AEW Reputation Rehab

[The Legendary Ring Troll {BLM}]

With talk of if CM Punk had remained retired his reputation would have remained intact as an anti-establishment hero, and talk of Jeff Jarrett coming in off over two decades of apathy and absolutely carving himself a niche as a reliable heel vet, it got me wondering, whose reputation change has been the best?

Sting was considered broken and retired, but he came in and started turning into Terry Funk.

Chris Jericho had the internet turned against him but reinvented himself again as the first AEW champion. But that’s classic Jericho.

Jeff Hardy came in and… well, jury’s out on that one.

Who else? RVD’s brief stint had some people praising him compared to his recent Impact run.

I wanted to say Don Callis since his return as a manager has been amazing, but I don’t think that’s a “rehab” so much as just reminding us of who he used to be.

[Deleted]

Sept 3, 2023 14:02:25 GMT -5 The Legendary Ring Troll {BLM} said:

With talk of if CM Punk had remained retired his reputation would have remained intact as an anti-establishment hero, and talk of Jeff Jarrett coming in off over two decades of apathy and absolutely carving himself a niche as a reliable heel vet, it got me wondering, whose reputation change has been the best?

Sting was considered broken and retired, but he came in and started turning into Terry Funk.

Chris Jericho had the internet turned against him but reinvented himself again as the first AEW champion. But that’s classic Jericho.

Jeff Hardy came in and… well, jury’s out on that one.

Who else? RVD’s brief stint had some people praising him compared to his recent Impact run.

I wanted to say Don Callis since his return as a manager has been amazing, but I don’t think that’s a “rehab” so much as just reminding us of who he used to be.

Callis is a good one considering all the sexual assault allegations and rumors with Impact and otherwise. Don's been around awhile and hasn't always been in the best light that is for sure.

[Bo Rida]

It makes sense that rehab didn't work for the straight edge guy.

[GOTHIC CHARISMA 🧊 🥶❄️FURY]

Jarrett has gone from someone who I legit hated watching growing up to someone I wanna see win titles because it would be f***ing hilarious and he also deserves it

[The Legendary Ring Troll {BLM}]

Sept 3, 2023 14:07:43 GMT -5 @slickrickstyles said:

Sept 3, 2023 14:02:25 GMT -5 The Legendary Ring Troll {BLM} said:

With talk of if CM Punk had remained retired his reputation would have remained intact as an anti-establishment hero, and talk of Jeff Jarrett coming in off over two decades of apathy and absolutely carving himself a niche as a reliable heel vet, it got me wondering, whose reputation change has been the best?

Sting was considered broken and retired, but he came in and started turning into Terry Funk.

Chris Jericho had the internet turned against him but reinvented himself again as the first AEW champion. But that’s classic Jericho.

Jeff Hardy came in and… well, jury’s out on that one.

Who else? RVD’s brief stint had some people praising him compared to his recent Impact run.

I wanted to say Don Callis since his return as a manager has been amazing, but I don’t think that’s a “rehab” so much as just reminding us of who he used to be.

Callis is a good one considering all the sexual assault allegations and rumors with Impact and otherwise. Don's been around awhile and hasn't always been in the best light that is for sure.

I had forgotten about those Impact allegations. I guess that does make him a good fit, made me forget.

[Bo Rida]

Ok serious answer - Tony Schiavone.

He was best known for the butts in seats line but has reminded people he's actually pretty good and and now has a new generation of fans.

[The Legendary Ring Troll {BLM}]

Sept 3, 2023 14:13:34 GMT -5 Bo Rida said:

Ok serious answer - Tony Schiavone.

He was best known for the butts in seats line but has reminded people he's actually pretty good and and now has a new generation of fans.

Ooooohhh, good call. I was a WWF kid and hated Schiavone growing up, but now he’s definitely one of my faves.

[GOTHIC CHARISMA 🧊 🥶❄️FURY]

Sept 3, 2023 14:13:34 GMT -5 Bo Rida said:

Ok serious answer - Tony Schiavone.

He was best known for the butts in seats line but has reminded people he's actually pretty good and and now has a new generation of fans.

think you actually nailed it it has to be him

[Cyno]

Billy Gunn. Until AEW, he was doing a sad nostalgia act with Road Dogg and also had the legacy of his godawful TNA run. But there is a certain beauty of a man being a central part of an infamous homophobic gay couple angle now being a found father for his adopted gay son in a really positive angle.

Guy is also 2 months shy of 60 and is in fantastic shape.

[KME]

Billy Gunn and Schiavone are both fantastic shouts.

Taz for me too, seemed like he was considered a bit of a joke in TNA when he was phoning it in and is now as good as anyone at what he does.

[The Kevstaaa]

Tony Schiavone is a great one. I used to listen to a podcast that called him the pizza of announcing because even when he was bad, he was still pretty good. That was before AEW and now more people get to see that he's damn good.

[Burst]

Seeing the ridiculous differences in motivation between folks who were last seen in TNA/Impact versus folks in AEW has been incredible and makes you wonder even more about the heck TNA was like backstage there at Nickelodeon Studios once upon a time.

[Cry Me a Wiggle]

Yeah, it's sort of amazing the sheer amount of talents, both wrestlers and announcers, who have come in and completely reinvented themselves or at least got a second wind. For every Punk or Jim Ross who couldn't adapt, you have your Schiavones, your Tazs, your Stings, and your Billy Gunns. Most of those guys had lengthy runs in TNA, or bounced back and forth to WWE, but in AEW they found great characters or personas that caught fire with fans who are two decades removed from when they were in their so-called prime. I never thought I'd be cheering for Gunn or astonished at what Sting was doing or pulling up YouTube clips of banter between TONY SCHIAVONE and TAZ but here we are.

[Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-]]

I never thought I'd want to watch Jeff Jarrett again

Let alone have him be one of my favorite acts currently in a company this deep and rich with talent.

[Billie Gein]

Billy Gunn, Sting, and Double J have all benefitted from not having a chip on their shoulder about being 'respected vets' who know it all. They have enough self-awareness to know that while as vets there is plenty they can teach the younger talent, there's also stuff that the younger talent can teach them when it comes to connecting with the modern audience.

[IgnahtaSempria]

In the same vein as Schiavone, I'd say AEW has done a good job of rehabbing Taz's reputation as an announcer.

For years, people (myself included) made fun of how terrible a colour commentator he was in Impact, and even in WWE to an extent.

Fast forward 5 years, and he's arguably one of my favourite commentators in wrestling, especially since he actually brings some technical know-how to commentary that a lot of colour guys don't have.

[Citizen Snips Has Left]

I think Christian was sort of in the Sting camp; no one really thought ill of him, it was just assumed that he was done. And now he has us fuming at the mere sight of a turtleneck sweater.

[Kalmia]

For me, it's Jarrett. I watched TNA through the Planet Jarrett era and hated every second he was on screen. I hated country singer Jarrett and those awful angles with Debra and Chyna in WWF too.

In AEW, I love him. He's playing such a good role and I pop everytime bree-woo hits.

[bob]

Don Callas, Sting, Taz, Jeff Jarrett, Billy Gunn Daddy Ass, Christian, Tony Schaivonie, Chris Jericho

[Tea & Crumpets]

I never stopped liking Schiavone, Taz, or Jarrett.
I heavily disagree on Sting, I really don't like his AEW run at all, he's not giving Darby much if any kind of rub anymore, he's completely washed and taking unneccessary risks, and half the time he's going over people he has no business going over. He's actually gone the exact opposite way for me, I think this run's diminished him.

Gunn has to be the winner for this though (perhaps even The One). Can't believe he's coming up to 60, he might well be the best 60 year old in the history of the business, he came in to help his actual sons get a headstart and he's leapfrogged them and is doing his best work since probably 2001. Incredible that in 2023 I've found myself cheering for Billy Bitchcakes to win a title but here we are.