What To Expect From AEW On TNT
Stuntmen like Joey Janela, Darby Allin and Jimmy Havoc can get some depth.
All Out – AEW’s sequel to the very successful All In – more than lived up to the hype.
AEW is set to do battle with NXT in less than a month and while AEW’s pay-per-views have been very fun and entertaining, how will the company do on a week to week basis? There are already reports that Tony Khan does not want to feature people too heavily, rotating wrestlers in and out to keep the athletes fresh and not dull the audience with same old, same old. This is a very good concept and mixed in with a win-loss record that matters, it already gives AEW a different feel from WWE. With this knowledge and with what we saw at All Out, AEW has a lot of different directions to go in.
The pre-show started off with the women’s Casino Battle Royale. Nyla Rose, who has been heavily featured since signing, came up with the big win, putting herself in the first AEW Women’s Championship match when the show premieres on TNT. This was the right choice considering her opponent Riho, the much smaller of the two, setting up a great underdog babyface versus the monster heel. Riho has put on two solid performances and has a ton of momentum, which could give her the edge in this match. They should be allowed a proper amount of time to set the bar for the women’s division. First impressions count and if this feels rushed or has a screwy finish, it can potentially derail the division at the onset. I predict Nyla getting the win.
AEW continues to keep its promise on focusing on the tag team division and Private Party vs. Jack Evans and Angelico did a lot for both teams moving forward. With the tag team tournament approaching, this division needs depth. Having Jack and Angelico attack Private Party after the match added a new layer to both teams’ characters. To new viewers, both teams can come off as just flashy guys that are after high spots. They shouldn’t be pigeonholed in that category and a heel turn helps give them a little edge. AEW is clearly behind Private Party as well, I can see them getting a few shocking wins in the tag team tournament. As for Jack and Angelico, they are now set up for more matches with a roster loaded with babyface teams. I do not see them going as far as Private Party in the tournament, but a few after match attacks or run ins in other matches can help them climb to the top of the heel teams.
The next match might have been the most fun. SCU vs. A boy and his dinosaur (and Marko Stunt) was very entertaining. This is what AEW is going to be built around, offering something different every match. If you can’t find someone to cheer for in this match, AEW might not be for you. SCU is a very well-established tag team and this win was big for them – they need a lot of momentum going into the tournament and should be a staple of this division. The other appeal of SCU is they can work singles as well because Scorpio Sky has future world champ written all over him.
As for their opponents, they have gold written all over them, too. Jungle Boy and Luchasaurus generate a huge reaction every time they come out, and Luchasaurus leaves us all in awe every time he gets that hot tag. They don’t need to be in the tag title picture right away; they will be better used as show stealers. If AEW is smart, it will let this build slowly and at the right moment pull the trigger. Hopefully not too slow of a build, though, because as we have seen in WWE, fans will lose interest if the losses pile up too high. The loveable losers fit this team so perfect that when they finally do win gold, the roof of whatever building they are in will explode.
Speaking of explosions, can we call The Cracker Barrel Clash anything but? This match was beyond insane, and proves that Jimmy Havoc literally eats thumbtacks for breakfast. This was a hardcore match like I’ve never seen before from spiked skateboards, jumping on barrels and a man flipping in a chair and landing it perfectly. If you haven’t seen this match, go check it out. It’s a hardcore fan’s dream. Now the question is how do these three men one up this? AEW needs to find a way to make these three guys feel like more than just stunt men filling time. Don’t get me wrong – I loved the match. But for the health of the performers, they need more traditional-style matches, that way when an opponent pushes Havoc, Darby or Janela to that point of a street fight, it feels special. AEW also needs to add more depth to each character because from the few times we have seen them, they are just known as the guys that will literally grab whatever to hit you with. Plus, Janela is immune to thumbtacks.
The next match was the match of the night and gives us the biggest questions going forward. We were all heartbroken to learn that Mox/Omega wasn’t in the stars for this night, but we did get a Bastard. PAC was an amazing replacement and getting the shocking win changes the whole landscape of AEW. PAC has a strong claim to be number-one contender for the world title. As far as Omega goes, when we get to television, his road to redemption starts with Mox. Omega is going to have to regain that fire he once had if he wants to even stay relevant in the company he helped launch. PAC’s best route from here would be to challenge “Hangman” Adam Page, taking out half of The Elite.
The Best Friends vs. The Dark Order was up next to see who gets that first-round bye in the tag team tournament. Nothing shocking here as The Dark Order picked up the win. It has been clear since Double or Nothing AEW wants to make them a big deal. I can see The Dark Order making it all the way to the finals of this thing, and the heat will be massive by then. The match itself didn’t surprise but after…the coolest man slowly walking the earth today – Freshly Squeezed Orange Cassidy – showed up to bail out the Best Friends. Hopefully, he continues to be by their side going forward.
From Best Friends to former best friends, as Cody avenged the chairshot heard round the wrestling world. This match was hot at the start, but a lot of outside interference really took over the match itself. Overall, it didn’t ruin the match, but it didn’t feel like Cody was going out there to kick the ass of the man who split his head wide open. Shawn Spears should have won to establish a top, dominate heel in AEW. Cody has not lost yet in the company, and now has been announced as Chris Jericho’s challenger at the next PPV, AEW Full Gear.
The Young Bucks vs. The Lucha Brothers wrote the final chapter in their rivalry in the Escalera De La Murerte. It’s truly a shock that all four men walked out of this math without a major injury because Matt took one of the craziest bumps I’ve ever seen, and Nick slipping almost cost him his life. The Lucha Bros. retained their AAA Tag titles and the Bucks have said going forward they won’t feature them on the show anymore. That’s a good call because having too many titles can confuse viewers. AEW is creating its own Tag Team Titles and they need to feel important. The Bucks and Lucha Bros also need to separate themselves from each other, and we certainly do not need both teams to reach the finals of this tournament. They both need to start working with new teams to start showcasing some of the depth that this division has. LAX ran in after the match and put a beat down on everyone in sight, which was a perfect way to introduce them. LAX brings veteran experience to the roster and immediately showed they aren’t waiting in line.
The main event saw the first AEW World Champion crowned. Chris Jericho keeps adding to his resume of G.O.A.T. by becoming the inaugural champion. Page had a great showing here and deserves a lot of credit, but the move to have Jericho represent the brand as the champ for now makes so much business sense. This also creates a situation for Page to climb back up the ladder. Page has all the tools to be a world champion, but this wasn’t the time to pull the trigger for Hangman – he still needs that big signature win to really help him stay as a draw.
For now, it’s best for Hangman to feud with the likes of PAC and MJF, the storylines are already there for both matches, and it will help the new audience get familiar with Hangman and see what us diehards already know: Hangman is money. On the other hand, Jericho is a big deal and carries himself as a true star, which means he will carry the company’s top prize the same way. (Aside from leaving it in a limo, of course.) I would like to see Jericho refuse to defend the title because no one is on his level. That would help the win-loss record mean a little more. If you don’t have enough wins, you can’t step in the ring with the champion. And while the others fight for that spot, Jericho should just sit back and enjoy a little bit of the bubbly.
About Author
