resulting in the best in the world being dismissed from
12:31 the company after opening their historic stadium wrestling show. It was a disastrous move by
12:38 AEW, some people question it, other people say it was the right thing to do. Considering
12:43 Punk was still one of the biggest draws, it's something they're going to have to live with
12:47 moving forward. Tony Khan could have handled things differently, his team could have for
12:51 the sake of business kept Punk on board, and no, he had to announce Punk's firing in front
12:58 of the hometown crowd of Punk the day before a big pay-per-view just a week later. Amidst
13:06 all this turmoil, the voice of the voiceless voiced his displeasure on social media in
13:13 vague ways and finally made a shocking comeback to the WWE after nearly a decade. To massive
13:21 social media numbers, increased TV ratings from running at Raw, and a massive amount
13:26 of speculation about what he's going to do next. The wrestling world is anticipating
13:32 what CM Punk is going to do next, but what he does next is going to be in WWE and not
13:38 AEW. And as someone said before, that's the bottom line.
13:43 Reflecting on the missteps within AEW, it's clear that Tony Khan and his team, while steering
13:48 the promotion to incredible heights, has encountered circumstantial challenges along the way. This
13:53 is a part of the game of professional wrestling at the big blockbuster international level.
13:59 Acknowledging these mistakes is a vital step towards progress.
14:03 What do you think AEW needs to change? What do you love about AEW? Let us know in the