AEW Wrestling Discussion Thread

[duwal]

why does everyone think they are bringing in every player being released (stated twice in the past 10 posts). How many of the 120+ wrestlers that WWE have released the past two years have made it on to the AEW roster? To me they have been pretty selective, most panning out, some not so much. A good amount of the ones signed were no-brainers as they already came with a good fanbase that liked them already.

[thenightman]

Originally Posted by nera20

Most of the wrestlers that were in WWE sucked there and still suck in AEW, TNA, and ROH.

AEW should concentrate on building guys like Wardlow, Jungle Bou, MJF instead of bringing in every wrestler being released.

I loved AEW in the beginning but have been losing interest quickly with the way things have been going

Who else is like those 3 guys?

[pjrussell]

Originally Posted by duwal

why does everyone think they are bringing in every player being released (stated twice in the past 10 posts). How many of the 120+ wrestlers that WWE have released the past two years have made it on to the AEW roster? To me they have been pretty selective, most panning out, some not so much. A good amount of the ones signed were no-brainers as they already came with a good fanbase that liked them already.

16. I'm not counting the few that asked for their release or let their contract run out because they made the choice and wouldn't be in that 120. I guess if you are cut from WWE your just supposed to retire.

[MasterOfTheDark]

Originally Posted by duwal

why does everyone think they are bringing in every player being released (stated twice in the past 10 posts). How many of the 120+ wrestlers that WWE have released the past two years have made it on to the AEW roster? To me they have been pretty selective, most panning out, some not so much. A good amount of the ones signed were no-brainers as they already came with a good fanbase that liked them already.

Why isn't that showing up in the ratings? I'd argue the "fanbase" you reference is an extremely tiny, yet very loud group of people. If Punk, Bryan, Cole, etc., were half as popular as that tiny group thinks they are, the ratings would be sky high instead of struggling to hit 1 million viewers.




On another note, as to the roster, I did a quick count so someone feel free to correct me, but I count 134 wrestlers on their roster. 3 hours of programming a week (180 minutes), minus commercials. So basically a minute per wrestler per week. Quite easy to see they need to trim the roster down some. Just scrolling through their roster, there are plenty of very easy cuts to make to make AEW more profitable, more successful, and more interesting to watch.

[packman80]

LOL people chanting this is awesome for a slow plodding matching between a 90 year old Dustin Rhodes and a 50 year old CM Punk.

Garbage ending Dustin totally screws up ducking kick to head but still sells it.

[no10pin]

Originally Posted by packman80

LOL people chanting this is awesome for a slow plodding matching between a 90 year old Dustin Rhodes and a 50 year old CM Punk.

Garbage ending Dustin totally screws up ducking kick to head but still sells it.

Yeah, I mean if they aren't doing 24 high spots and 32 flips, is it even wrestling????

[packman80]

Originally Posted by no10pin

Yeah, I mean if they aren't doing 24 high spots and 32 flips, is it even wrestling????

Was it a bad match? No but it was a joke for the marks to yell this is awesome it was far from awesome.

[DonrussDean]

Wait. Did I see that. FTR is fighting each other next week??

Don’t get the burying of Archer. At least they will give him a win Friday.


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[packman80]

Originally Posted by DonrussDean

Wait. Did I see that. FTR is fighting each other next week??

Don’t get the burying of Archer. At least they will give him a win Friday.


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I thought Archer should have won the world title from boring Adam Page. Guy sucks as AEW champ. Did they only give him teh belt as a thanks you thing since he was with the company since day 1? If so he's held it long enough time to send him back to the midcard were he belongs.

[Gurds]

Sting in a Sting mask will never not be great.

[DonrussDean]

Why does Darby need to win??


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[pjrussell]

Originally Posted by DonrussDean

Why does Darby need to win??


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He doesn't. Kinda tired of the faces always winning the wars. I'd rather see them introduce a junior heavyweight belt and let Darby, Sammy, and those guys fight over that. Let Andrade do his thing for the TNT and World Title. Plenty of guys for a Jr division.

[DonrussDean]

Originally Posted by pjrussell

He doesn't. Kinda tired of the faces always winning the wars. I'd rather see them introduce a junior heavyweight belt and let Darby, Sammy, and those guys fight over that. Let Andrade do his thing for the TNT and World Title. Plenty of guys for a Jr division.

I’m over the Darby Sting alliance tbh. At this point Sting is doing nothing for Darby.

Andrade is so good in the ring and deserves so much better. Then trying to make him a Million Dollar man clone is dumb.


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[DonrussDean]

Originally Posted by pjrussell

He doesn't. Kinda tired of the faces always winning the wars. I'd rather see them introduce a junior heavyweight belt and let Darby, Sammy, and those guys fight over that. Let Andrade do his thing for the TNT and World Title. Plenty of guys for a Jr division.

In terms of title. Punk is going to beat Page. Don’t get the whole Punk must have the belt.
Page was great, but is a blah champ IMO. I think Punk would be also.


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[hxcmilkshake]

Coffin match was meh...Andrade went out like that? Lame.

CM Punk and Rhodes are just too old tired men yet it goes 15 minutes? They were both gasping for air throughout

Next week another ladder match? Khan must have stock in ladder and thumbtack companies.

Also expected more out of Wardlow-Butcher. Although I like the angle with MJF



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[Jericho]

I thought Dustin/Punk was a good match. The ending moments weren't the best though

A Ladder Match coming up next week? Like I always said, AEW just loves their stipulation matches and gimmick matches waaaaay too much.

[DonrussDean]

Jade's best match in AEW.. She dominated Marina.

I am thinking an epic Jade/Brit feud could be coming.

[Jericho]

I thought the Jade match was still not overly good honestly. She has zero clue how to sell anything. And why they let her try to put Marina through the table is beyond me, except that its a rule that every week someone in AEW must go through that table. Hopefully someone will take that title off her soon, but I fear they'll want her to get to 50-0 or something dumb like that, which actually shouldnt be hard since she's not usually wrestling any of the top talents.

[cdub6238]

Originally Posted by MasterOfTheDark

Why isn't that showing up in the ratings? I'd argue the "fanbase" you reference is an extremely tiny, yet very loud group of people. If Punk, Bryan, Cole, etc., were half as popular as that tiny group thinks they are, the ratings would be sky high instead of struggling to hit 1 million viewers.




On another note, as to the roster, I did a quick count so someone feel free to correct me, but I count 134 wrestlers on their roster. 3 hours of programming a week (180 minutes), minus commercials. So basically a minute per wrestler per week. Quite easy to see they need to trim the roster down some. Just scrolling through their roster, there are plenty of very easy cuts to make to make AEW more profitable, more successful, and more interesting to watch.

105 male "wrestlers"

Brandon Cutler is the Young Bucks lackey on TV and does various backstage things..hardly wrestles

Christopher Daniels hasn't wrestled in like over 6 months, except for the 1 off against Danielson with the ROH announcement..backstage guy

Colt Cabana..technicality still with Dark Order but hardly ever wrestles..backstage guy/coach

Jack Evans, not being renewed. Same for Marko I believe.

Luther...backstage guy, hardly wrestles.

Nakazawa...see above.

Paul Wight..wrestled 1 match..he's he's commentator.

So..97 "active (counting injuries) compared to 63 for WWE.

Female wrestlers, is about even at 23..

The biggest difference is tv time. Sure AEW has YouTube stuff...but 5 hours of mainstream TV vs 3 is a big difference.

It's still a lot, but yes there a some fringe cuts that can be made and likely won't be renwed..

If they do eventually get an ROH specific show, then that'll help...seeing how the angle with Joe/Lethal is over ROH stuff, Champ Gresham has only had 1 match.

[cdub6238]

Now as far as this past weeks tv...ehh, mixed bag imo.

Punk/Rhodes was good, but agree wasn't "this is awesome" worthy. Was curious if Dustin was legit hurt, I know I know psychology, but he looked legit irritated at Punk for going after his leg even yelling to stop. Punk seemed concerned to at end of match when talking to him, who knows.

Blackpool Combat Club was decent for what it was.

Khan announcement was OK. Will be some good matches of course, but I don't think it's a huge deal. Jay white interrupting was, meh..and I like him.

Butcher/Wardlow match was OK, but underwhelming, expected a little more. Didn't help Butcher fell during his powerbomb..but Wardlow manhandling him was pretty insane. The MJF build is great too.

Kyle vs Jungle was pretty damn good. Surprised Kyle got the clean win.

Love that entertaininghausen Danhausen...not sure I wanna see Hook destroy him though

Absolutely hated the Sammy promo..he's better as a heel, but don't use the typical you people turned on me/are ugly stuff...do better

Britt match was OK. Good to see her back, her promo started good...then unfortunately fell of a cliff.

Jake Robert's just needs to call it quits...like..what the hell was he even talking about?

Coffin match was decent. Little short, and ending was really blah. Sting looks like he's having a blast. Nice detail with the tacks on the lid..but yeah few good spots, but otherwise just meh. Also as a sidetrack...why was Blade here helping in this match, but didn't bother to help his partner getting bulldozed by Wardlow?

Cole/ishii was pretty solid. Most NJPW strong style are usually the same, but he definitely moves better and can do more than Suzuki though. I am getting a little sick of seeing Cole resort to a low blow though.

Archer/Serpentico.. happened lol Archer just piefacing him on the suicide dive and then chokeslamming him to oblivion was great.

Only issue..I hate how they've handled him. Him and Wardlow should be hell of a hoss fight, but we know he isn't winning. He never does. Hell he lost to Dustin freaking Rhodes for literally no reason. He's a better version Brian Cage, because he can work/sell and actually talk...but they just continue to job him out.

Jade/Shafir was actually better than I thought it would be. Both still need some work, as there were a few off spots, but nothing terrible. Problem is...Jade has basically beaten everyone now, so...now what?

[cdub6238]

Originally Posted by Jericho

I thought Dustin/Punk was a good match. The ending moments weren't the best though

A Ladder Match coming up next week? Like I always said, AEW just loves their stipulation matches and gimmick matches waaaaay too much.

I will agree with the gimmicks now. It wasnt like that for awhile. It'd either be big time ppvs or tv once every few months...

But here lately it's ladder matches, Texas deathmatches, lights out matches, cage matches, tables matches with nonsense rules, coffin matches, next week is also a Philly Street fight...

Like..let some stuff breathe lol

[Dilemma90]

I like the Dustin and Punk match.

Ya i saw the miss kicked o well.. Didn't ruin my night, shouldnt yours either.

Think they forget whose in their ring and how greatful we are.

[MasterOfTheDark]

Originally Posted by cdub6238

105 male "wrestlers"

Brandon Cutler is the Young Bucks lackey on TV and does various backstage things..hardly wrestles

Christopher Daniels hasn't wrestled in like over 6 months, except for the 1 off against Danielson with the ROH announcement..backstage guy

Colt Cabana..technicality still with Dark Order but hardly ever wrestles..backstage guy/coach

Jack Evans, not being renewed. Same for Marko I believe.

Luther...backstage guy, hardly wrestles.

Nakazawa...see above.

Paul Wight..wrestled 1 match..he's he's commentator.

So..97 "active (counting injuries) compared to 63 for WWE.

Female wrestlers, is about even at 23..

The biggest difference is tv time. Sure AEW has YouTube stuff...but 5 hours of mainstream TV vs 3 is a big difference.

It's still a lot, but yes there a some fringe cuts that can be made and likely won't be renwed..

If they do eventually get an ROH specific show, then that'll help...seeing how the angle with Joe/Lethal is over ROH stuff, Champ Gresham has only had 1 match.

So even with your numbers, that's still 120 "active" wrestlers. 180 minutes available, which is 90 seconds each, minus commercial time of course. Far, far too big of a roster.

I'll toss this out there so that way if you think I'm nuts you can move on (haha), but I'd cut the roster down to about half that (60). I could see an argument for keeping another 10-20 for injuries, job squad, battle royals, or that type of thing. But there's more than enough dead weight on the roster to make meaningful cuts and change for the better, and then those that are left would get television time every week and can actually grow.

[cdub6238]

Originally Posted by MasterOfTheDark

So even with your numbers, that's still 120 "active" wrestlers. 180 minutes available, which is 90 seconds each, minus commercial time of course. Far, far too big of a roster.

I'll toss this out there so that way if you think I'm nuts you can move on (haha), but I'd cut the roster down to about half that (60). I could see an argument for keeping another 10-20 for injuries, job squad, battle royals, or that type of thing. But there's more than enough dead weight on the roster to make meaningful cuts and change for the better, and then those that are left would get television time every week and can actually grow.

Yeah I think that's a bit harsh lol

I just don't think it's that big of a deal, just yet.

Out of the 97 "male wrestlers", 6 are injured...and another 10 are rarely if ever seen on TV and relegated mostly to the YouTube shows. So..that's down to about roughly 80ish

Yes still kinda high..but I still think if they get another program/stream for ROH or whatever it'll help.

Now if that doesn't materialize in next few months and guys like Omega, Miro, Fenix come back or they sign more people...then yes it'll be more of a problem

[Slette]

I'm really looking forward to FTR facing off against each other for tomorrow night's Owen qualifier. Hopefully that's the main event of the show.