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Post by daaave on Apr 15, 2024 5:56:19 GMT -5
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. I agree with this. I also think they currently encountering an issue where the world title isn't the be all and end all. And that is because of the strength in depth. Joe vs Swerve (and briefly Hangman) has been going on for 3 months now and nobody else has eyed the title or even really mentioned it. Except Wardlow and Hook but they both up and coming mid card guys. Like Ospreay vs Danielson is all about who the best wrestler in the world is but hold on, surely the world champ is. Neither of them have mentioned the World Title. Why's Mox not talked about it or even say Garcia saying 'my dream is to be champ, I'm working toward reaching that one day'. Say what you want about his run but MJF was really good at this. He made sure everyone knew he was the best, and always had people gunning for him. Joe's run has been good in isolation but it needs to be a bit more intergrated into show as whole, especially when you have Okada being a boss mid card champ and Danielson facing Ospreay for the GOAT title. They need to get a bit tighter at having all roads leading to the champ.
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Post by Baldobomb-22-OH-MAN!!! on Apr 15, 2024 6:03:15 GMT -5
They also have an absolute embarrassment of riches at that level right now, even with some guys being on the shelf.
Swerve, Hangman, Mox, Joe, Will Ospreay and Okada just joined... The main event scene in AEW is doing just fine.
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Post by stan1337 on Apr 15, 2024 7:44:08 GMT -5
They also have an absolute embarrassment of riches at that level right now, even with some guys being on the shelf. Swerve, Hangman, Mox, Joe, Will Ospreay and Okada just joined... The main event scene in AEW is doing just fine. Yeah, I agree. Their main event scene is literally packed. I can't comprehend thinking it is thin. Between this topic and the Roddy/Kyle thread I feel like I am taking crazy pills and don't experience the same AEW as others.
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Post by "Gizzark" Mike Wronglevenay on Apr 15, 2024 7:56:28 GMT -5
This is a hilarious thought to consider because I thought AEW's main event scene was bloated af when I was still watching and then they added f***ing Jay White? I cannot possibly fathom them being low on main eventers from here, but you put it that way and they're missing a lot
Honestly I'd have strapped Swerve up over a year ago by now for one thing
Remember when PAC was a main eventer? How about either of the Lucha Bros, they've been champions in other places.
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Post by polarbearpete on Apr 15, 2024 8:47:55 GMT -5
This is a hilarious thought to consider because I thought AEW's main event scene was bloated af when I was still watching and then they added f***ing Jay White? I cannot possibly fathom them being low on main eventers from here, but you put it that way and they're missing a lot Honestly I'd have strapped Swerve up over a year ago by now for one thing Remember when PAC was a main eventer? How about either of the Lucha Bros, they've been champions in other places. The roster is still stacked, even with the injuries. My concern is the world title scene. Joe feels stale to me as world champion, and there are so many more interesting options than him that aren’t even gunning for the title seemingly. I also feel like Swerve has cooled off significantly from where he was a couple of months back and that they may have missed the opportunity to crown him at his apex (albeit, they can still get back there with strong booking). I think once Ospreay, Okada, Danielson, a returning MJF and Omega start mixing it up in the world title scene is when things have the chance to really peak. Those are all generational type talents all in the main event scene. Could be similar to when WCW had a world title scene with all the biggest stars of the 90s like Hogan, Savage, Sting, Hart, Nash, DDP, Luger.
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Dub H
Crow T. Robot
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Post by Dub H on Apr 15, 2024 9:50:42 GMT -5
This is a hilarious thought to consider because I thought AEW's main event scene was bloated af when I was still watching and then they added f***ing Jay White? I cannot possibly fathom them being low on main eventers from here, but you put it that way and they're missing a lot Honestly I'd have strapped Swerve up over a year ago by now for one thing Remember when PAC was a main eventer? How about either of the Lucha Bros, they've been champions in other places. PAC I give a pass because he was riddled with injuries and visa issues. But Lucha bros should have gotten that Penta vs Feniux feud they teases 100 times and drove then to main event
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Post by HMARK Center on Apr 15, 2024 9:56:18 GMT -5
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. I agree with this. I also think they currently encountering an issue where the world title isn't the be all and end all. And that is because of the strength in depth. Joe vs Swerve (and briefly Hangman) has been going on for 3 months now and nobody else has eyed the title or even really mentioned it. Except Wardlow and Hook but they both up and coming mid card guys. Like Ospreay vs Danielson is all about who the best wrestler in the world is but hold on, surely the world champ is. Neither of them have mentioned the World Title. Why's Mox not talked about it or even say Garcia saying 'my dream is to be champ, I'm working toward reaching that one day'. Say what you want about his run but MJF was really good at this. He made sure everyone knew he was the best, and always had people gunning for him. Joe's run has been good in isolation but it needs to be a bit more intergrated into show as whole, especially when you have Okada being a boss mid card champ and Danielson facing Ospreay for the GOAT title. They need to get a bit tighter at having all roads leading to the champ. Yeah, I like a lot of what Joe's done as champ (and as an unabashed mark for the guy I'll be thrilled if he's basically champ forever), and the storyline with Swerve and Hangman is strong, but there's no getting around that while the recent segments Joe and Swerve have done have been good, it still feels too isolated from the rest of the show and like the focus of the emerging top guys isn't squarely on the main championship. Some of that is a product of having this new slate of guys you're working to get over as main eventers: Danielson is Ospreay's first major marquee match as a full-time roster member, Okada is being established as, well, Okada (and as a heel) by holding a title and firmly establishing his dynamic with the Bucks, Mox/Hangman/MJF are or have been away, etc. So I get not wanting to get all these guys straight to the top, ergo you have them focused on other matters for the time being. But the result is that Joe's run doesn't have all the heat it should right now, which sucks, because he's awesome and the build to Swerve potentially winning should have a little more juice to it. Hopefully this is kind of a result of one PPV cycle; Revolution wasn't that long ago, now Dynasty happens, then we get the build to Double or Nothing, so depending on which storylines conclude this Sunday there could certainly be a reshuffling on the near horizon.
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krozor
Don Corleone
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Post by krozor on Apr 15, 2024 11:09:37 GMT -5
Assuming Kenny is actually able to return and compete again, the thing that really hurt them most was Cole getting hurt so badly when he did. Presumably we'd be in a Heel Adam Cole reign right now, but they lost both MJF and Cole and the entire devil angle and Cole's heel stable has basically been tanked as a result, leaving the company without that compelling main weekly storyline and Cole to put over a face champ (ideally Swerve, still, if everything still breaks the same way for Swerve with a healthy Cole around).
My biggest concern is missing the window on Swerve right now. I think it's clear that long-term, Ospreay is the ascending ace of the company. Okada has the Continental title to spend a year holding to establish him as the dominant heel threat for whoever (Ospreay, Omega) to keep Okada out of the main title scene. But the temptation is going to understandably be there to have a returning Hangman cost Swerve the match against Joe, and the longer you hold off putting the big belt on Swerve, the smaller the window gets for him to either never getting it, getting it after the fans wanted it most, or getting it too close to whenever the Ospreay/Okada duo is ready for the belt. And in the meantime, as others have said, through no fault of Joe or Swerve, it doesn't feel like the company has committed to that compelling top angle/storyline focus yet to make it clear that the main title is the big one. The sooner you get the belt on Swerve, the sooner you get Hangman with this new heel Elite, the sooner you establish that Swerve and your top title are tied to what I assume is the hottest angle (the Bucks/Perry/Hangman/Okada Elite). And I don't think you have to lose Joe with all of this, since Joe hates everybody anyway and could easily turn his anger on the new Elite, too. Joe vs. Perry feels, to me, like the most fun possible feud for Perry once he's back and fully aligned with the Elite for both the backstage reasons and because if Perry is over as a heel, everyone is going to want to see Joe maul him (and he'll get more heat for finding finding a way to win anyway).
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bdon
Tommy Wiseau
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Post by bdon on Apr 15, 2024 11:22:43 GMT -5
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. I agree with this. I also think they currently encountering an issue where the world title isn't the be all and end all. And that is because of the strength in depth. Joe vs Swerve (and briefly Hangman) has been going on for 3 months now and nobody else has eyed the title or even really mentioned it. Except Wardlow and Hook but they both up and coming mid card guys. Like Ospreay vs Danielson is all about who the best wrestler in the world is but hold on, surely the world champ is. Neither of them have mentioned the World Title. Why's Mox not talked about it or even say Garcia saying 'my dream is to be champ, I'm working toward reaching that one day'. Say what you want about his run but MJF was really good at this. He made sure everyone knew he was the best, and always had people gunning for him. Joe's run has been good in isolation but it needs to be a bit more intergrated into show as whole, especially when you have Okada being a boss mid card champ and Danielson facing Ospreay for the GOAT title. They need to get a bit tighter at having all roads leading to the champ. The AEW title has not been treated as something everyone is chasing in years. It’s just a prop, because as you said, none of the top stars ever mention it or set their sights on it. It creates these mini-verses where the shows and characters feel completely disjointed from everyone else.
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Futureraven: Beelzebruv
Bill S. Preston, Esq.
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Post by Futureraven: Beelzebruv on Apr 15, 2024 11:22:52 GMT -5
I was thinking the opposite lately.
They've been picking up all these ready made main eventers, so it's making it a bit harder to break through.
Not that it won't happen, not that if it wasn't me, I wouldn't hire all these top, top guys but I wouldn't be surprised if some people thought upward momentum was getting harder, you turn you back for a sec, here's Edge, here's Ospreay, here's Okaka.
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khali
Dennis Stamp
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Post by khali on Apr 15, 2024 11:24:02 GMT -5
It’s different than it was before, but I certainly wouldn’t say that it’s depleted. Like, Adam Cole jumped off a ramp wrong and may never get the title now because so many guys have become main eventers since then.
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The Ichi
Patti Mayonnaise
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Post by The Ichi on Apr 15, 2024 12:26:32 GMT -5
I decided to list what the current main event scene looks like:
Main-eventers:
Samoa Joe Swerve Hangman Page Will Ospreay Mox Brian Danielson Chris Jericho Adam Copeland
Not quite main-eventers but close:
Wardlow OC Takeshita Daniel Garcia Jay White
Who have I missed?
That's pretty good and that's without MJF, Kenny and Cole.
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Futureraven: Beelzebruv
Bill S. Preston, Esq.
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Spent half my life here, God help me
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Post by Futureraven: Beelzebruv on Apr 15, 2024 12:29:25 GMT -5
I decided to list what the current main event scene looks like: Main-eventers: Samoa Joe Swerve Hangman Page Will Ospreay Mox Brian Danielson Chris Jericho Adam Copeland Not quite main-eventers but close: Wardlow OC Takeshita Daniel Garcia Jay White Who have I missed? That's pretty good and that's without MJF, Kenny and Cole. No Okada, I'm sure there's more.
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KME
Team Rocket
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Post by KME on Apr 15, 2024 12:42:06 GMT -5
I agree with this. I also think they currently encountering an issue where the world title isn't the be all and end all. And that is because of the strength in depth. Joe vs Swerve (and briefly Hangman) has been going on for 3 months now and nobody else has eyed the title or even really mentioned it. Except Wardlow and Hook but they both up and coming mid card guys. Like Ospreay vs Danielson is all about who the best wrestler in the world is but hold on, surely the world champ is. Neither of them have mentioned the World Title. Why's Mox not talked about it or even say Garcia saying 'my dream is to be champ, I'm working toward reaching that one day'. Say what you want about his run but MJF was really good at this. He made sure everyone knew he was the best, and always had people gunning for him. Joe's run has been good in isolation but it needs to be a bit more intergrated into show as whole, especially when you have Okada being a boss mid card champ and Danielson facing Ospreay for the GOAT title. They need to get a bit tighter at having all roads leading to the champ. The AEW title has not been treated as something everyone is chasing in years. It’s just a prop, because as you said, none of the top stars ever mention it or set their sights on it. It creates these mini-verses where the shows and characters feel completely disjointed from everyone else. As pointed out everyone was chasing MJF for it, then people moaned and said there was too much much going on, it's definitely not been years since everybody was chasing it. I don't think the stuff about the top stars not mentioning it rings true either really with Swerve currently going for the title and how much he's spoken about wanting to be world champion. He's spoken about it constantly since he started the feud with Hangman, that was like what, 7 months ago? Did I imagine that? Hangman's spiel also revolved around the world title, albeit more about stopping someone else ever winning it. That's a heavy focus on the world title in what was a non title feud.
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Post by KingPooper on Apr 15, 2024 12:44:01 GMT -5
Cody has been gone for two years and before that, he exiled himself to the mid-card. He doesn't really cross my mind when it comes to missing guys in the main event. However, like others have said the main event scene is so full they could lose a few more guys and it wouldn't hurt that much because of how deep the roster is.
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bdon
Tommy Wiseau
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Post by bdon on Apr 15, 2024 13:17:45 GMT -5
The AEW title has not been treated as something everyone is chasing in years. It’s just a prop, because as you said, none of the top stars ever mention it or set their sights on it. It creates these mini-verses where the shows and characters feel completely disjointed from everyone else. As pointed out everyone was chasing MJF for it, then people moaned and said there was too much much going on, it's definitely not been years since everybody was chasing it. I don't think the stuff about the top stars not mentioning it rings true either really with Swerve currently going for the title and how much he's spoken about wanting to be world champion. He's spoken about it constantly since he started the feud with Hangman, that was like what, 7 months ago? Did I imagine that? Hangman's spiel also revolved around the world title, albeit more about stopping someone else ever winning it. That's a heavy focus on the world title in what was a non title feud. Soooo…only one guy should want the title at any given time? Makes sense.
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Post by KingPooper on Apr 15, 2024 15:45:22 GMT -5
As pointed out everyone was chasing MJF for it, then people moaned and said there was too much much going on, it's definitely not been years since everybody was chasing it. I don't think the stuff about the top stars not mentioning it rings true either really with Swerve currently going for the title and how much he's spoken about wanting to be world champion. He's spoken about it constantly since he started the feud with Hangman, that was like what, 7 months ago? Did I imagine that? Hangman's spiel also revolved around the world title, albeit more about stopping someone else ever winning it. That's a heavy focus on the world title in what was a non title feud. Soooo…only one guy should want the title at any given time? Makes sense. I hate the Miz but I loved during his first title run it felt like everyone was going after him… Cena, Orton, Morrison, even freaking Jerry Lawler (and I hate Jerry Lawler too!) But I guess from a business standpoint where you’re trying to sell a gate or a ppv of only two of those guys going at it, that should probably be the main focus of a championship.
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Futureraven: Beelzebruv
Bill S. Preston, Esq.
The Ultimate Arbiter of Right And Wrong
Spent half my life here, God help me
Posts: 15,079
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Post by Futureraven: Beelzebruv on Apr 15, 2024 15:56:42 GMT -5
As pointed out everyone was chasing MJF for it, then people moaned and said there was too much much going on, it's definitely not been years since everybody was chasing it. I don't think the stuff about the top stars not mentioning it rings true either really with Swerve currently going for the title and how much he's spoken about wanting to be world champion. He's spoken about it constantly since he started the feud with Hangman, that was like what, 7 months ago? Did I imagine that? Hangman's spiel also revolved around the world title, albeit more about stopping someone else ever winning it. That's a heavy focus on the world title in what was a non title feud. Soooo…only one guy should want the title at any given time? Makes sense. That's... literally the opposite of the post. Like part of MJFs whole deal was now he was a face, he was getting worn down by all the people going after him and his belt. Joe has had like 4 people after him and that's gradually been whittled down to the last man standing within the last what? Month. There's been multiple people gunning for the title at all points, but this is Swerve's moment so the focus is on him and his chase. We just had WrestleMania, multiple people were around but it ended up with 1 person going for 1 title. Same most of the time you're pushing a new guy to the top, for that part of the story, the belt is wanted by that guy.
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mystermystery
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Post by mystermystery on Apr 15, 2024 18:48:16 GMT -5
AEW have plenty of main eventers but the problem they're currently facing is that they haven't been able to show them as such over an extended about of time.
They're in a "Show, Don't Tell" problem where they can tell you how important and talk up how impressive people are but the main eventers missing have been around in the company for years and most of the current replacements have been near main event for months.
Okada is an amazing signing. One of the best available...but to most audiences, he's a cocky heel debuting and winning a title. He's literally an Alberto Del Rio "Big deal, fairly quick" presentation. How quick did that take off?
Mercedes is a big name who can't currently wrestle. It doesn't help building to a match with someone who hasn't been on major TV in years and has no real story beyond "I got hurt in Japan. No, you didn't see it, but that Willow that you like did it. Don't worry though, I'm not mad, I just want to be the TBS champion like literally any other woman on the roster."
Osprey is being built properly (essentially becoming "the" guy of the group he's in before suddenly but inevitably being betrayed) but if you'd make him champ right now, it'd be a disaster no matter how caliber the matches are. Get the guy who was on HeyEW on TV and make him more likable.
Jay White has been built as a main event threat, which gives more juice to the current trios run with the Gunns. He could easily transition back to the top as needed after finishing up the storylines there.
Joe is Joe. He's fine and that's probably why he's best to have the title right now. The Swerve build is doing a lot and I think he'd be good as champion after all the work they've put in.
But...yeah, that have a lot of legitimate main eventers...they just need to show people instead of telling.
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Post by KingPooper on Apr 21, 2024 23:23:07 GMT -5
I kinda see it has a lot of these guys were the old guard and first few champs so it does feel like bit the original AEW is missing. But they are evolving and things change.
Up until recent it felt like WWE main event was Lesnar, Rollins, and Roman for like an entire decade. Before that was Cena, HHH, and Orton. So a little diversity goes a long way. Of course WWE had other world champions but they really made it feel like those were the main characters. Even if they weren’t champions the show revolves around them.
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