Christian in AEW has been such a waste.

[Deleted]

He’s 48 years old, and has a serious injury history. He’s wrestled roughly once a month, has had great matches, won the Impact world title, is one of the few people with a clean win over Kenny Omega, and has injected credibility to one of the company’s biggest up and coming tag acts.

I would argue the exact opposite. I think he’s been booked absolutely perfectly.

[The Dark Order Inferno]

in two or three years time, Christian, Sting and Jericho will be gone from AEW, or retired from the ring. Jungle Boy, Darby and Sammy Guevara will remain and all three will come off more like stars thanks to the things they've learned working alongside them.

[Facetious]

Jan 30, 2022 15:11:01 GMT -5 ISO Mid Thigh Pull said:

I don't think he's been wasted but I'm absolutely dying for him to turn heel. Christian's one of my fav evil dudes of all time I can't take any more of him being a good person. 

I need Captain Charisma back. I need the jacket, looking into the crowd, the chest slaps, the Double C's being thrown up. Shit, I'd love for him to bring the Coalition back.

[Cyno]

I'd love to see him turn heel and get a great match out of Jungle Boy. Though I like Christian as a face, he is incredible as a heel.

["Evil Brood" Jackson Vanik]

I don't know what people were expecting. He's had a lot of good TV matches, a great title change, headlined a PPV (which they don't do too many of), had a fantastic six man on PPV, and is currently helping get their future star over. Like that's pretty damn good.

[ISO Mid Thigh Pull]

Jan 30, 2022 15:30:26 GMT -5 Facetious said:

Jan 30, 2022 15:11:01 GMT -5 ISO Mid Thigh Pull said:

I don't think he's been wasted but I'm absolutely dying for him to turn heel. Christian's one of my fav evil dudes of all time I can't take any more of him being a good person. 

I need Captain Charisma back. I need the jacket, looking into the crowd, the chest slaps, the Double C's being thrown up. Shit, I'd love for him to bring the Coalition back.

Honestly I think it'd be rly cool if Christian started treating Jurassic Express like shit after they lost the belts and went from their mentor to this horrible dude leeching off them that they keep around for way too long despite all warning signs because they aren't believing in themselves anymore. Jungle Boy was born to be in "make all the kids cry" type angles.

[A Platypus Rave]

Jan 30, 2022 14:27:48 GMT -5 This Player Hating Mothman said:

Jan 30, 2022 14:23:41 GMT -5 polarbearpete said:

Both can be true though no? That he may be booked worse in WWE, and he could be booked better in AEW.

They can be. I'm just talking about the idea of a big money E&C run and a Wrestlemania worthy match; that got a laugh out of me. Though I personally think he's been booked fine and seems fulfilled on this run in the role he's in.

Yeah, Christian wouldn't be treated like a returning Hall of Famer in waiting... Vince has never rated him higher than a midcard dude part time Uppermidcarder or as Edge's little buddy.

I still feel like even Edge isn't fully treated like a big deal anymore either... he really comes off as another dude on the roster (I wouldn't say he wasted anything by coming back but still)

so I could only imagine how Christian would have been treated.

[Chiral]

Jan 30, 2022 16:00:36 GMT -5 A Platypus Rave said:

Jan 30, 2022 14:27:48 GMT -5 This Player Hating Mothman said:

They can be. I'm just talking about the idea of a big money E&C run and a Wrestlemania worthy match; that got a laugh out of me. Though I personally think he's been booked fine and seems fulfilled on this run in the role he's in.

Yeah, Christian wouldn't be treated like a returning Hall of Famer in waiting... Vince has never rated him higher than a midcard dude part time Uppermidcarder or as Edge's little buddy.

I still feel like even Edge isn't fully treated like a big deal anymore either... he really comes off as another dude on the roster (I wouldn't say he wasted anything by coming back but still)

so I could only imagine how Christian would have been treated.

-Match with Jey Uso in WM37 build that he loses
-Fast Lane E&C vs. Usos tag match that E&C maybe win
-Reigns beats down Christian to get heat/sympathy for Edge
-Christian is not used again in 2021

SPOILER: Click to show

{Spoiler}{SPOILER: CLICK TO SHOW}-At some point during all that, Chiral has a meltdown about all this being my dude's comeback after thinking Christian would never be able to wrestle again and gets banned on FAN

And as for how he's feeling about his current run, in this interview he sounds pretty happy about how his comeback from retirement has gone so far:

[Dub H]

Jan 30, 2022 15:47:46 GMT -5 "Evil Brood" Jackson Vanik said:

I don't know what people were expecting. He's had a lot of good TV matches, a great title change, headlined a PPV (which they don't do too many of), had a fantastic six man on PPV, and is currently helping get their future star over. Like that's pretty damn good.

Dude is the only one of two people to pin Kenny in a year. That in itself is a big rub

[rnrk supports BLM]

They tried to present him as a big deal when they announced his signing, and the reaction on here and elsewhere was as lukewarm as Todd Grisham commentary.

Christian's ended up in a right spot, veteran midcard star getting over rising talent.

[Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-]]

FAN looking at this take like: 

[Baldobomb-22-OH-MAN!!!]

They've been using him exactly how a guy like him should be used. He's working good matches and helping the younger guys get over, even when he beats them.

[eJm]

I’ll still stand by the fact that people overhyped the signing rather than AEW even though I can see how the Tony Khan quote can be misinterpreted a tad. I do think people went way over the top with it, though.

But yeah, considering how Edge has been used, it’s a bit weird people are saying they want him to be used more when Edge is more of a special attraction himself. The difference is that Christian has a presence doing other stuff on the show and backstage as well.

[chazraps]

His 2021/2022 has been so much more entertaining than Edge's, and has had higher highs.

[Clash, Never a Meter Maid]

I don’t know if Christian has *ever* had consistently bad booking. He was one of the most decorated tag champs of all time, former IC and Hardcore champ, ECW champ, the world heavyweight title. Are people looking at his WWE tenure funny because he was never elevated to Cena and Orton’s level? Because I don’t think he was buried during those feuds at all. He was treated very well in Impact and won titles there, and I don’t see any issue with how he’s progressed in AEW because IMO they should be using folks like him to help out the new guys.

And I forgot the European title.

[El Cokehead del Knife Fight]

Jan 30, 2022 13:58:14 GMT -5 CeilingFan said:

Christian had a great match against Matt Hardy at Fyter Fest 2021.

It was good to see them prove a lot of naysayers wrong.

That match should have never been as good as it was, it was a masterclass of making the most that you have and taking shortcuts.

[stoptheclocks]

Jan 30, 2022 16:00:36 GMT -5 A Platypus Rave said:

Jan 30, 2022 14:27:48 GMT -5 This Player Hating Mothman said:

They can be. I'm just talking about the idea of a big money E&C run and a Wrestlemania worthy match; that got a laugh out of me. Though I personally think he's been booked fine and seems fulfilled on this run in the role he's in.

Yeah, Christian wouldn't be treated like a returning Hall of Famer in waiting... Vince has never rated him higher than a midcard dude part time Uppermidcarder or as Edge's little buddy.

I still feel like even Edge isn't fully treated like a big deal anymore either... he really comes off as another dude on the roster (I wouldn't say he wasted anything by coming back but still)

so I could only imagine how Christian would have been treated.

AEW don't seem to rate him any higher than being a midcarder. So it's certainly not just Vince.

I'd say he's been booked broadly how he would have been in the WWE. As a relatively big deal upon his return, and then like Christian.

But having said that, in any discussion like this the question should always be - do you actually want this guy to be in the main event, above various others who could be there? And the answer in this case, for me, is no.

[Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-]]

Jan 31, 2022 6:10:57 GMT -5 stoptheclocks said:

Jan 30, 2022 16:00:36 GMT -5 A Platypus Rave said:

Yeah, Christian wouldn't be treated like a returning Hall of Famer in waiting... Vince has never rated him higher than a midcard dude part time Uppermidcarder or as Edge's little buddy.

I still feel like even Edge isn't fully treated like a big deal anymore either... he really comes off as another dude on the roster (I wouldn't say he wasted anything by coming back but still)

so I could only imagine how Christian would have been treated.

AEW don't seem to rate him any higher than being a midcarder. So it's certainly not just Vince.

I'd say he's been booked broadly how he would have been in the WWE. As a relatively big deal upon his return, and then like Christian.

But having said that, in any discussion like this the question should always be - do you actually want this guy to be in the main event, above various others who could be there? And the answer in this case, for me, is no.

Disagree with Christian being viewed as a midcarder, at least at this time. He won a world title on their first Rampage show, he headlined an AEW PPV and the biggest AEW PPV they've done so far however you wanna look at it

He has only been pinned twice, by Kenny Omega, and in a multi man tag match by FTR, so one time in a singles fashion, a world title match.

I think Christian will begin to put other talent over, maybe even turn heel, but the definition of what a "Midcarder" is I feel is extremely skewed, Christian's at least on the upper end of the card only recently has he just been playing coach to Jurassic Express.

I think he would have been booked like a complete putz in WWE, second fiddle to Edge, the guy used to get heat because they're beating up "Edge's Friend", and maybe a feel good tag title run... in no atmosphere is he winning a world title from Kenny Omega and main eventing a huge PPV in WWE land. 

[stoptheclocks]

Jan 31, 2022 6:26:42 GMT -5 Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-] said:

Jan 31, 2022 6:10:57 GMT -5 stoptheclocks said:

AEW don't seem to rate him any higher than being a midcarder. So it's certainly not just Vince.

I'd say he's been booked broadly how he would have been in the WWE. As a relatively big deal upon his return, and then like Christian.

But having said that, in any discussion like this the question should always be - do you actually want this guy to be in the main event, above various others who could be there? And the answer in this case, for me, is no.

Disagree with Christian being viewed as a midcarder, at least at this time. He won a world title on their first Rampage show, he headlined an AEW PPV and the biggest AEW PPV they've done so far however you wanna look at it

He has only been pinned twice, by Kenny Omega, and in a multi man tag match by FTR, so one time in a singles fashion, a world title match.

I think Christian will begin to put other talent over, maybe even turn heel, but the definition of what a "Midcarder" is I feel is extremely skewed, Christian's at least on the upper end of the card only recently has he just been playing coach to Jurassic Express.

I think he would have been booked like a complete putz in WWE, second fiddle to Edge, the guy used to get heat because they're beating up "Edge's Friend", and maybe a feel good tag title run... in no atmosphere is he winning a world title from Kenny Omega and main eventing a huge PPV in WWE land. 

Which AEW PPV do you think Christian is going to headline next?

[Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-]]

Jan 31, 2022 6:32:44 GMT -5 stoptheclocks said:

Jan 31, 2022 6:26:42 GMT -5 Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-] said:

Disagree with Christian being viewed as a midcarder, at least at this time. He won a world title on their first Rampage show, he headlined an AEW PPV and the biggest AEW PPV they've done so far however you wanna look at it

He has only been pinned twice, by Kenny Omega, and in a multi man tag match by FTR, so one time in a singles fashion, a world title match.

I think Christian will begin to put other talent over, maybe even turn heel, but the definition of what a "Midcarder" is I feel is extremely skewed, Christian's at least on the upper end of the card only recently has he just been playing coach to Jurassic Express.

I think he would have been booked like a complete putz in WWE, second fiddle to Edge, the guy used to get heat because they're beating up "Edge's Friend", and maybe a feel good tag title run... in no atmosphere is he winning a world title from Kenny Omega and main eventing a huge PPV in WWE land. 

Which AEW PPV do you think Christian is going to headline next?

Does that matter? He headlined one. How many AEW wrestlers have headlined a major PPV? And Christian headlined what is currently the biggest drawing one of them all. He will more than likely continue to be on PPVs as well and used in storylines, as he is still on TV every week.

He may go down the card in the future to wrestle more rising star acts to give them credible feuds and storylines, surely a feud where Jungle boy goes over is in the cards... but Christian has not been a midcarder so far in his run, that is what you insinuated, and this sounds like goalpost moving to me. He has gone above and beyond what has been asked of him at this stage of his career and what he came back from.