The Redemption main event problem
AEW is heading into Redemption with a target on its back, and not in the way the booking team likely intended. Reports have been swirling regarding the planned main event, and the current direction feels like a massive misstep in an era where fan intelligence is at an all-time high. You cannot force a secondary narrative when the audience is clearly clamoring for the top-tier talent interaction evidenced by the recent Dynamite reception.
The plan to feature Adam Copeland and Christian Cage defending their tag titles against the Death Riders against a backdrop of tepid buildup is a gamble. While the crowd in Boston popped for their opener against Yuta and Garcia—a solid match that clocked in at a respectable pace—it didn't justify making them the focal point of a pay-per-view main event. Relying on established names to carry a card without a fresh, hot-button conflict is a fast track to diminishing returns.
The booking disconnect
One critical flaw in the current strategy is the stark lack of hype for other high-stakes matches, specifically the women’s division, which has felt like an afterthought. When you look at the creative execution on Dynamite, there is a clear reliance on vignettes and self-referential humor, like Andrade El Idolo running his mystery woman selfie bit, rather than building genuine heat for the PPV. If the main event slots are occupied by safe, veteran-heavy matches, the card loses its edge.
It is worth noting that while Copeland and Christian have undeniable chemistry, their title reign has felt somewhat static. Putting them in the headline position while ignoring the momentum built by newer, more dynamic acts is a classic case of booking from a bygone era. If they insist on this path, they risk the main event feeling like an elongated episode of television rather than the crowning moment of the show.
The fans loved Copeland & Christian and were behind pretty much everything they did in the ring.
The sentiment from earlier this week, as noted in the PWTorch hits and misses, confirms that the appetite for this specific matchup is already cooling after the Dynamite encounter. A pay-per-view needs more than the same matchup we just saw on a Wednesday night. Unless the promotion pivots toward a high-stakes gimmick or a surprise intervention, the $49.99 price tag for the event is going to be a tough ask for the average consumer.
Expect the crowd to be vocal if the booking doesn't sharpen up before the bell rings. My prediction? They stick to the current plan, but the match quality fails to overcome the lack of narrative stakes, resulting in a lukewarm reception that forces a creative reboot in the weeks following the show.
