The Main Event Racial Diversity Is Getting Better In AEW

[Captain Stud Muffin (BLM)]

Okay, so real talk. Something I banged on about a while ago but still something to be said now

As much praise as they are rightfully getting for moving the needle up in wrestling, still one of my bigger problems is their lack of diversity in the main event picture. Obviously not Punk, ole Bryan, Black, etc fault they aren't people of color but outside of the Lucha Bros, or PnP you don't really see PoC rising up the ranks 

Andrade and Miro have the potential to break the scene but I do think after 2 years it is something that should be focused on just as much as the focus was on women not getting their time and segments

Just my 2 cents and something I wanted to put out there to see what y'all thoughts are 

[kidkamikaze10]

Yep, it hasn't.

And I have to say something kinda controversial about that. The guy they wanted to push into that role was mid, and I think that didn't help matters. Scorpio Sky was not the guy to push into a main event scene.

Hobbs I'm hoping will get there. Both Lees too, though I'm leaning on Moriarty way more. And though he's in a stable with a guy people THOUGHT was black, Ricky Starks is actually mixed and definitely should be main eventing by next year.

As for people they can get and have them start main eventing? Chris Bey, IMO. They got to take him from Impact.

[kidkamikaze10]

I'll go even further.

If AEW wants to do better with female viewers? They should go for black female viewers. And that means doing better on the men's side. The women's side isn't as daunting: they already have multiple women of color in that scene, and everyone knows when Jade is ready, she's gonna bring eyes.

[Macho Pichu]

I could see Hobbs being elevated to main event level, but that's really it. They definitely need some work in that department.

[smokinvokoun86]

I feel like Hobbs is getting there. He’s ranked, rarely loses and is getting more and more over. Same with guys like Ricky Starks.

They can always do better or course. Lee Moriarty seems like a can’t miss prospect.

[kidkamikaze10]

Turns out, I have a lot to say on this topic.


The EASIEST way to get Moriarty over is to have him work with Danielson. And they totally should do that.

[Fake Jesus]

....Miro....?

[Dr. Bolty, Disaster Enby]

Very hard agreed.

The...generous...interpretation is that Khan and co are getting behind wrestlers who are already popular, and it would be reasonable to say that they don't have black talent (in particular) that have the pre-existing fanbase of Malakai Black, Bryan Danielson, and CM Punk. They've tried with Scorpio Sky with some failure and some success. Putting Hobbs or Starks over Punk as part of the feud that just got started would be a hell of a good faith gesture in this area, but it would be pretty far from solving the problem...and it's potentially a bad combination that Hobbs and Starks are both heels in the same faction, which means that 1. they're likely to be losing a fair bit per AEW's booking style, and 2. the black talent with upward mobility are joined at the hip, which could inhibit the rise of either of them (IE, both are likely to take losses to further the other's storylines).

At this point, it's not like they've signed the likes of Jay Lethal, Big E, Kofi Kingston, Lashley, Moose, or Chris Bey and failed to use them. But they've also built up Darby Allin and Jungle Boy since day one, and it feels a little bit like Lee Johnson, who's in a very similar card position to where Jungle Boy started out, stalled hard because he spent so long in that "You're good, so we're going to use you for jobs" role. They're in a hole with Lee Johnson at the moment, and I don't think there's a plan to really dig him out of it. I worry the same could happen with Lee Moriarty.

It's a major reason I'm worried about the influx of big main event stars...who are all white except for Andrade. It's putting off the work further and further with every white main eventer they sign.

[Zone Was Wrong]

Yeah, I noticed that glaringly at the end of All Out. Besides Andrade, there really isn't a POC anywhere near the world title picture. I'd say Hobbs might be but he seems like an after thought atm since he's pretty much the muscle of Team Taz. If Darius Martin was a singles guy, I'd say he'd have a decent shot of making it up there but once his brother is back, they'll be back in the tag division.

[Dr. Bolty, Disaster Enby]

Also, IN BEFORE "but Tony Khan is a person of color":

Every Indian person I know would laugh long and bitterly at the idea that a rich desi dude couldn't be racist.

[Viking Hall]

I'll do the same Devils Advocate as I always do the multiple times this thread has been made. Which black wrestler should be at the top of the card based purely on their talent and not just because of their race?

[Can you afford to pay me, Gah]

I say give it time. I say this because AEW is starting its 3rd year right? Lucha Brothers are currently world tag champion which I love it. Adrande is going to get there if the match with Pac could have happened to show case him, would be even better. The issues with the blacks is that nobody knew who they where before AEW. Starks is the only one who had real any kind of TV exposer before hand with the NWA. They built him and Hobbs up very well from day one and he was pretty much an unknown to most people since he didn't have much TV exposer for fans to know who he was. I wished they break up Starks and Hobbs instead of turning Cage face. I think AEW is doing well with bring them up and getting them established.

Someone talked about the guys in the WWE. How long did it take for Kingston to get anything pass midcard? Woods has always been tag team wrestler. Big E finally breaking out himself after so many years. Lashley finally getting used right after how long? Lets not pretend WWE always been so good either. I mean look pre Rock and tell me. How long it took WWE to get it going. Now AEW had to build up there guys from the ground up. Now more and more fans KNOW who Will Hobbs is compared to his debut where he was an unknown. Ricky Starks more people know how good is and has had a big role on the show.

[Fake Jesus]

Sept 10, 2021 11:15:54 GMT -5 Dr. Bolty, Disaster Enby said:

Very hard agreed.

The...generous...interpretation is that Khan and co are getting behind wrestlers who are already popular, and it would be reasonable to say that they don't have black talent (in particular) that have the pre-existing fanbase of Malakai Black, Bryan Danielson, and CM Punk. They've tried with Scorpio Sky with some failure and some success. Putting Hobbs or Starks over Punk as part of the feud that just got started would be a hell of a good faith gesture in this area, but it would be pretty far from solving the problem...and it's potentially a bad combination that Hobbs and Starks are both heels in the same faction, which means that 1. they're likely to be losing a fair bit per AEW's booking style, and 2. the black talent with upward mobility are joined at the hip, which could inhibit the rise of either of them (IE, both are likely to take losses to further the other's storylines).

At this point, it's not like they've signed the likes of Jay Lethal, Big E, Kofi Kingston, Lashley, Moose, or Chris Bey and failed to use them. But they've also built up Darby Allin and Jungle Boy since day one, and it feels a little bit like Lee Johnson, who's in a very similar card position to where Jungle Boy started out, stalled hard because he spent so long in that "You're good, so we're going to use you for jobs" role. They're in a hole with Lee Johnson at the moment, and I don't think there's a plan to really dig him out of it. I worry the same could happen with Lee Moriarty.

It's a major reason I'm worried about the influx of big main event stars...who are all white except for Andrade. It's putting off the work further and further with every white main eventer they sign.

It's absolutely not possible to compare Lee Johnson and Jack Perry in terms of talent or profile; Johnson is good but he comes off as very generic despite a certain natural charisma, and AEW very rarely actually retool wrestlers beyond changing their alignments and seeing what happens (i.e Hobbs). Jurassic Express were (This does seem strange to remember in hindsight) literally one of the most over acts on the entire roster coming into AEW and their booking in the first year was more an example of cooling them down so Jungle Boy wouldn't end up in a position he wasn't ready for, versus Lee who is (slowly) climbing the card but who wouldn't (yet) be missed by many if he was cut tomorrow. Darby Allin was similarly low profile at the start of AEW but far more experienced and fully formed (And, at present, marketable) than Shotty Lee.

But really as you said, there are very few can't-miss black wrestlers signed to AEW, only Ricky Starks would really fit on that upper midcard level if he was pushed to it tomorrow. This is a problem in of itself, but it's a different problem; they simply need to find and sign more PoCs or attempt to poach them. I think they're doing a good enough job with what they've got, accepting that the vast majority of the main event-caliber talent signed to AEW is white, but they certainly need to get some new kids because being less diverse than companies which are on the one case literally institutionally racist, and on the other were (in a prior incarnation) almost purchased by neo-nazis is embarrassing.

[Captain Stud Muffin (BLM)]

Sept 10, 2021 11:13:29 GMT -5 Fake Jesus said:

....Miro....?

I mentioned Miro and Andrade as possible breakthrough cases

[06vwgti]

But Miro is Bulgarian, although given he is from eastern Europe and the historical mixture of people from that area I can see why people think he doesn't look like your typical "white" wrestler...

I do think if we need to talk about diversity, we need to also make sure it isn't just in a black/white point of view, which is what I feel most of the discussion falls down into everytime I read about it. While I think AEW could do a better job at it. I do hate how the "other" groups like Latino and Asians get glossed over in the discussion and prior to the Lucha Bros winning the tag titles on Sunday, I was hoping it was them or PnP winning them.

For instance we talk about how much better the WWE is doing better lately with all the black wrestlers, but the booking of Mexican wrestlers not named Mysterio or Guerrero has been atrocious. And while Nakamura has been booked strongly, I've never been a fan of the current gimmick of the ninja gimmick of Tozawa.

[Deleted]

I'm really not qualified to speak on this, but I do agree. Hopefully the upcoming Lucha Bros vs PnP fued and Hobbs will help, but there is a lack of diversity especially in the main event men. Some of that is just circumstantial, but one would want to see efforts made.

[Lupin the Third]

Sept 10, 2021 11:27:29 GMT -5 Viking Hall said:

I'll do the same Devils Advocate as I always do the multiple times this thread has been made. Which black wrestler should be at the top of the card based purely on their talent and not just because of their race?

I would say Dante Martin. That kid has a truckload of talent. And when his brother gets back, they should be one of the faces of the Tag Team division.

[kidkamikaze10]

Sept 10, 2021 11:27:29 GMT -5 Viking Hall said:

I'll do the same Devils Advocate as I always do the multiple times this thread has been made. Which black wrestler should be at the top of the card based purely on their talent and not just because of their race?

I mean, this is the same AEW that has had the likes of QT Marshall, 2.0, and Daniel Garcia at the top of the card not too long ago. Among other young talent.

If we don't question them, why question the black wrestlers?

[Ronny Rayguns Is All Elite]

That Depends on what we're considering the "main event" level.

If we're talking strictly challenging for the World Title, the only non white person I can remember challenging for that belt was Scorpio Skye and that was long ago.

The Lucha Bros just beat the Bucks for the titles in a high profile match after a mini reign of terror. I'd definitely say the YBs were treated like main eventers as a tag team, being EVPs probably helped but the end of that match seemed to be setting up the Lucha Bros for something major so hopefully they continue being treated like a big deal.

Not sure if we consider the TNT title "Main Event" status, but I think the smart move would be to have Kingston take the belt off Miro in their rematch, and then have Hobbs defeat Eddie after Team Taz wraps up against Punk. Dude is giving me Mark Henry Hall of Pain vibes in how he carries himself out there

Lee Johnson, is probably a LONG way from being in the upper card, although he's shown flashes of charisma and they seem invested in continuously using him.
A few weeks back they ended the Dynamite with him coming out to make the save against Malaki Black. Yea he got beat the next week, but that's still a good look that elevated him.


I don't watch much wrestling outside AEW so I'm not familiar with whoever might be available or soon available outside the current roster who would be able to come in and immediately become a main event player

[Deleted]

Genuinely asking, who would you promote to the main-event scene that is a person of colour?

You can argue that Miro is there already. Hobbs is being built, but obviously, that'll take some time - but he's clearly on his way there. Andrade is debuting tonight, he'll certainly be on the upper card.

Lucha Brothers are champions - Proud and Powerful were used in one of the hottest angles for the company, and just had an awesome series with FTR. The women's division has Rosa, Jade, Shida, Nyla, Kiera Hogan..

I don't see the argument that there is a lack of people of colour on the show, personally. OP, do you specifically mean African American? Not trying to start shit - I'm asking.