AEW 5 YEAR REPORT CARD - give your letter grade of AEW as a promotion to date
- Thread starter Ed MOTHERFUCKING G
- Start date
I'd probably lean toward B-, C+, but I could see an argument for an A depending on what you care about.
For all their inconsistencies, IMO they don't miss on "must-have" key booking decisions and their PPVs tend to be high quality. Its mere existence has forced WWE -- whether they admit it or not -- to step up their game and as a wrestling fan, I'm generally behind whatever results in good wrestling.
However, this shyt is a business at the end of the day. The Punk debacle, among some other things, tell me they don't quite take themselves seriously enough/lack a long-term vision. Something's missing.
For all their inconsistencies, IMO they don't miss on "must-have" key booking decisions and their PPVs tend to be high quality. Its mere existence has forced WWE -- whether they admit it or not -- to step up their game and as a wrestling fan, I'm generally behind whatever results in good wrestling.
However, this shyt is a business at the end of the day. The Punk debacle, among some other things, tell me they don't quite take themselves seriously enough/lack a long-term vision. Something's missing.
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Nearly….simply because tna ppv tv episodes was more chaotic and senseless, but i liked guys on that roster a lot (coming from their previous jobs). Aew ppvs deliver very well tho according to all parties they probably deserve the nod pause
Beautiful Bobby Eatin
SWEEEEEEEEEETNESS!
Im torn between a C+ and B- so lets see.
PPVs: A Theyve had some great ones and very few that would border on the "bad side"
Storylines: B I know "AEW doesnt have stories!!!" Yeah thats always been bullshyt. Most of the tip tier wrestlers actually have long running character arcs. Hangman and Kenny being the most prevalent examples along with The Bucks, Eddie Kingston, Jack Perry, Swerve, Wardlow, Orange Cassidy, Britt Baker, Dark Order etc. The Hangman Page alocholic arc was actually an amazing story if you followed BTE as well.
Talent Relations: D Man have they failed in this area. We dont even need to go into the problems here.
Business Management: B- Attendance has periods where its abysmal but they keep their ratings above what WBD wants always and are approaching another deal with this conglomerate that cancels shows at a whim. Tony may be new to the wrestling game but he does know how to pivot well enough to stay out of danger.
Weekly shows: C their weekly shows sometimes come off disjointed and uneven and it shows in the ratings beyond tribalism. Production errors have slowed but it still seems like theyre trying to find that footing.
Talent Acquisition: A They have picked up a MONSTER roster of established stars as well as the potential next crop of stars. They all havent been used as well as they should but thats normal of any company and why we need more of them.
Booking: C Tony cannot book a babyface champion to save his life. Even MJF only came off likable as a face because he was still really heelish. Hangman was the hottest babyface during AEWs hottest time but it was squandered during a championship run that wasnt bad at all but seemed forgotten because the opponents he faced wasnt built up enough.
I think overally id go with the B-. They arent knocking it out of the park but these are the growing pain issues id respect for a company this early into business. Wrestling or not. Theres low spots like booking and talent management but that happens everywhere. The fact that they come off successful enough to have three shows in five years shows they are definitely winning even if it doesnt look spectacular always.
PPVs: A Theyve had some great ones and very few that would border on the "bad side"
Storylines: B I know "AEW doesnt have stories!!!" Yeah thats always been bullshyt. Most of the tip tier wrestlers actually have long running character arcs. Hangman and Kenny being the most prevalent examples along with The Bucks, Eddie Kingston, Jack Perry, Swerve, Wardlow, Orange Cassidy, Britt Baker, Dark Order etc. The Hangman Page alocholic arc was actually an amazing story if you followed BTE as well.
Talent Relations: D Man have they failed in this area. We dont even need to go into the problems here.
Business Management: B- Attendance has periods where its abysmal but they keep their ratings above what WBD wants always and are approaching another deal with this conglomerate that cancels shows at a whim. Tony may be new to the wrestling game but he does know how to pivot well enough to stay out of danger.
Weekly shows: C their weekly shows sometimes come off disjointed and uneven and it shows in the ratings beyond tribalism. Production errors have slowed but it still seems like theyre trying to find that footing.
Talent Acquisition: A They have picked up a MONSTER roster of established stars as well as the potential next crop of stars. They all havent been used as well as they should but thats normal of any company and why we need more of them.
Booking: C Tony cannot book a babyface champion to save his life. Even MJF only came off likable as a face because he was still really heelish. Hangman was the hottest babyface during AEWs hottest time but it was squandered during a championship run that wasnt bad at all but seemed forgotten because the opponents he faced wasnt built up enough.
I think overally id go with the B-. They arent knocking it out of the park but these are the growing pain issues id respect for a company this early into business. Wrestling or not. Theres low spots like booking and talent management but that happens everywhere. The fact that they come off successful enough to have three shows in five years shows they are definitely winning even if it doesnt look spectacular always.
Especially to start. I’m now providing my opinion, but i’m not dunking, on or even arguing anyone elses. Thank you.
The lows of AEW were there in plenty, but the highs of AEW were amazing to watch. I'm a "casual" wrestling fan at this point, and their product hasn't annoyed or pissed me off to the point where I thought about taking a multi month break like the other guys.
AEW is fine. It could be better, but it's not bad. Their ppvs are always great. Solid B.
AEW is fine. It could be better, but it's not bad. Their ppvs are always great. Solid B.
B-
Pros:
Can’t give them a C based off the following:
- becoming a legit #2 promotion and giving WWE the kick in the ass that they needed
- bringing back CM Punk and the AMERICAN DRAGON (aka “Dragon”
)
- providing a national platform for people like Ricky Starks, Jade Cargill, Hangman, MJF, Darby, Omega, Ospreay, etc.
- gave Cody’s American Nightmare gimmick a chance to shine, even though the fans turned on him, and it led to one of the GOAT WMs
- the way they treated Sting with respect post-WCW and presented him with the perfect retirement
New Jack Sting >>> Joker Sting & Sgt Pepper Sting
- PPVs usually top notch
Cons:
- horrible booking and storytelling. There’s only so many “bangers” or “dream matches” I can take before they all become meaningless and boring. It’s so hard sitting through weekly shows
- pushing away talent/vets with great minds for the business or future superstars in favor of vanilla midgets that never have and never will draw a dime
- all these damn tournaments and title belts; again, boring and meaningless
- giving the spotlight to vets that no longer have any value (Jericho, Edge) over younger guys
- too much “edgy” content; we get it, you can bleed and curse
- recklessness to pop the crowd; it’s only supposed to LOOK like it hurts. There’s no reason Penta should be giving Dante Martin a Canadian Destroyer off a ladder and through tables outside for a damn ROH show. Too many injuries due to stupid stunts all to impress a 1/4 full arena is damn near backyard wrestling status
- the rotation of pushes given to wrestlers only for them to stop abruptly and then we don’t see the talent on screen until weeks/months down the line, if ever
- video game being an absolute mess; was really looking forward to No Mercy’s successor as flabby as that sounds
Pros:
Can’t give them a C based off the following:
- becoming a legit #2 promotion and giving WWE the kick in the ass that they needed
- bringing back CM Punk and the AMERICAN DRAGON (aka “Dragon”
)- providing a national platform for people like Ricky Starks, Jade Cargill, Hangman, MJF, Darby, Omega, Ospreay, etc.
- gave Cody’s American Nightmare gimmick a chance to shine, even though the fans turned on him, and it led to one of the GOAT WMs
- the way they treated Sting with respect post-WCW and presented him with the perfect retirement
New Jack Sting >>> Joker Sting & Sgt Pepper Sting
- PPVs usually top notch
Cons:
- horrible booking and storytelling. There’s only so many “bangers” or “dream matches” I can take before they all become meaningless and boring. It’s so hard sitting through weekly shows
- pushing away talent/vets with great minds for the business or future superstars in favor of vanilla midgets that never have and never will draw a dime
- all these damn tournaments and title belts; again, boring and meaningless
- giving the spotlight to vets that no longer have any value (Jericho, Edge) over younger guys
- too much “edgy” content; we get it, you can bleed and curse
- recklessness to pop the crowd; it’s only supposed to LOOK like it hurts. There’s no reason Penta should be giving Dante Martin a Canadian Destroyer off a ladder and through tables outside for a damn ROH show. Too many injuries due to stupid stunts all to impress a 1/4 full arena is damn near backyard wrestling status
- the rotation of pushes given to wrestlers only for them to stop abruptly and then we don’t see the talent on screen until weeks/months down the line, if ever
- video game being an absolute mess; was really looking forward to No Mercy’s successor as flabby as that sounds
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C-
About to be PPV only for me as the TV has proven itself to be needless. Awful booking with 0 follow up or upward trajection for most angles and characters. The great matches have mostly become irrelevant with how they are bookended with weak development. But the ppv matches can still incredible which keeps me interested in the monthly shows.
Basically the TV is a D- and the PPVs are a B+. C-
About to be PPV only for me as the TV has proven itself to be needless. Awful booking with 0 follow up or upward trajection for most angles and characters. The great matches have mostly become irrelevant with how they are bookended with weak development. But the ppv matches can still incredible which keeps me interested in the monthly shows.
Basically the TV is a D- and the PPVs are a B+. C-
RammerJammer
#RollTide #TSC #RiseUp #BullsNation #RIPKobe
Pretty much how I feel. There has been times where wrestling has really pissed me off (late 2010s WWE, 2010 TNA) but AEW hasn’t pissed me off to that extent. Could it be better on a week to week basis? Absolutely, but I think weekly television is a problem across all of wrestling right now. Do they need to utilize their roster better? Yes, but I don’t think AEW is as bad as people make it out to be, and I don’t think it’s too far off quality wise from its peak.
I also think a lot of people watched AEW because they were fed up with WWE, well now WWE as good as they’ve been in 2 decades so now those fans have thrown AEW in the trash, not a tribalism thing, just human nature bandwagon type shyt.
I think this year though will tell us where AEW will be for the next five years.
Finn Baller
Superstar
they are much bigger than TNA was at its peak as far as being a financially stable #2, but they also haven't reached the peak of WCW (which hit #1 for a substantial period of time) and I think there's 0 chance of that happening going forward
I'll call it a B- for now. They are gonna get a nice contract from someone (probably WBD) but they feel more of a distant #2 than they have at any point in company history
I'll call it a B- for now. They are gonna get a nice contract from someone (probably WBD) but they feel more of a distant #2 than they have at any point in company history
OneDeep
Superstar
Not sure what to rate them but
Pros
Talented Roster (Mostly)
Gave a place where independent wrestlers could work during the pandemic
Great PPVs
Brought CM Punk back into Wrestling
Gave Sting a proper Send off
Cons
Bad Booking
Too many injuries
Rent a Luchas
Inconsistent Week to week television
Constant Dream Matches
Stop Start Pushes
Too many Hardcore Matches
Blood every week
Jericho
No Long Term Booking
Little to no Storytelling
Too many titles
No roster split
Too many tournaments/Eliminators
Caring too much about Star ratings/Cagematch Ratings/Negative fan reactions
Letting CM Punk go
Not booking Ricky Starks
Pros
Talented Roster (Mostly)
Gave a place where independent wrestlers could work during the pandemic
Great PPVs
Brought CM Punk back into Wrestling
Gave Sting a proper Send off
Cons
Bad Booking
Too many injuries
Rent a Luchas
Inconsistent Week to week television
Constant Dream Matches
Stop Start Pushes
Too many Hardcore Matches
Blood every week
Jericho
No Long Term Booking
Little to no Storytelling
Too many titles
No roster split
Too many tournaments/Eliminators
Caring too much about Star ratings/Cagematch Ratings/Negative fan reactions
Letting CM Punk go
Not booking Ricky Starks
OneDeep
Superstar
Gotta give them their due
They are legit the #2 company but they don’t act like it
So many glaringly obvious things to fix but they do nothing to fix them
They are legit the #2 company but they don’t act like it
So many glaringly obvious things to fix but they do nothing to fix them
El Cocodrilo
Superstar
I think it will happen if the right performers catch lightning in a bottle. Something that will capture wrestling fans like the nWo in 96 or Stone Cold in 97-98.
So I'd say it's a slim chance but not 0.
Flex Luger
Job Is Finished
First post of the thread and man threw his cape on 