AEW: All Elite WrestlingsteemCreated with Sketch.

in #wrestling5 years ago

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2018 was an interesting year for wrestling, WWE was plagued with controversy, injury and falling viewing figures, the long defunct British promotion WOS Wrestling was resurrected and given a prime spot on a major channel, Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan had made the NWA championships relevant again, and the biggest independent show of all-time took place in Chicago.

Back in 2017 famed wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer tweeted that RoH (Ring of Honor) wouldn’t be able to fill a ten thousand seater venue any time soon. RoH performs Cody and tag-team The Young Bucks took this as a challenge, and decided to put on their own show. A few months later when tickets went on sale the show sold-out in under 30 minutes, and when final figures came in there were actually 11,263 people in attendance.

All In was a celebration of all things wrestling, there were appearances from legends like “The Genius” Lanny Poffo, Diamond Dallas Page, Jeff Jarrett and Road Warrior Animal, performers from all the major-player non-WWE promotions and the cream of the independent circuit.

…and it proved to be one of, if not the, best Pay-Per-Views of the year.

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Surely such success deserves a follow-up, and if Hollywood’s taught us anything it’s that when you make a sequel you go bigger and better, and that’s it exactly what’s happened. Not just another show however, but an entirely new promotion as well.

There’s been rumblings of AEW for months, with trademarks being filed, but most of the people involved couldn’t announce it publicly because they were under contract to other existing promotions, Cody and The Bucks who hold the title of AEW’s Executive Vice-President’s, and several of the early announcements for the roster were contracted with RoH/NJW (New Japan Wrestling).

Once those contracted expired on New Year’s Day AEW was officially announced with Cody, his wife/valet Brandi Rhodes, The Bucks, and first roster member Hangman Page signing contracts.

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There were rumblings of other talent who may be joining the promotion, and a few morsels tangled at the fans. Then on 8th Jan AEW held the Double or Nothing Rally which was essentially the official unveiling of the new company. Two new pay-per-views were announced and all the current signees, many of whom had appeared at All In, all be it representing different promotions at the time.

There was the aforementioned Cody, Brandi, Bucks and Page, former RoH/NJW trio SoCal Uncensored featuring Christopher Daniels, Frankie Kazarian and Scorpio Sky, former WWE stars Chris Jericho and Neville (now going by the name Pac), Independents Joey Janella, MJF, Penelope Ford and Dr Britt Baker, and Chinese stars Cima, T-Hawk and Takehiro Yamamura.

It’s also likely RoH/NJW stars Kenny Omega and Marty Scrull will join the outfit once their existing contracts expire at the end of January and March respectively.

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There was also a big announcement about how AEW will operate. Performers will all be paid well and equally, which is often not the case in other promotions, and that wins and loses will actually matter, which again isn’t often the case in other companies, particularly WWE.

While there’s no word yet on a potential TV deal, for a promotion that’s only officially existed for less than two weeks it’s a damn good start.

Are you excited by the emergence of AEW? How much of a game-changer will it be? Let me know your thoughts down below.

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