All Elite Wrestling (AEW) burst onto the scene in 2019, promising to revolutionize the world of professional wrestling. With a huge fan base and a roster filled with talented wrestlers, AEW seemed destined to become WWE’s first real competition in decades. However, as the company has grown, so have its problems. From lackluster storylines to an over-reliance on tag team matches, AEW has a lot of areas to improve if they want to live up to their full potential. In this article, we’ll dive into five major issues AEW must fix and offer some solutions to help the promotion get back on track.
In its short existence, AEW has both captured the imagination of wrestling fans and made its fair share of missteps. For every home run, like the meteoric rise of MJF, there are misfires that prevent the company from reaching the next level. While competition with WWE is fierce, AEW’s biggest hurdles are largely self-inflicted. Let’s examine five key problems AEW needs to fix to move forward.
1. AEW Needs More Prominent Top Superstars
The backbone of any successful wrestling promotion is its top stars—those larger-than-life personalities that can draw viewers with their charisma and in-ring talent. Right now, AEW struggles to build these kinds of superstars.
Current Issues with AEW’s Top Stars
While AEW has no shortage of talent, it often fails to give its top-tier talent the push they need to stand out. Wrestlers like Kenny Omega, Jon Moxley, and Adam Cole are widely respected, but they haven’t reached the same level of mainstream recognition as WWE’s Roman Reigns or Seth Rollins. Why? The answer lies in how they’re promoted.
The Need for Stars Who Can Promote Themselves and the Company
AEW needs to invest more in creating megastars who can both promote themselves and the company. MJF is one of the few who has proven to be self-sufficient in this regard, but AEW needs more wrestlers like him. Promoting top stars goes beyond just giving them title matches; it’s about telling stories that resonate and showcasing these individuals in ways that create intrigue and excitement, drawing in new fans, not just appeasing existing ones.
2. Lackluster Storylines for Top Superstars
Speaking of storytelling, AEW has fallen short in crafting compelling narratives for its biggest names. While AEW is known for allowing its wrestlers more creative freedom, the lack of structured, engaging storylines often leaves viewers feeling unsatisfied.
Example of MJF underwhelming Feud
Take MJF, for example. As AEW World Champion, he has all the tools to be a generational talent. But instead of capitalizing on this with compelling, long-term feuds, AEW has often placed him in lackluster storylines. The feud with Adam Cole initially showed promise, but the bromance gimmick eventually fizzled out, doing more harm than good to MJF’s credibility as a villainous champion.
How Better Booking Could Elevate Their Top Talent
AEW needs to stop treating their top stars like background players. Storylines should center on long-term narratives that give these wrestlers depth and dimension. If AEW focuses on more emotionally-driven feuds and less on gimmick matches, they can elevate their talent in a meaningful way.
3. The Overabundance of Tag Team Matches
AEW is known for its tag team division, but lately, it feels like every other match on AEW programming is a tag team match, even when it doesn’t make sense.
Example of Too Many Random Tag Team Pairings
Recently, AEW has thrown together tag teams with little to no build-up or story. Matches like Darby Allin and Nick Wayne vs. Swerve Strickland and AR Fox, while fun from a technical standpoint, lack emotional stakes and context. They feel like filler content. AEW should prioritize meaningful singles matches that push character development and long-term feuds, rather than relying on the tag team format as a crutch.
Why AEW Needs to Focus More on Singles Competition
Wrestling fans need more than just high spots and crowd pops; they crave storytelling. Over-saturating shows with tag team matches waters down the product and makes it harder for individual wrestlers to stand out. AEW should focus on building star power through singles matches, where wrestlers can shine on their own without being lost in a crowded ring.
4. Stop Listening Exclusively to Hardcore Fans
It’s no secret that AEW has a rabid fanbase, particularly among hardcore wrestling fans who love their blend of indie-style wrestling and spot-heavy matches. But catering exclusively to this niche audience comes with its own problems.
The Downside of Catering Too Much to Hardcore Audiences
By pandering to hardcore fans, AEW risks alienating the casual viewers they need to grow their brand. Hardcore fans may love to see 30-minute matches filled with technical brilliance, but casual fans want stories, characters, and emotional investment. AEW’s obsession with satisfying the die-hards often leads to overbooked matches and convoluted storylines that only a small portion of the audience fully appreciates.
Tony Khan’s Role in This: Acting Like an “Internet Mark”
Tony Khan, AEW’s owner, has been criticized for being too reactive to online fan criticism. Often, it feels like he’s trying to book matches based on what’s trending on Reddit or Twitter. This behavior comes across as immature and marks Khan as more of an “Internet mark” than a businessman. AEW needs a leader who can balance listening to fans with executing his own creative vision.
Striking a Balance Between Fan Feedback and Original Creative Direction
AEW needs to find a middle ground. It’s important to listen to fans, but it’s equally critical to create a product that feels cohesive and planned. Rather than constantly changing plans to appease the loudest voices, AEW should stick to a long-term vision while taking measured feedback from their audience.
5. Signing Too Many Unnecessary Wrestlers
Another glaring issue is AEW’s tendency to sign wrestlers that don’t necessarily add value to the product. While it’s exciting to see former WWE stars or legends pop up in AEW, these signings are often unnecessary and contribute to the company’s roster bloat.
Example of Unneeded Signings Like Big Show and Matt Hardy
For instance, signing Paul Wight (Big Show) and Matt Hardy hasn’t done much to boost AEW’s appeal. Both are legendary names in the business, but they haven’t added anything groundbreaking to AEW’s weekly programming. Their involvement often feels forced and redundant, taking up TV time that could be given to younger stars who need it more.
How AEW’s Roster Bloat Hurts Its Product
AEW’s ever-growing roster means that many talented wrestlers are underutilized or lost in the shuffle. Wrestlers like Miro, Andrade El Idolo, and Lance Archer, who have all shown immense potential, rarely get meaningful screen time. AEW should focus on building up the stars they already have rather than constantly adding new faces to an already overcrowded locker room.
Conclusion
AEW has all the potential to become a top-tier wrestling company, but it needs to fix several key issues before it can truly compete with WWE. By focusing on building more prominent top superstars, telling better stories, balancing tag team and singles matches, listening to fans without being overly reactive, and avoiding unnecessary signings, AEW can elevate its product to the next level.
