|
Post by Cry Me a Wiggle on Jan 1, 2024 23:13:12 GMT -5
I never had a wrestling “home” after WCW folded. 1997-1998 WCW brought me in as a fan, and it was that narrow window of presentation and style that I had mourned for 20 years. See, I stuck with WCW during their slow downward slide of 1999 and utterly ruinous collapse, then tried to give WWF a shot with the hope of a WCW comeback and the Invasion storyline. Even after that gut punch, I kept watching as they burned through acquired WCW concepts and wrestlers, hitting a brick wall with Katie Vick and then giving up completely with Booker’s treatment in the Triple H feud.
I’d still check in with WWE when they’d do something intriguing (ECW, the Nexus, the Pipebomb), only to drift away when it was clear the style of the product just didn’t resonate with me. I’d try to get into TNA, and at least TNA would have elements I enjoyed, but Bischoff and Hogan wrecked the little joy I found there. ROH was never readily accessible where I lived, I never had the burning drive to seek out the Japanese promotions, and then by the mid-2010s, I found the McMahons too distasteful to even casually check in with anymore.
AEW is exactly what I’ve wanted since mid-1999. It’s a modern rethinking of WCW at its hottest, with healthy infusions of ROH and the post-Monday Night War indie scene. It’s got the sports presentation, it’s got relatively logical storytelling (usually), it’s got humor and gimmicks that actually make me laugh, and it’s full of a diverse assortment of styles and workers. It’s not perfect, but I’m never going to complain about the missteps after being in the wilderness for two decades.
|
|
chazraps
Wade Wilson
Better have my money when I come-a collect!
Posts: 27,955
|
Post by chazraps on Jan 2, 2024 2:06:26 GMT -5
I remembering being home that night after a last minute date cancellation and the band that my then-radio station had headlining a concert that night were needlessly prickish to listeners who won meet-and-greet tickets. It was a frustrating bummer of a new years - and so before bed I threw on BTE and saw that, not knowing how to feel - I don't think I put it together that it was going to be an entirely new promotion.
It didn't really hit me until a day or two later the potential for what a world changing (and life changing) shift this could be. Thank God for it though. Made the industry better, made life better, made a personal dream come true - can't say enough what a blessing AEW is for the world.
|
|
Glitch
King Koopa
Not Going To Die; Childs, we're goin' out to give Blair the test. If he tries to make it back here and we're not with him... burn him.
Watching you.
Posts: 12,716
|
Post by Glitch on Jan 2, 2024 7:58:52 GMT -5
It's honestly crazy to consider all the factors leading to AEW Forming -Okada's friendship with the Bucks in TNA -TNA's various f*** ups -Jericho being allowed to wrestle against Kenny Omega in the Tokyo Dome -The Success of the First All In -Cody getting released, betting on himself and possibly Dusty's Death pushing him I'm sure I'm missing a bunch but yeah, talk about a storm of events - The Bullet Club shirt becoming THE wrestling shirt to the point Hot Topic asked WWE why they weren’t getting it in stores - The Elite getting booked all over the place, including first time bookings in Ireland and the UK for Kenny. - Colt Cabana basically becoming the poster child of promoting yourself everywhere that lead to stuff like Z True Long Island Story and BTE after that. I would also add: - Vince saying no when Jericho asked for an NXT collaboration for his cruise. Making Jericho get even more involved with wrestling outside of wwe - Lucha Underground giving a platform for a lot of talent that would become mainstays of AEW ( Sammy, Lucha bros, ect)
|
|
|
Post by eJm on Jan 2, 2024 8:06:00 GMT -5
- Vince saying no when Jericho asked for an NXT collaboration for his cruise. Making Jericho get even more involved with wrestling outside of wwe Oh yeah, I remember that. Like, I'm not saying he should have accepted that (and I absolutely get the logic of why he wouldn't too) but between that and letting Jericho wrestle at Wrestle Kingdom...well, I'll put it like this; the only reason you could argue AEW shouldn't take shots at WWE is because the main person to thank more than any other for AEW's existence isn't The Elite, Cody, CM Punk or whoever else, it's Vince McMahon. He laid a hell of a groundwork for someone rich enough to swoop in and make an alternative.
|
|