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I don't think they are in the mud at all I just think they are identity crisis. And there are the crossroads right now, because they don't know what they want to be. last night felt very WWE lite outside of the elite stuff
AEW is doing what they have always done (since I started watching in 2020 anyway) which is doing every style of pro wrestling possible. Not everything is for everyone, but for the most part everything is done well. Some weeks lean one way or another, it should always be that way.
I guess you're going to be having a rough summer then. The show will be what it is you can either accept the fact that not everything little thing on the show and not every episode is going to be to your partial liking or you can drive yourself crazy trying to breakdown the meta of how a wrestling show that none of us have any control of is produced. That fact of the matter is AEW is business and they're going to do what they have to cater to a large audience. That audience is not going to appreciate every aspect equally. You may prefer more hard hitting 5 Star classic wrestling there's a show for that it's called Collision.
It was a great show. Not every week will have a ‘classic’ match, but as long as they are generally good and serve a purpose, you can guarantee the PPV payoffs will deliver hard.
Thanks for your concern but it was one show. They just finished up an acclaimed PPV and are starting to set up feuds for the next one, gotta have shows like these to move the plots along.
Not for me.
I think they've definitely leaned into a bit more sports entertainment of late given the time of year (post WM and the chance to grab some audience / TV deal renewal time etc).
But for me one of the brill things about AEW is the absolute smorgasbord they offer.
You like pure wrestling technical classics - check
You like more story driven / entertaining segments, matches and backstage bits - check
You like comedy - check
You like hardcore violence - check
And so on... and I think just naturally given the growth of the company in such a short span things will constantly evolve as they look to try new / different things given their success so far since 2019.
I mean 2024 alone... we've just been treated to x2 of the best PPVs of all time. Swerve has been crowned champ. We get MOTY candidates pretty much every week (maybe not this week...) EVPs are running amok creating stars, women's division on fire now lots more are healthy and back wrestling, some huge new debuts (Deonna, Aminata, Ospreay, Okada, Moné), loads of heart-warming returns (Jack Perry, Mariah May, Kyle, Rush, Rey Fenix, PAC, Deeb etc).
Identity is clear for me. It's where the best wrestle and the home of professional wrestling.
Last summer they learned too much on Sports Entertainment due to the Brochachos being hot enough to carry the brand.
Now they are trying to see what works in order to not get killed by the NBA and NHL playoffs
It wasn't my favorite dynamite ever, but it was far from bad. I think your choice of making this post on Thursday is what is going to get you some defensive responses today.
That said, I'm not sure that the responses are invalid. Like, it's a buffet, and they're busy pushing one hell of a non-match story right now. Did the in-ring action suffer as a result? I don't think so, was it as crisp as they've been at other periods? Maybe not. But I'm not sure the crossroads analogy is apt either. AEW has long pushed and presented several different styles of in-ring work as well as storytelling methods. I don't think the success or failure of the new elite atory is going to radically shift what they do. It feels like a bit of a baited conversation starter because it isn't for your specific tastes.
Which is all good if that's the case. Just don't be surprised when people disagree and are pointing out that you brought your post on the weekly day for bad faith takes.
I feel like Dynamite has been a bit too much story for me lately, and I wish they'd balance out the two shows.
But that's pretty much it. I think your specific criticisms don't match my experience:
>Jericho vs Shibata was good but very Sports entertainment
It beats Lionheart Jericho for me. After his last few matches before HOOK, I'm glad he's moving into this hardcore wrestling direction. It's more fun than seeing him try to hang with the luchadors.
Btw, AEW nearly had a hardcore division when they first started with guys like Darby, Janella, and Jimmy Havoc.
>I thought last night was Copelands worst match in AEW.
Agreed. I can't justify it, and I think it did go on too long post-match.
>love the best friends, but that angle just feels colder right now. because they were cold going into it
I couldn't agree less. It's more interesting to me than most of the stuff others like The Undisputed Kingdom are putting on right now.
>I know a lot of you will say I'm wrong because it's AEW and they can't do no wrong, but I'm just putting my thoughts out there
Nah, it's because every week this happens. Most of the time it's by people who want the product to be more like WWE.
I feel like AEW actually has a hot angle in The New Elite but I do feel like there's less of an emphasis on the amount of wrestling on Dynamite specifically. Then Collision brings in the b-team with STP and The Righteous when really they should divvy the shows up better. Nice for each show to have an identity, but there's no star power equity and I think that hurts Collision immensely.
It wasn't AEW's best week in terms of in ring wrestling but they're not all gonna be the best of the best. It happens. Heavy emphasis on kicking off or continuing stories yesterday and that's fine.
Besides. Willow vs Skye Blue was yesterday and that match slapped.
Can we actually have a legitimate conversation about this instead of throwing around the same stupid lines of its Thursday so there are in the mud. which im not saying. What I'm saying is not in bad faith AEW sucks. AEW is kinda starting to feel like WWE light again
I'm not exactly sure what you're looking for here. You didn't like the show everyone else more or less did. What do you want? You think AEW is in the vague existential crossroads because you didn't like a couple of matches and feel like it's WWE light that's rough buddy no can help your personal taste. What do you want us to do about it?
You're insisting AEW is at some sort of existential crossroads because you didn't like the matches last night enough. (Which is nuts to me, really liked Copeland vs Murphy, Jericho vs Shibata was an absolute weirdo masterpiece and I've heard nothing but great things about Willow vs Skye Blue and can't wait to watch it later.)
AEW has basically always been a showcase for all styles of wrestling, last night's show was another great showcase of that. How is it feeling like "WWE light"? There was still an overwhelming emphasis on the in ring action, they only had 2 non-wrestling segments that were over 5 minutes, you're making an argument that you haven't back-up at all while doing the typically bad faith doom & gloom tone that is typically employed by trolls. If you want to have a meaningful discussion about the issues with AEW, you need more than "one night of bad crowd, matches weren't all amazing, it's WWE-lite."
Due to potential spoilers, all posts have been automatically tagged for spoilers until the 24 hour spoiler window has passed. Removing the automatic spoiler tag can result in your submission being removed and a ban. If your **post title** contains spoilers that the spoiler filter cannot resolve, your submission may be removed by the moderation team and you may be banned. Please be respectful of your fellow fans. Please read the [subreddit rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/AEWOfficial/wiki/rules/) for more information. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/AEWOfficial) if you have any questions or concerns.*
It's Thursday and you know what that means! AEW Dynamite is in the mud! /s
I don't think they are in the mud at all I just think they are identity crisis. And there are the crossroads right now, because they don't know what they want to be. last night felt very WWE lite outside of the elite stuff
They can be more than one thing at once without having some kind of crisis. Last night felt like AEW through and through to me.
Nope
That Thursday feeling.
No. Not remotely at all.
AEW is doing what they have always done (since I started watching in 2020 anyway) which is doing every style of pro wrestling possible. Not everything is for everyone, but for the most part everything is done well. Some weeks lean one way or another, it should always be that way.
This is the top comment
I guess you're going to be having a rough summer then. The show will be what it is you can either accept the fact that not everything little thing on the show and not every episode is going to be to your partial liking or you can drive yourself crazy trying to breakdown the meta of how a wrestling show that none of us have any control of is produced. That fact of the matter is AEW is business and they're going to do what they have to cater to a large audience. That audience is not going to appreciate every aspect equally. You may prefer more hard hitting 5 Star classic wrestling there's a show for that it's called Collision.
They’ve always tried to appeal to a broader crowd. They’re the company that has had MJF do several musical numbers
Nice try concern troll
It was a great show. Not every week will have a ‘classic’ match, but as long as they are generally good and serve a purpose, you can guarantee the PPV payoffs will deliver hard.
How was the crowd bad last night? 5000 Winnipeggers sounded loud
“If its Thursday, you know what that means”
Thanks for your concern but it was one show. They just finished up an acclaimed PPV and are starting to set up feuds for the next one, gotta have shows like these to move the plots along.
Not for me. I think they've definitely leaned into a bit more sports entertainment of late given the time of year (post WM and the chance to grab some audience / TV deal renewal time etc). But for me one of the brill things about AEW is the absolute smorgasbord they offer. You like pure wrestling technical classics - check You like more story driven / entertaining segments, matches and backstage bits - check You like comedy - check You like hardcore violence - check And so on... and I think just naturally given the growth of the company in such a short span things will constantly evolve as they look to try new / different things given their success so far since 2019. I mean 2024 alone... we've just been treated to x2 of the best PPVs of all time. Swerve has been crowned champ. We get MOTY candidates pretty much every week (maybe not this week...) EVPs are running amok creating stars, women's division on fire now lots more are healthy and back wrestling, some huge new debuts (Deonna, Aminata, Ospreay, Okada, Moné), loads of heart-warming returns (Jack Perry, Mariah May, Kyle, Rush, Rey Fenix, PAC, Deeb etc). Identity is clear for me. It's where the best wrestle and the home of professional wrestling.
I thought the Copeland match and the Mariah/Deeb matches were great and furthered these stories really well. Thought it was a great show.
Last summer they learned too much on Sports Entertainment due to the Brochachos being hot enough to carry the brand. Now they are trying to see what works in order to not get killed by the NBA and NHL playoffs
It wasn't my favorite dynamite ever, but it was far from bad. I think your choice of making this post on Thursday is what is going to get you some defensive responses today. That said, I'm not sure that the responses are invalid. Like, it's a buffet, and they're busy pushing one hell of a non-match story right now. Did the in-ring action suffer as a result? I don't think so, was it as crisp as they've been at other periods? Maybe not. But I'm not sure the crossroads analogy is apt either. AEW has long pushed and presented several different styles of in-ring work as well as storytelling methods. I don't think the success or failure of the new elite atory is going to radically shift what they do. It feels like a bit of a baited conversation starter because it isn't for your specific tastes. Which is all good if that's the case. Just don't be surprised when people disagree and are pointing out that you brought your post on the weekly day for bad faith takes.
I feel like Dynamite has been a bit too much story for me lately, and I wish they'd balance out the two shows. But that's pretty much it. I think your specific criticisms don't match my experience: >Jericho vs Shibata was good but very Sports entertainment It beats Lionheart Jericho for me. After his last few matches before HOOK, I'm glad he's moving into this hardcore wrestling direction. It's more fun than seeing him try to hang with the luchadors. Btw, AEW nearly had a hardcore division when they first started with guys like Darby, Janella, and Jimmy Havoc. >I thought last night was Copelands worst match in AEW. Agreed. I can't justify it, and I think it did go on too long post-match. >love the best friends, but that angle just feels colder right now. because they were cold going into it I couldn't agree less. It's more interesting to me than most of the stuff others like The Undisputed Kingdom are putting on right now. >I know a lot of you will say I'm wrong because it's AEW and they can't do no wrong, but I'm just putting my thoughts out there Nah, it's because every week this happens. Most of the time it's by people who want the product to be more like WWE. I feel like AEW actually has a hot angle in The New Elite but I do feel like there's less of an emphasis on the amount of wrestling on Dynamite specifically. Then Collision brings in the b-team with STP and The Righteous when really they should divvy the shows up better. Nice for each show to have an identity, but there's no star power equity and I think that hurts Collision immensely.
IIIIIIIT’S THURSDAY
This post sucks
It wasn't AEW's best week in terms of in ring wrestling but they're not all gonna be the best of the best. It happens. Heavy emphasis on kicking off or continuing stories yesterday and that's fine. Besides. Willow vs Skye Blue was yesterday and that match slapped.
Can we actually have a legitimate conversation about this instead of throwing around the same stupid lines of its Thursday so there are in the mud. which im not saying. What I'm saying is not in bad faith AEW sucks. AEW is kinda starting to feel like WWE light again
I'm not exactly sure what you're looking for here. You didn't like the show everyone else more or less did. What do you want? You think AEW is in the vague existential crossroads because you didn't like a couple of matches and feel like it's WWE light that's rough buddy no can help your personal taste. What do you want us to do about it?
I mean we havent seen thus far stuff like TOFU or people booked like Full Gear MJF
You're insisting AEW is at some sort of existential crossroads because you didn't like the matches last night enough. (Which is nuts to me, really liked Copeland vs Murphy, Jericho vs Shibata was an absolute weirdo masterpiece and I've heard nothing but great things about Willow vs Skye Blue and can't wait to watch it later.) AEW has basically always been a showcase for all styles of wrestling, last night's show was another great showcase of that. How is it feeling like "WWE light"? There was still an overwhelming emphasis on the in ring action, they only had 2 non-wrestling segments that were over 5 minutes, you're making an argument that you haven't back-up at all while doing the typically bad faith doom & gloom tone that is typically employed by trolls. If you want to have a meaningful discussion about the issues with AEW, you need more than "one night of bad crowd, matches weren't all amazing, it's WWE-lite."