In its over five years of existence, All Elite Wrestling has seen many ups and downs on its journey to be pro wrestling’s alternative. And while AEW has certainly provided plenty of milestones and thrilling moments, they’ve never really settled into a long-term groove when it comes to their weekly product.
AEW Owner and President Tony Khan has received his fair share of criticism after starting as the ‘good guy’ in his rivalry with WWE. However, several missteps and silly statements have left many in the fanbase frustrated. In the last couple of years, his booking methods have been highly questionable. Many times, it seems as if Khan is captaining a rudderless ship.
While the roster in All Elite Wrestling is filled with legitimate talent, it hasn’t been utilized properly. The lack of long-term storytelling and the obsession to constantly add new characters have caused multiple issues. In the end, Khan & Company seems like they are running a thousand miles a minute while ultimately going nowhere.
AEW’s High Octane Booking
Have you enjoyed Tony Khan's booking of #AEW this year? pic.twitter.com/JvBeTN9Q6r
— Covalent TV (@TheCovalentTV) July 26, 2024
One of the most glaring issues has been the pace of AEW‘s programming. Matches that should be considered squashes are drawn out over multiple segments of their presentations. That takes screen time away from the company’s more recognizable stars. Most fans would agree: They would rather hear MJF talk for 10 minutes as opposed to that airtime being devoted to an imported star or an indy darling.
Most of these match-ups are on a sugar rush… fast-paced and seemingly out of control. In those contests, you will see more moves executed in one minute than some old-school matches featured during a time-limit draw. Everything is like a car crash at 200 miles per hour.
Rapid Booking Leaves Fans Confused
Likewise, an almost merry-go-round of wrestlers from other promotions just seems to pop up out of nowhere in AEW. The audience is challenged to immediately recognize this person’s story and level of skill. It becomes almost mind-numbing for the promotion’s faithful followers. Especially when the stars they pay to see are pushed aside for a quick ‘dream match’ that will lead to nowhere.
The action in the ring tends to move even faster than the machine gun booking does. Every match seemingly features a dive out of the ring. Every performer gets to work their best maneuvers into a match, but they fail to slow down and tell a story.
The storylines follow the same pattern as the in-ring action. Angles come from out of nowhere, and they play out on TV for a couple of weeks. Then a match or two later, it’s all over. Two weeks after that, those two sworn enemies will somehow be tag team partners. Meanwhile, the fans are left scratching their heads and thinking, “How did we get here?”
A Rapid-Fire Checkbook
Yet another instance where Tony Khan seems to be a little too quick on the draw is signing free agents. Following a formula that didn’t work for TNA in the early 2000s, the promotion gobbles up almost every WWE castoff out there. While it’s great to have established stars on the roster, the five-year spending spree the owner has been on has watered down his roster.
It’s a self-defeating proposition – AEW promised to be an alternative product, but they look more like ‘WWE Light’ at times. But the minute another well-known performer ends up on the market, Khan’s checkbook and pen will be out in a split second. It’s why even though he’s spreading talent over to the Ring of Honor brand, they still carry about 50-60 performers that they don’t use and (quite frankly) don’t need. That’s why many in the industry joke that All Elite Wrestling is the retirement home for wrestlers on their last leg.
Overall, the existence of AEW has been a positive for pro wrestling fans, and the business as a whole But the performers, and especially the owner, need to learn a little lesson from the tortoise and the hare. In sports, business, and life, slow and steady wins the race in the end.
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