Stevie Ray On AEW’s Poor Roster

[Playaz Eyez]

What you guys think AEW can do to draw new fans and gain new interest? This is actually a good thread

1) Be the sports based show they claimed to be instead of falling into being WWE-lite

2) Not having so many wink wink nudge nudge promos with references that only hardcore fans get

3) Stop sending shots at the WWE

4) Getting an actual developmental program instead of using AEW Dark, especially for the women.

Those are my main things with them. They run some great commercials that feel so real and organic, and doesn’t actually insult the audience’s intelligence, but it doesn’t always translate to the actual product.

 

[The Amerikkkan Idol]

What you guys think AEW can do to draw new fans and gain new interest? This is actually a good thread

Stop the bullshyt and cramming Nyla Rose down all our throats.

He/she doesn't work as a part of the women's division.

It's just not believable that anybody can beat this "woman" who is bigger, stronger, and a wayyy better & more agile athlete than everybody else.

It's like watching LeBron James play against 8th graders.

You can't even suspend disbelief with her.

Also, keep Brandi off TV once she gives birth. That woman is X-Pac heat personified

Get a booker who knows what the hell he's doing. Tony Khan's a money mark.

I want AEW to be good so bad, but at some point the goodwill just runs out.

 

[julesocean]

Someone please tell me the segment where he outdrew Austin

Was it a squash match versus Goldberg? Him as part of Wolfpac accompanying someone else to the ring for a title match? I'm racking my brain at a scenario because he was always a mid-carder/jobber, and Wolfpac stint was the only time he could have sniffed big ratings..

 

[julesocean]

Disco still hasn't recovered from being ethered to Bolivia by Cody Rhodes

Hiding in plain sight

 

[Rack4K]

If AEW had Lucha Underground's swag, it'd have well over 2 or 3 million viewers by now.

LU never got the kind of rating AEW Dark is currently getting on YouTube, much less what Dynamite is getting...and Smackdown on FOX tops out at 3 million viewers. That's on a good Friday.

These are huge numbers you're mentioning in todays streaming climate. What data led you to believe these expectations were reasonable?

 

[julesocean]

Running back some Disco stuff on youtube, he was amazing at the end as Wolfpac stan






"we can't talk about PERRY SATURN wearing a dress, the hijinks at the hotel! but tune into the hotline!"

 

[CM_Burns]

What you guys think AEW can do to draw new fans and gain new interest? This is actually a good thread

A big thing is the women's division. It's gotten better from the disaster it started as but it could be more. Push women that could be stars, women that are sexy and believably tough. If Jade is even OK in the ring she could be an actual star. Tay Conti has star potential. Her and Anna Jay could have a Beautiful People type of gimmick but not as slutty and it'd get over. I honestly think those 3 getting pushed with major visibility could bring in significant new fans, especially Jade if she's even OK in the ring.

Thunder Rosa has a cool look, athletic physique, and works tough, she's good. Red Velvet is pretty good but I just don't see a star, I think this big match slot might be wasted on her. She comes off as a decent indy chick. Shida should be in the mix but her carrying the division isn't a good idea. She doesn't have the mic presence or look to be that.

 

[John Reena]

What you guys think AEW can do to draw new fans and gain new interest? This is actually a good thread

1. Get a real booker or booking team

2. Let your guys actually WRESTLE on the main show. I’m tired of seeing MJF, , Miro, Powerhouse Hobbs, Ortiz & Santana in street clothes on Dynamite.

3. Stop putting Hangman Page in dumb storylines

4. Ppl getting kidnapped. How many kidnappings have AEW done already?

5. Actually having heels and faces.

 

[stro]

Disco was an excellent mid carder and quality performer who always got the crowd reacting to whatever he was doing but could also perform in the ring and make just about anyone look good.

 

[Bryan Danielson]

His brother the 6 time champ and 2 time Hall of Famer said they have a great roster

 

[Lurk Angle]

1. Get a real booker or booking team

2. Let your guys actually WRESTLE on the main show. I’m tired of seeing MJF, , Miro, Powerhouse Hobbs, Ortiz & Santana in street clothes on Dynamite.

3. Stop putting Hangman Page in dumb storylines

4. Ppl getting kidnapped. How many kidnappings have AEW done already?

5. Actually having heels and faces.

This 100 percent

All them vets and their not even booking the show

 

[R=G]

Stop the bullshyt and cramming Nyla Rose down all our throats.

He/she doesn't work as a part of the women's division.

It's just not believable that anybody can beat this "woman" who is bigger, stronger, and a wayyy better & more agile athlete than everybody else.

It's like watching LeBron James play against 8th graders.

You can't even suspend disbelief with her.

Also, keep Brandi off TV once she gives birth. That woman is X-Pac heat personified

Get a booker who knows what the hell he's doing. Tony Khan's a money mark.

I want AEW to be good so bad, but at some point the goodwill just runs out.

Its that bad? I haven't seen shyt all year.

 

[R=G]

Hiding in plain sight

Dark Beast during Onslaught level? Goddamn

 

[Rollie Forbes]

This 100 percent

All them vets and their not even booking the show

Tony Khan sucks as a booker. If AEW were my company, Arn Anderson would be my lead booker; and JR, Dustin, Taz, & Tully would be his team. Those five guys understand the business, and can create the "real fight feel" that AEW promised.

 

[Rollie Forbes]

What you guys think AEW can do to draw new fans and gain new interest? This is actually a good thread

1. Establish a booking committee.
Tony Khan does not know how to book a wrestling show. He should give the book to some of the vets on the show.

2. Cut down on the silly stuff.
AEW was announced as a more realistic alternative to WWE. Instead, we got Marko Stunt, musical numbers, and bad comedy skits.

3. Build new stars.
AEW has a large roster, but no real mainstream stars other than Jericho (Side note; some hosts on my local sports station didn't even know Cody was when they were talking about Snoop Dogg's new game show. All four hosts knew Dusty and Goldust, but their intern had to tell them who Cody is). Instead of putting the same old guys on Dynamite each week, they should use their "A show" to showcase & build guys like Ricky Starks, Adam Page, FTR, etc. This can be easily done by cutting match lengths, and giving more guys tv time.

4. Make each Dynamite show different.
Every AEW show has the same elements: needlessly long matches, kidnappings, & post match run-ins. They need to stop using the 'rinse & repeat' formula each week.

5. Stop the spotfests.
@Bryan Danielson might kill me for this, but the guys in AEW need to cut way back on the flippy stuff & no-selling if AEW is going to have a more realistic feel. IRL, I've seen and had a lot of fights, but I've never seen somebody in a squabble hit a superkick, tope suicida, 450 splash, and destroyer combo...and then have their opponent kip right up and do the same thing to them. It looks phony.
The AEW spotfests are so bad that nobody bats an eye when guys like Brian Cage wear "GMSI" gear, and talk about spots on television.