There are a lot of thoughts and opinions swirling around at the moment in regard to the ‘plight’ of AEW and issues the company may have (and issues with AEW president, Tony Khan).
I have been thinking about writing this for a while and have decided that now is the perfect time to put finger to keyboard and get it done. Tony Khan has agreed to sell AEW to me. Don’t fear AEW fans – I’m not changing the name of the company to AYW, I agreed to keep it as AEW. I am now AEW president!
Here is what I would do if I had the keys tomorrow. This is me shooting and just getting my thoughts out there. This is not to argue or say that AEW has or has not got problems. Also, I’m unfortunately not a billionaire! Let’s get to it…
Here we go! The press are in attendance for the big reveal. Tony shakes my hand and tells the press he is off to take care of Fulham for the foreseeable.
First things first – I tell Meltzer to get out of the room and get a real job. I’m AEW president now and I rule with an iron fist! Just kidding of course, but there’s only room for All Your Wrestling staff (i.e. Connor) to be at the top table now! Ok, down to business.
1. Trios Titles Retired
Lots of fans were calling for trios titles and for the division to progress with new titles added. However, things just haven’t worked out and as AEW president, I’ve decided to retire the titles, effective immediately. I think they take away from the tag team division and they just add to the ‘too many titles’ conversation in the company.
We have had some amazing trios matches in AEW history and this contributed heavily to the argument for these titles. House of Black did have a decent run with the titles and the ‘House Rules’ matches made for interesting viewing.
However, I want to focus on the tag division and my cutting down of the titles has to start somewhere. Sorry Trios Titles – you’re history.
2. AEW Tag Team Focus
So following on from the trios division titles being cut, we move to the tag division. The AEW Tag Team scene was at one point fantastic. So many hungry teams battling it out for the gold and I want the division to return to that. With the trios titles gone, a renewed focus will be on the tag team division.
Starting on Dynamite, a new tournament will kick off to crown new tag team champions. The bracket is as follows;
- The Outrunners vs FTR
- Private Party vs Young Bucks
- MXM vs Brody & Buddy (The Hounds of Hell)
- Nick Wayne & Hook vs Strong & O’Reilly
I really like Nick Wayne and Hook and believe they will be big players in the future for us. Putting them together, I’m thinking that they will be an awesome team and progress further, especially if they have a manager to begin with (any ideas?) Ultimately though, they will be a face team (a wildly popular one at that).
In the first round, FTR and The Bucks pick up wins and have an insane match in the semi-final, which FTR win. They vow to regain their tag titles and restart their take-over of the tag division. On the other side of the draw, The Hounds of Hell destroy MXM and the new team of Nick Wayne and Hook beat Strong & O’Reilly (I feel these two are perfect to help get them over).
The Semi-Final
In the semi-final, The Hounds pick up the win over Wayne and Hook (I think this would be a cracking match) and shake hands after, turning Wayne and Hook into a babyface team moving forward.
The final will see Brody and Buddy defeat FTR and become the new tag team champions. They are then showcased every week, either on Dynamite or Collision. We need to see our champions to truly value them.
3. AEW International & Continental Titles Unified
There are too many titles in AEW so we continue our purge by unifying these two belts. The new title will be named the AEW Intercontinental (see what I did there?) Championship and become the second most prestigious title after the AEW World Title. Both these titles have had top stars wearing the gold however, the hierarchy of titles is very muddled.
Merging these will lower the amount of titles (which is a good thing as there are too many) and enable the titles to mean more. So, as AEW president, I book Okada vs Takeshita at our first PPV to merge the two titles.
4. AEW TNT Title
Continuing with the hierarchy of the titles, the TNT title is now the 3rd men’s title and will be held mainly by future stars and those looking to build. Some examples from the current roster could include; Action Andretti, Dante Martin, Lio Rush, Bowens & Caster (could feud over this first?), Wheeler Yuta and The Beast Mortos (I think he could make an excellent champion). The champions again will feature on the shows weekly and not disappear for weeks on end.
5. The AEW Continental Title/Classic
As discussed earlier, the Continental Title will be merged with the International Title. What does this mean for the Continental Classic? That will remain (as it’s awesome) and the winner will receive a big shiny trophy that gets wheeled out around tournament time, oh – and an AEW World Title shot at Revolution.
The finals of the Continental Classic will now take place at Full Gear in November.
6. AEW President To Hire Some Staff
Ok, so that’s the titles sorted. Now on to the backroom team. This ol’ AEW president here will hire a marketing manager who is going to promote the shit out of our shows, in the towns they are set, months in advance.
Billboards, paper ads, internet ads etc etc. People need to know that we are coming to their neck of the woods! We can build from smaller venues and if attendances rise, we book bigger buildings. Simple!
7. Fire Some Staff
Sorry everyone but the roster is too large. I’m looking through the roster and here is who I’m firing (sorry again, but you’ll receive a nice payoff);
Aaron Solo, Alex Abrahantes, Alex Reynolds, Ariya Daivari, Brandon Cutler, Bryan Keith, Chuck Taylor, Colt Cabana, Griff Garrison, Jay Lethal, Johnny TV, Josh Woods, Shibata, Keith Lee, Kip Sabian, Kota Ibushi, Lee Johnson, Mark Davis, Ortiz, Paul Wight, Leyla Hirsch, Diamante, Emi Sakura.
I know, I’ve been quite brutal but we need to trim and focus the storylines. There are probably more that could go, but we will stick there for now. This allows us to really focus in more on the talent we have and produce good storytelling, without having to worry about people getting TV time.
I know this will receive heat, but the AEW president will have tough decisions to make. I just feel these guys won’t be missed when we are booking others (such as Starks, Fenix etc) stronger.
8. Sign To Shiny New AEW Contracts
Let’s put an end to the speculation. These guys will be offered new deals and be a big part of the company moving forward;
Ricky Starks, Rey Fenix, Miro, Malakai Black.
We won’t argue about the past and comment on what’s happened. Let’s focus on the future and what these wrestlers could do for us. Ricky Starks is sensational on the mic and pretty good in the ring. Rey Fenix could be another Rey Mysterio in his prime. Miro and Malakai have the aura about them and if booked correctly, could be massive stars.
If you read my AYW fantasy series – incoming plug – (catch that here) then you know I’m high on Malakai Black.
The future stars will also include Wardlow, Nick Wayne, Hook, Powerhouse Hobbs, Caster, Bowens and The Gunns. We will carefully build these guys and keep them appearing on shows regularly.
On the women’s side of things, future stars Skye Blue, Julia Hart, Willow and Statlander will be carefully built up. Statlander is fantastic and can put on a banger match with anyone with her eyes closed.
9. Six PPV’s A Year
Dynasty will kick off the year for us in January. Then our huge event Revolution will take place in March. May sees Double Or Nothing take place in Vegas and July will be the home for All In.
September is the time for All Out and November sees us end the year with Full Gear. Battle Of The Belts will be scrapped as it’s not serving it’s purpose. We will have special episodes of Dynamite and Collision sporadically. Here’s the calendar for year one;
- JAN – Dynasty
- FEB – Special Collision (Collision Carnage)
- MAR – Revolution
- MAY – Double Or Nothing
- JUL – All In
- SEP – All Out
- NOV – Full Gear
- DEC – Special Dynamite (Winter Is Coming)
10. Collision
Make Collision Important!! From day one this will be happening. Elton John is back every week to give us the big night feel. Absolutely no filler episodes. Collision will be on par with Dynamite and will progress storylines and feature the top stars.
11. Storylines
There will be a booking team. This will consist of people who have experience in booking shows and also former wrestlers with tons of experience, but all storylines must be agreed with the team. It’s not a one-man show.
Talent can, and are, encouraged to pitch their ideas and are given creative freedom but it all must go through the booking team. Writing can be done by the talent but it must be agreed (sorry Mox).
I’m debating adding some talent to the booking team and wrap up their in-ring careers. Jericho is done in my AEW but imagine what he could add to the booking team. Possibly Jeff Jarrett as well as he has so much experience. Also add Billy Gunn to that list.
On the first Dynamite, I’d have Big Bill snap and destroy Jericho and Bryan Keith and move on to bigger things (no pun intended). Jericho can then gracefully make his way backstage and into the booking team.
12. Book The Women Stronger
There will be at least three women’s segments each episode, with always at least two matches. There is the quality in the division to allow for this and it needs to happen to build stories. One of the best storylines in the entire industry over the past few years has been the journey of Toni Storm and others should receive more time to try and replicate.
13. No Random Shit
The booking team will book the next PPV, and then work backwards, booking out the shows and building the feuds. This will allow for at least 6 weeks of storytelling before the matches take place. Huge matches will only be booked on special episodes of Dynamite and not regular episodes. They will also have a few weeks of build.
It is annoying me that Swerve vs Ricochet is on Dynamite and not Revolution!!
That’s all I have for now. Let me know what you would do if you were given the keys. Thanks for reading.
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