AEW's Main Event Scene Has Taken Some Major Hits

[LiamMcDuggle]

Omega - Out indefinitely

Punk - Fired

MJF - Whereabouts unknown

Cody - WWE's "Guy" now

Jericho - Aged out, early AEW he could still do a main event match, now he's a 10 min guy at best

That is 5 guys who all headlined AEW PPV's regularly in the first 3 years and are all gone right now.

[Soultastic]

True but also Swerve is on the rise, Ospreay and Okada can be made the guy whenever, Hangman will return eventually and Mox is still Mox. Plus, guys like Joe, Cope, Christian and Bryan are getting up there in age but they're as believable as ever.

The main event scene is definitely not at 100% right now, but things are looking up.

[MalloryDagger]

I would GUESS MJF is coming back.

But they desperately need to make new stars.

Swerve seems made to be the next star.

[Sicho100]

I haven't been following AEW for the better part of a year now (not as an anti-AEW thing, I just don't have cable anymore), so I can't really comment on how the main event scene is currently, but even if those guys were perfectly healthy and still with the company, they really shouldn't be dominating the main event scene anyway.

As of right now, Dynamite has been on the air for only about a year less than Nitro was, and a big reason for WCW's fall was because they continued riding tired, old acts rather than creating new stars. And AEW's top acts have been either guys that were top acts when the company started (MJF, the Young Bucks, Omega, Hangman), and/or guys that were prominently featured on WWE TV for years (Jericho, Moxley, Punk, Bryan, Samoa Joe, Adam Cole). Their top acts are stale.

Swerve's probably the one notable exception that was not too prominent an act with WWE (obviously I know he was with them, but he's a much more significant act in AEW) and also hasn't been a top guy in AEW from the start. But why isn't Darby in a position where he could be seen winning the title? Or Wardlow? Powerhouse Hobbs? Jack Perry? At some point the guys that were the future five years ago need to start becoming the present.

[King Devitt]

Apr 14, 2024 20:37:07 GMT -5 Sicho100 said:

I haven't been following AEW for the better part of a year now (not as an anti-AEW thing, I just don't have cable anymore), so I can't really comment on how the main event scene is currently, but even if those guys were perfectly healthy and still with the company, they really shouldn't be dominating the main event scene anyway.

As of right now, Dynamite has been on the air for only about a year less than Nitro was, and a big reason for WCW's fall was because they continued riding tired, old acts rather than creating new stars. And AEW's top acts have been either guys that were top acts when the company started (MJF, the Young Bucks, Omega, Hangman), and/or guys that were prominently featured on WWE TV for years (Jericho, Moxley, Punk, Bryan, Samoa Joe, Adam Cole). Their top acts are stale.

Swerve's probably the one notable exception that was not too prominent an act with WWE (obviously I know he was with them, but he's a much more significant act in AEW) and also hasn't been a top guy in AEW from the start. But why isn't Darby in a position where he could be seen winning the title? Or Wardlow? Powerhouse Hobbs? Jack Perry? At some point the guys that were the future five years ago need to start becoming the present.

Darby has been 100% ready since the 4 Pillars feud.

[The Legendary Ring Troll {BLM}]

Apr 14, 2024 20:47:29 GMT -5 King Devitt said:

Apr 14, 2024 20:37:07 GMT -5 Sicho100 said:

I haven't been following AEW for the better part of a year now (not as an anti-AEW thing, I just don't have cable anymore), so I can't really comment on how the main event scene is currently, but even if those guys were perfectly healthy and still with the company, they really shouldn't be dominating the main event scene anyway.

As of right now, Dynamite has been on the air for only about a year less than Nitro was, and a big reason for WCW's fall was because they continued riding tired, old acts rather than creating new stars. And AEW's top acts have been either guys that were top acts when the company started (MJF, the Young Bucks, Omega, Hangman), and/or guys that were prominently featured on WWE TV for years (Jericho, Moxley, Punk, Bryan, Samoa Joe, Adam Cole). Their top acts are stale.

Swerve's probably the one notable exception that was not too prominent an act with WWE (obviously I know he was with them, but he's a much more significant act in AEW) and also hasn't been a top guy in AEW from the start. But why isn't Darby in a position where he could be seen winning the title? Or Wardlow? Powerhouse Hobbs? Jack Perry? At some point the guys that were the future five years ago need to start becoming the present.

Darby has been 100% ready since the 4 Pillars feud.

That promo with Darby after Sting's last match was the most legit Darby ever looked. A shame he couldn't capitalize on it at the time, but maybe he'll be able to pick right up when he comes back.

[KME]

Apr 14, 2024 20:37:07 GMT -5 Sicho100 said:

I haven't been following AEW for the better part of a year now (not as an anti-AEW thing, I just don't have cable anymore), so I can't really comment on how the main event scene is currently, but even if those guys were perfectly healthy and still with the company, they really shouldn't be dominating the main event scene anyway.

As of right now, Dynamite has been on the air for only about a year less than Nitro was, and a big reason for WCW's fall was because they continued riding tired, old acts rather than creating new stars. And AEW's top acts have been either guys that were top acts when the company started (MJF, the Young Bucks, Omega, Hangman), and/or guys that were prominently featured on WWE TV for years (Jericho, Moxley, Punk, Bryan, Samoa Joe, Adam Cole). Their top acts are stale.

Swerve's probably the one notable exception that was not too prominent an act with WWE (obviously I know he was with them, but he's a much more significant act in AEW) and also hasn't been a top guy in AEW from the start. But why isn't Darby in a position where he could be seen winning the title? Or Wardlow? Powerhouse Hobbs? Jack Perry? At some point the guys that were the future five years ago need to start becoming the present.

There was a briefing not long ago that Tony sees his guys to build the future around as OC, Ospreay, Takeshita, Hangman, Swerve and Garcia. All young (with the exception of OC) and not renowned WWE guys. Darby and Eddie Kingston will both 100% be in the title picture in the future, but you probably wouldn't necessarily build around them for different reasons, I'm almost certain Darby wins a world title though and think they've built him up well over the years tbh. Jay White and Okada will likely be around the title picture too. Meanwhile the likes of Mox and Jericho haven't been involved in the title picture for a long time, in Jericho's case he likely never will be again.

Feels like a bit of a non event of a concern tbh.

[Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-]]

Imo the roster's depth has really shined with these absences even if I wish they hadn't happened due to mainly injuries

Good news is a lot of these names should be back, and Jericho is not needed as a main event talent anymore.

[bearned]

They have plenty of guys who could main event and realistically be as big a deal as those who have left/are on the shelf.

Okada, Ospreay, Swerve are the obvious ones. To some extent Jack Perry could become a big deal if they do it right.

[Renslayer]

So when mercedes is cleared, she's got to have a spot locked up in the main event, right? Can't imagine they paid all that money to keep her in the midcard

[TWERKIN' MAGGLE]

My favorite time for any wrestling company is when they have a depleted main event scene, because that's when you see the cream rise to the top and new stars break out.

[ASYLUMHAUSEN]

This company employees Okada & Will Ospreay…by any measure 2 of the 3 or 4 best wrestlers walking the planet.

Swerve has a rocket on him right now and is over pretty damn big.

Jay White can be heated up at any moment….

They also have Adam Copeland under contract and he can (and has) main event any building in North America.

And then there’s that Mox guy…

Plus the women’s side has Mercedes…to say nothing of the eventual returns of Hayter & Baker….and the continued ascension of Julia Hart (she will be the face of the division one day. Mark my words.)

Yeah those loses hurt…not discounting that…but there’s a reason everyone who isn’t an internet troll agrees that AEW has, pound for pound, the best roster on the planet at the moment.

["Evil Brood" Jackson Vanik]

And this is why you sign the likes of Ospreay and Okada when they hit the open market. So even when you're unlucky with injuries, you have proven talent ready.

[ayumidah]

Some are assuming with New York dates being announced that Max will probably be back around Forbidden Door, so June. But I'm personally glad he's taking some time off, his arm and hip injuries sounded awful to try to work through, and I heard rehab was a bit slow going.

[The Ichi]

I like it. It feels like a new era is starting.

Of course, hopefully MJF is back soon.

[Glitch]

As was said in another thread, AEW has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to the roster. They have no shortage of main event material.

[mrbananagrabber]

I mean, it’s wrestling, it happens. Look at WWE (Edge, Daniel Bryan, Goldberg, sadly Bray) are no longer with the company and were main eventing five years ago.

AEW have Joe, Swerve, Hangman, Mox, Copeland, Danielson, Okada and Ospreay that are or could be inserted in the main event scene. Darby, Omega and Cole can be inserted when they’re healthy, MJF will instantly be in the title scene when he returns.

Swings and roundabouts and all that.

[daaave]

There is a huge opening for a top heel right now. Think why Hangman turning is clever, maybe he see's that.

[This Player Hating Mothman]

Part of what's always held me about AEW is how nobody holds an eternal grip over the main event. People cycle up and down the card and nobody gets a strangehold over being the main featured player, and you ideally get world title runs that all have distinct feels or points to them as a result. Injuries, retirements, roster attrition, any natural disaster or tragedy, all of it isn't an immediate dismantling of the company's top scene because there's plenty of people waiting for those top spots. Hell, look at Punk; instead of him and Ricky getting that likely main event spot, Mox and OC got upgraded to main event, and OC proved he could step up to that super top level. AEW can lose five more main event-capable people and still have plenty left in the tank.

[Bo Rida]

It's fascinating because the top of the roster is stacked but the flipside of that is you can't please everyone. Controlling perception is difficult.

It runs the risk of people overshadowing the champion, for example many of us think Danielson should have held that title. Others think Switchblade made more sense than Joe. Maybe in future Omega wins the continental title and overshadows the world champion.

There's also a risk of homegrown stars being overshadowed.
Especially as all four current men's singles champions were former world champions elsewhere.
Swerve winning would help that but if Hangman screws him out of victory and say Ospreay wins gold instead I can imagine a backlash. I also think Mercedes will be forced to turn heel quickly.

Former aew champions winning the title again could also prove unpopular to some even if objectively MJF and Hangman could both hold it many more times.

Basically I think they're in a good place, being able to avoid stagnation is a positive, need to be careful with the booking.