The AEW honeymoon phase is officially over
If you spent even five minutes on social media this morning, you know the vibe. AEW announced the first matches for next week's Dynamite and the internet reacted exactly how you expect: by screaming into the void. Some people think it is a masterclass in booking while others are treating it like a personal insult to their wrestling pedigree.
The enthusiasts are out in full force, acting like these matches are the second coming of the G1 Climax. They are talking about ring psychology and technical chain wrestling, ignoring that half of them have never stepped inside a ring without a controller in their hands. It is the same group that will defend a flat segment as a long-term storytelling beat then turn around and praise a ten-minute rest hold as classic mat work.
The skeptics are sharpening their pitchforks
Then you have the cynics. These are the folks who have been predicting the demise of the promotion since the first bell rung in 2019. They spent all morning pointing out that there is zero heat for the mid-card matches, even though those same guys put on a technical clinic last Tuesday. It is funny watching people complain about a lack of depth while simultaneously trashing the undercard participants for not being main event stars already.
The criticism isn't entirely baseless. There is a glaring issue with how some of these rivalries are being paced. We are seeing major matchups thrown together with the narrative weight of a pre-season house show. It feels like the booking team is just shuffling deck chairs on the Titanic. They need to find a way to make us care about the stakes beyond just needing a winner for the night’s card.
Analyzing the noise
So, who has the better argument? Honestly, it is the skeptics who are actually paying attention to the presentation, while the stans are just riding the waves of their own hype machines. The booking strategy currently relies too heavily on the assumption that hardcores will watch regardless of the stakes, which is a dangerous game to play when ratings are shifting.
You cannot build a house on just work-rate if the foundation of your storytelling is made of wet cardboard. Matches need to matter. A random encounter between two guys who haven't spoken in six months might look great on paper, but it doesn't leave the audience wanting more. It feels like a chore to watch when the creative direction lacks a heartbeat.
The middle ground is a ghost town
There is a pathetic lack of nuance in the middle. You either think AEW is saving pro wrestling or you think it died the second they dropped a specific pyro sequence. Maybe it is just a wrestling show? Maybe we don't need to decide if every mid-card match represents the pinnacle of athletic competition or the death of the industry.
The reality is somewhere in the middle of these ridiculous extremes. The talent is clearly there, capable of producing moments that live rent-free in your head. But the structural issues are screaming for attention every single week. We are looking at a product that is consistently inconsistent, and until they tighten up the narratives, the forums are going to stay in this constant, exhausting state of civil war.
Ultimately, the match quality on the upcoming card will be just fine. People will cheer, people will groan, and then we will all wake up on Thursday morning to complain about it all over again. That is the cycle. That is the experience. And clearly, we wouldn't have it any other way, even if we all insist that we are ready to walk away at a moment's notice.
