Things you do/don't want to see in AEW?

[THE FVNKER]

Thought this would be a good idea for a thread, to kinda see what everyone is looking for and what they expect out of AEW. For me..

Do:
- Authentic, sports style presentation. Hoping for press conferences surrounding big matches, maybe even a Tale of the Tape deal on bigger shows.

- Storylines that arent based in weird, cheesy TV drama. They say that wrestling is the Male soap-opera but there is a huge lack of the deep grudge, blood feud in mainstream wrestling.

- Might be harder to pull off since it hasn't been done in ages, but jobbers squash matches would be cool to see.

- Promos and interviews directed at the camera. Much like when Mean Gene would do interviews on the Nitro set, or back in the days when guys would promo TO the camera. Always strikes me as weird when wrestlers dont even acknowledge that a camera is there. If it isn't being filmed for an audience to see, why is there a guy/gal there in front of a set with a microphone?

- Guys who look like they can fight. Cody did say he was looking for "hosses" so I hope they can deliver. Dusty, Hansen, Funk, Vadee, Race.. all those guys brought immediate legitimacy.

- Throwback matches like 2/3 Falls, First Blood, Iron Man.

Don't:

- Insider/smarky/dirt sheet references, pandering an angles. It's just annoying. Didnt help WCW in 00-01, wont help here. Honestly I'm kind of tired of hearing the Bucks even talk about developing "creative" for the shows. It just scream edgelord indy shit to me.

- Spot fests, no selling and all that. Probably my biggest fear with this group. I'm sooo pumped for this, and I want it to dominate, but I absolutely couldn't get behind this kind of product. All that brings is cringe worthy neckbeard this is awesome chants.

Those are really the only two things I'm afraid of, and I feel like theres a reasonable expectation that those will happen. I don't think it'll be full on PWG Grenade spot.. but you never know.

[Sephiroth]

Don’t: Russo

[THE FVNKER]

Apr 17, 2019 18:54:47 GMT -5 Sephiroth said:

Don’t: Russo

100% agree, and I'd say theres an insanely high chance we wont have to worry about that. I will say that I do hope there are some old timers hanging around back to agent and produce. Cornette is my pipe dream, but even though I'm a huge Corny mark, I can see why that might not be the best idea.

[Mister Pigwell]

None of the trashing other companies crap. So outplayed. TNA killed "THEY HELD ME DOWN UP NORTH" stuff dead and will get me to tune out of that character instantly. Worry about you and your canon and putting on a good show.
Don't pot shot the lesser companies.
Don't try to instill that "us vs them" crap into easily manipulated fans who want to go around on the internet to fight some stupid war.
Don't talk about WWE as some evil entity out to get you. You're not rebels.

Do feel free to do these if it's ironic though. An exception can of course be made for these if it's taking the piss out of the trope and tongue in cheek.

[THE FVNKER]

Apr 17, 2019 19:01:13 GMT -5 Mister Pigwell said:

None of the trashing other companies crap. So outplayed. TNA killed "THEY HELD ME DOWN UP NORTH" stuff dead and will get me to tune out of that character instantly. Worry about you and your canon and putting on a good show.
Don't pot shot the lesser companies.
Don't try to instill that "us vs them" crap into easily manipulated fans who want to go around on the internet to fight some stupid war.
Don't talk about WWE as some evil entity out to get you. You're not rebels.

Do feel free to do these if it's ironic though. An exception can of course be made for these if it's taking the piss out of the trope and tongue in cheek.

For sure, excellent point. I would also have to add in, for a Don't, heel authority figures. It's to the point that the whole idea is scorched earth to me. Unfortunately, after today's episode of RTDON, I kind of got a vibe that Brandi might try to do her best impression of Stephanie, which would totally kill immersion for me.

[MiLB Fan]

I’d like to see the commentators take the advice of Jesse Ventura: “Call them WRESTLERS. They are WRESTLERS.”

If they do backstage interviews, I want the interviewer to say “back to you guys” (or something like that) once the interview is over instead of staring vacantly into the camera like those in WWE do.

[Cranjis McBasketball]

Ritualistic human sacrifice.

[MolotovMocktail]

DO:

-Have shorter shows, one weekly TV show, 4-5 ppv’s and an occasional Saturday Night’s Main Event style feature, with TV’s and specials used to sell you the ppv.

-Present it like the WWF in the late 80’s and early 90’s. TV’s should utilize local enhancement talent to build credibility for your stars, while keeping big names apart until it’s the right time to pull the trigger on a match. Utilizing an Event Center to hype the ppv’s would be a great throwback and make each match feel special.

-Production value, production value, production value. If you want to be seen on the same level as WWE, you have to look like you belong.

-Debut vignettes go a long way, and it’s something WWE has been neglecting for some time now. Here’s an opportunity to bring a unique piece of wrestling back.

-Maintain kayfabe. Make us believe these opponents hate each other.

DON’T:

-Try to out-sports-entertainment WWE.

-Hotshot feuds and throw everyone on TV every week.

-Go hog wild with titles, TV’s or ppv’s.

-Ape WWE’s signature shows and gimmicks. We can tell if you’re doing a Royal Rumble and just calling it something else.

-Don’t tell us you’re better than WWE, show us. There may be an influx of people making the jump, but we don’t need a long line of “I hate WWE/Vince/HHH” promos. If someone has a real gripe, use discretion in airing it, but don’t pull a TNA and have everyone give a worked shoot.

-Horse around on the Internet, disregarding kayfabe feuds and throwing around insider terms.

[THE FVNKER]

Apr 17, 2019 19:17:18 GMT -5 MolotovMocktail said:

DO:

-Have shorter shows, one weekly TV show, 4-5 ppv’s and an occasional Saturday Night’s Main Event style feature, with TV’s and specials used to sell you the ppv.

-Present it like the WWF in the late 80’s and early 90’s. TV’s should utilize local enhancement talent to build credibility for your stars, while keeping big names apart until it’s the right time to pull the trigger on a match. Utilizing an Event Center to hype the ppv’s would be a great throwback and make each match feel special.

-Production value, production value, production value. If you want to be seen on the same level as WWE, you have to look like you belong.

-Debut vignettes go a long way, and it’s something WWE has been neglecting for some time now. Here’s an opportunity to bring a unique piece of wrestling back.

-Maintain kayfabe. Make us believe these opponents hate each other.

DON’T:

-Try to out-sports-entertainment WWE.

-Hotshot feuds and throw everyone on TV every week.

-Go hog wild with titles, TV’s or ppv’s.

-Ape WWE’s signature shows and gimmicks. We can tell if you’re doing a Royal Rumble and just calling it something else.

-Don’t tell us you’re better than WWE, show us. There may be an influx of people making the jump, but we don’t need a long line of “I hate WWE/Vince/HHH” promos. If someone has a real gripe, use discretion in airing it, but don’t pull a TNA and have everyone give a worked shoot.

-Horse around on the Internet, disregarding kayfabe feuds and throwing around insider terms.

Agreed on the production value, but I would preface that by saying that obviously they need to be up to par, but hopefully they can stay away from the LEDs-on-all-surfaces bullshit that WWE has done. I cant tell if they want that thing to look like a wrestling ring, or the stage at a KISS concert. NJPW (I think) has found a great medium. You can tell the level is high, but it doesnt take away from the in ring content. UFC sure as hell doesnt need glowing shit everywhere so I dont think AEW does either.

[Captain Patren Fenderbaum-X]

Choose an identity understand what AEW wants to be and go in that direction no middle ground bullshit.

As the saying goes....when you try to please everyone you end up pleasing no one.

Wanna be more sports oriented? emphasis the in ring aspects...the wrestling and the in ring story telling.

Wanna be a TV show...emphasis character and story.

[OldDirtyBernie]

Apr 17, 2019 19:10:30 GMT -5 Cranjis McBasketball said:

Ritualistic human sacrifice.

Yes, but...DO want to see or DO NOT want to see?

[Mozenrath]

Apr 17, 2019 19:01:13 GMT -5 Mister Pigwell said:

None of the trashing other companies crap. So outplayed. TNA killed "THEY HELD ME DOWN UP NORTH" stuff dead and will get me to tune out of that character instantly. Worry about you and your canon and putting on a good show.
Don't pot shot the lesser companies.
Don't try to instill that "us vs them" crap into easily manipulated fans who want to go around on the internet to fight some stupid war.
Don't talk about WWE as some evil entity out to get you. You're not rebels.

Do feel free to do these if it's ironic though. An exception can of course be made for these if it's taking the piss out of the trope and tongue in cheek.

Probably the only exception is something egregious, like the original Alberto El Patron turn, when he was fired for assaulting a racist in a way that put a f***ton of good will on him. That was a story where "big bad WWE" worked, though that was in Mexico, and obviously, Patron eventually wore that out before destroying it by going back.

But that's a pretty extenuating circumstance, and by and large, no one needs or wants Big Bad WWE tales. It reads as whining even to smarks.

As for what I want to see.

--I want angles to be presented where the commentary team, etc, don't actively undermine the angles. None of that "having it both ways" shit where they have Bray or whoever doing a segment and the commentary team takes pot shots at them and undermines them.

-Do not make stipulations you cannot or will not abide by if you can help it. It cheapens shit when someone is "fired" and they're back next week, etc.

-Let a moment breathe.

-Do not overbook shows. If you have a 2 hour show, it's fine to not have like 6 talking segments and 9 matches. That's too much. On the same token, get in and get out on promos themselves. There are no classic 20 minute promos for a reason.

I am optimistic about most to all of these.

[Can you afford to pay me, Gah]

Some of my list:

Wants:

Good but simple angles that is easy to follow and makes sense.

Quality wrestling action dominates the air waves and not so much promos. That's been an issue with most TV wrestling show is to much talk and not enough wrestle. Not saying we need a bunch of matches but it shouldn't be over half the show is talking.

Good Commentators: So many have had either just boring or bad action calling. I want a team that adds to the story and makes the matches feel special. Don't give me Mike Tenay of TNA who telling me the story and not allowing the wrestlers to tell it. Don't give me WWE that half the match is a pug for later and not call whats happening now.

Make Gimmick matches mean something.

Don't:

The opposite of above.

Work shoot promos against the WWE. The less you bring up the WWE at all, the better.

Russo

20 min promos

Over the top storylines that leaves people confused and hard to follow.

[Mozenrath]

Oh, here's an easy one.

Do NOT Bruce Hart your booking.

The card is always subject to change, and no company can ever deliver every promised matchup. Accidents happen, injuries happen, visa issues, blizzards, whatever.

But if you KNOW someone will not be there, do not promise they will be unless it's in the service of an angle, and even then, do that very sparingly.

(It's not just Bruce, naturally, WCW had a shitty time selling tickets in many parts of their history because they were legendarily bad about getting promised wrestlers to show up. Guys would even just skip shows they didn't feel like wrestling at. Also, WWF had this problem with Ultimate Warrior, famously, which contributed to his downfall)

[El Pollo Guerrera]

Something that is done in Japan I'd like to see is keeping track of the number of title defenses... it's a small thing but I feel it adds weight to the title of being the champion.

[chrom]

Unless for big announcements such as titles being vacated due to injury, start every show with a match.

I don't want to hear at the start of each show "Please welcome at this time". When people tune into wrestling they want to see wrestling, not a 30 minute segment that goes nowhere and wastes time.

[Cranjis McBasketball]

Apr 17, 2019 19:33:15 GMT -5 OldDirtyBernie said:

Apr 17, 2019 19:10:30 GMT -5 Cranjis McBasketball said:

Ritualistic human sacrifice.

Yes, but...DO want to see or DO NOT want to see?

Indeterminate.

[rnrk supports BLM]

My biggest concern is still that the whole thing ends up as a vanity project/promotion tool for Cody/the Bucks/Omega and friends, where thetalent they're bringing in is mainly there to lose, to put themselves over and raise their own value for when WWE eventually comes calling.

[Deleted]

I don't want a 3 person announce team. I hope they avoid insider references in promos and skits

[THE FVNKER]

Apr 17, 2019 20:19:34 GMT -5 rnrk supports BLM said:

My biggest concern is still that the whole thing ends up as a vanity project/promotion tool for Cody/the Bucks/Omega and friends, where thetalent they're bringing in is mainly there to lose, to put themselves over and raise their own value for when WWE eventually comes calling.

Pretty reasonable request, and it's totally possible, however if that is even a 1% part of the reason they're doing this, that would make them the biggest assholes in wrestling history. To completely tie up possible hundreds of millions of dollars just to bump them up in the WWE's eyes would be a disaster to the business.