Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 13, 2021 11:33:35 GMT -5
Have there been a lot of main event caliber POC available these past two years? I'm legit asking - I don't watch a lot of wrestling.
Anyway, they've got a pretty diverse roster overall. As others have said, the main event scene could use a bit of work, but there are a few guys (Miro and Penta especially) who will probably be there in the near future, and plenty of young guys with lots of potential like Hobbs, Starks, Sammy G, Caster, etc. Things are looking good.
|
|
Dub H
Crow T. Robot
Captain Pixel: the Game Master
I ❤ Aniki
Posts: 47,575
Member is Online
|
Post by Dub H on Mar 13, 2021 11:55:31 GMT -5
Have there been a lot of main event caliber POC available these past two years? I'm legit asking - I don't watch a lot of wrestling. Anyway, they've got a pretty diverse roster overall. As others have said, the main event scene could use a bit of work, but there are a few guys (Miro and Penta especially) who will probably be there in the near future, and plenty of young guys with lots of potential like Hobbs, Starks, Sammy G, Caster, etc. Things are looking good. I think in AEW ,just Fenix or Penta are ready,but there is younger guys you can build towards
|
|
|
Post by The Dark Order Inferno on Mar 13, 2021 12:10:05 GMT -5
AEW are pushing minorities, they're trying to build up he generation of guys who could be main eventers for the next decade and they're all ethnicities, you've got The Acclaimed, Top Flight, The Infantry, Big Shotty, Will Hobbs, Velvet, Jade, Big Swole, Sammy Guevara and so on in various stages of development... Problem is people seem to want everything done yesterday.
We have seen what hotshotting people can do to careers, for every Goldberg you find, you chew up and spit out a lot of people who the audience do not like because they have not been given any reason to like other than they're big and handsome and the promoter wants them to top the card. If you don't spend any time letting talent tell a story, develop a connection with the fans, why should anyone care?
it's been a few years since AEW was a pipedream, something Tony Khan played as an efed no doubt, the company are making people of all ethnicities and sexual orientations into, but this all takes time.
You could make an argument for the Lucha Brothers needing to be pushed harder, but they have been pushed as a big deal, and have been part of high profile angles but let's not ignore exactly what has happened this past year, you've had injuries detailing pushes, visa issues, members of the team getting confined to a different country, members of the big angle they had planned for them finding themselves likewise stranded overseas, most of the company's booking plans had to be rewritten at short notice and that affected virtually everyone in some way or another.
|
|
|
Post by kingoftheindies on Mar 13, 2021 13:56:00 GMT -5
Last time this was a discussion it was pointed out that both Tony and Cody openly said they felt there was a diversity issue on their roster. In terms of pushed talent there is still work to do, but they are also signing a lot of prospects who are not white.
So I do think it's worth revisiting more down the line to see where the young talent they have signed are in a year or 2
|
|
|
Post by Cyno on Mar 13, 2021 15:17:29 GMT -5
I am sad that Suge D didn't end up with AEW full-time, but apparently he wasn't interested in a contract and wanted to stay on the indies. Which, hey, do what you gotta do for what you think is best for your career. Jericho gave him some real shine and I hope it helps him with whatever career prospects he has.
The other thing that hurts the perception, especially with the main event scene, is that AEW World Champion reigns so far have been very long. The company's title has only existed for a year and a half, give or take, and had just three champions. The champions have been so far a legend to establish the championship, and two of the most popular wrestlers outside WWE. All three men are also white and there aren't any PoC in AEW or among free agents who have that kind of cache. Closest are Penta and Fenix and I don't think either really was on the same level of "hype" as a Kenny Omega or Jon Moxley outside of lucha libre fans and LU diehards. I think there are PoC on the roster who can be in that role eventually, but they're gonna have to get built up.
Will Hobbes I think is one such individual who you can do that with because the dude's built like a brick shithouse. He's got that look to him. Not saying strap the rocket to him, but let him prove himself and I think you've got a legit contender for the TNT title in the short-term and the AEW World Championship in the long-term.
|
|
Dub H
Crow T. Robot
Captain Pixel: the Game Master
I ❤ Aniki
Posts: 47,575
Member is Online
|
Post by Dub H on Mar 13, 2021 15:21:29 GMT -5
I am sad that Suge D didn't end up with AEW full-time, but apparently he wasn't interested in a contract and wanted to stay on the indies. Which, hey, do what you gotta do for what you think is best for your career. Jericho gave him some real shine and I hope it helps him with whatever career prospects he has. The other thing that hurts the perception, especially with the main event scene, is that AEW World Champion reigns so far have been very long. The company's title has only existed for a year and a half, give or take, and had just three champions. The champions have been so far a legend to establish the championship, and two of the most popular wrestlers outside WWE. All three men are also white and there aren't any PoC in AEW or among free agents who have that kind of cache. I think there are PoC on the roster who can be in that role eventually, but they're gonna have to get built up. Will Hobbes I think is one such individual who you can do that with because the dude's built like a brick shithouse. He's got that look to him. Not saying strap the rocket to him, but let him prove himself and I think you've got a legit contender for the TNT title in the short-term and the AEW World Championship in the long-term. And the next two champions are VERY likely Hangman and then MJF. Hangman is the early prospect that became a really success and MJF was always a big deal.But I think there is a solid argument to have Fenix or Penta win the AEW title after Hangman. MJF will eventually be world champ for sure but there is no essential storyline reason for him to win like Hangman
|
|
|
Post by The Dark Order Inferno on Mar 13, 2021 15:32:36 GMT -5
See, I don't believe that putting the world title on a guy is the only sign he's being pushed. If he's feuded for it, main evented a string of shows and even if he didn't won it, he's proven he can hang and the door is open for him to do it again. If everyone wins the belt, it becomes meaningless and you hollow out the midcard, just look at the past two decades over in the WWE. How many former world champions do they have on the roster? When you have former world champion jobber to the stars who are still near their prime as a performer, something is horribly wrong.
AEW seem to be trying to create a company where any of the 'divisions' can main event and be seen as being important enough to justify that, if they succeede, winning any of the titles should be enough to be considered a major success for a performer, Penta could win the tag belts only and still be a big deal, the way Curt Hennig or Ted Dibiase never had world title runs but they sure as heck had great careers.
|
|
lucas_lee
Hank Scorpio
Heel turn is finished, now stripping away my personality
Posts: 6,626
|
Post by lucas_lee on Mar 13, 2021 15:48:15 GMT -5
Hopefully with the signing of Lee Johnson and Shawn Deen they'll stop jobbing out all the undercard black wrestlers. Because the Gunn Brothers getting a push over them is bad.
|
|
|
Post by The Dark Order Inferno on Mar 13, 2021 16:02:19 GMT -5
I've just remembered there's another name they're obviously planning to make into a huge deal soon, Anthony Ogogo. He's decently sized, charismatic, has a legitimate sports background, an olympic medal, he clearly enjoys wrestling and he has celebrity status in a major market for the company. If he's any good in the ring, they'll strap a rocket to him in the lead up to a UK tour, post covid.
|
|
Dub H
Crow T. Robot
Captain Pixel: the Game Master
I ❤ Aniki
Posts: 47,575
Member is Online
|
Post by Dub H on Mar 13, 2021 16:04:03 GMT -5
I've just remembered there's another name they're obviously planning to make into a huge deal soon, Anthony Ogogo. He's decently sized, charismatic, has a legitimate sports background, an olympic medal, he clearly enjoys wrestling and he has celebrity status in a major market for the company. If he's any good in the ring, they'll strap a rocket to him in the lead up to a UK tour, post covid. Thats true,they clearly see him as having a big future,dude has shown charisma,he has proven to be athletic,all he need is to be at least good in ring.
|
|
lucas_lee
Hank Scorpio
Heel turn is finished, now stripping away my personality
Posts: 6,626
|
Post by lucas_lee on Mar 13, 2021 16:33:11 GMT -5
I've just remembered there's another name they're obviously planning to make into a huge deal soon, Anthony Ogogo. He's decently sized, charismatic, has a legitimate sports background, an olympic medal, he clearly enjoys wrestling and he has celebrity status in a major market for the company. If he's any good in the ring, they'll strap a rocket to him in the lead up to a UK tour, post covid. He still needs training. I think he only started training a year ago. I think he left pro boxing to wrestle
|
|
|
Post by carp (SPC, Itoh Respect Army) on Mar 13, 2021 16:45:23 GMT -5
Have there been a lot of main event caliber POC available these past two years? I'm legit asking - I don't watch a lot of wrestling. I mean, "main event caliber" is a hell of a moving target, but yeah, there's plenty of black indie wrestlers with buzz. Lio Rush, Calvin Tankman, Lee Moriarty, Ken Broadway, Tre Lamar, Myron Reed, AJ Gray...
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 13, 2021 16:50:55 GMT -5
Overall, it's pretty diverse. When it comes to the main event scene though, it seems like it's just a bunch of white dudes. Honestly I don't think they did it on purpose. The company was built around The Elite and Chris Jericho, and then Mox was brought in as the surprise big jumping star. So it makes sense that it was a bunch of white dudes at first, but yes, now it's time for more diversity.
|
|
|
Post by rnrk supports BLM on Mar 13, 2021 17:32:15 GMT -5
Have there been a lot of main event caliber POC available these past two years? I'm legit asking - I don't watch a lot of wrestling. I mean, "main event caliber" is a hell of a moving target, but yeah, there's plenty of black indie wrestlers with buzz. Lio Rush, Calvin Tankman, Lee Moriarty, Ken Broadway, Tre Lamar, Myron Reed, AJ Gray... I always think of AR Fox when this topic comes up, I'm amazed he hasn't been picked up for a major gig yet.
|
|
Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-]
FANatic
Writer, Lover of all things Wrestling. Analytical, Critical, Lovable (hopefully). Lets all have fun!
Posts: 232,661
|
Post by Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-] on Mar 13, 2021 17:37:21 GMT -5
I mean, "main event caliber" is a hell of a moving target, but yeah, there's plenty of black indie wrestlers with buzz. Lio Rush, Calvin Tankman, Lee Moriarty, Ken Broadway, Tre Lamar, Myron Reed, AJ Gray... I always think of AR Fox when this topic comes up, I'm amazed he hasn't been picked up for a major gig yet. I know AR has a weird past but I'm kinda shocked too? Like no company has picked him up period. As for the others, there's potential AEW could get a Moriarty but Lio Rush is signed to New Japan STRONG and Tankman's in MLW so they aren't "Free agent" Indie Guys as much as most. AJ Gray's got a lot of baggage as others have also said.
|
|
Allie Kitsune
Crow T. Robot
Always Feelin' Foxy.
Celestial Princess in Exile.
Posts: 45,788
Member is Online
|
Post by Allie Kitsune on Mar 13, 2021 17:41:16 GMT -5
Not in general.
_Maybe_ in the main event scene, depending on what expectations were, and if the company meant to send a message to fans.
All they can really do right now is build up who they have, and work them into bigger roles (which they seem to be doing with Penta/Fenix, at the least, and with Scorpio Sky, even though he's got all the personality of dry unflavored oatmeal). But yeah, it would help to start putting other talent in more meaningful storylines, even with the limited time they've got right now. Maybe Elevation can start getting used for that.
|
|
|
Post by Cyno on Mar 13, 2021 18:04:16 GMT -5
I always think of AR Fox when this topic comes up, I'm amazed he hasn't been picked up for a major gig yet. I know AR has a weird past but I'm kinda shocked too? Like no company has picked him up period. As for the others, there's potential AEW could get a Moriarty but Lio Rush is signed to New Japan STRONG and Tankman's in MLW so they aren't "Free agent" Indie Guys as much as most. AJ Gray's got a lot of baggage as others have also said. Isn't Myron Reed also signed to MLW?
Granted, MLW at least in the past had no issues with MJF or Priscilla Kelly working AEW shows while they were still on their contracts. Maybe that's changed now, though. Dunno the current relationship between the two.
|
|
Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-]
FANatic
Writer, Lover of all things Wrestling. Analytical, Critical, Lovable (hopefully). Lets all have fun!
Posts: 232,661
|
Post by Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-] on Mar 13, 2021 18:06:38 GMT -5
I know AR has a weird past but I'm kinda shocked too? Like no company has picked him up period. As for the others, there's potential AEW could get a Moriarty but Lio Rush is signed to New Japan STRONG and Tankman's in MLW so they aren't "Free agent" Indie Guys as much as most. AJ Gray's got a lot of baggage as others have also said. Isn't Myron Reed also signed to MLW?
Granted, MLW at least in the past had no issues with MJF or Priscilla Kelly working AEW shows while they were still on their contracts. Maybe that's changed now, though. Dunno the current relationship between the two.
It's possible but it was also people saying a lot of these guys aren't just sitting in the lower tier indies waiting for a show, a lot of them are signed to higher tier companies with legit contracts which includes MLW. Moiarty and AR Fox might be the two highest profile talents I can think of that aren't really anywhere yet.
|
|
|
Post by Cyno on Mar 13, 2021 18:16:05 GMT -5
Also if this relationship with NJPW bears fruit, I'd love to see guys like Lio Rush and ACH show up sometime.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 13, 2021 18:35:52 GMT -5
I'm always terrified to touch this kind of subject with a 10 foot pole, just because it's a hornets nest.
But I guess I'm going to try anyway.
They do... kind of. I mean, they have 2 of the best Luchadores in the world on their roster, and the women's division is especially stacked with a lot of Japanese talent. The African American part leaves a lot to be desired in terms of representation.
That all being said, I think it's slowly getting there. Sonny Kiss and Will Hobbs are my 2 main standouts, as well as Big Swole. I heard it mentioned that what's youth got to do with it while MJF/Jungleboy etc. are so young. MJF was already on a nationally televised promotion and is the best heel in 20 years, easily. Jungleboy is a hot prospect with a lot of upside and only a fool would think that him being the son of Matthew Perry would do anything but give him and AEW a bit of mainstream exposure. Those 2 came ready-made out of the box. Everyone else... well, you gotta build them up.
Scorpio Sky isn't the answer, though. Great worker, and a great guy, I'm sure, but as I said in another thread, he's dishwaster boring.
Since AEW has that in-roads with Impact, can they get Willie Mack? That dude rules, and he has IT.
|
|