'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Since its inception, AEW has tried to be a wrestling alternative, catering to ardent fans around the globe. They may be new players in the business, but AEW has been meticulous in acquiring some game-changing names from across the wrestling industry.
By doing that, creative management has been able to pick some of the best brains out there. Having young talent alongside seasoned veterans like Chris Jericho, Arn Anderson, Jerry Lynn, and a few others, the creativity never seems to dry up. So let's have a look at five innovative things that make AEW stand apart.
#5 BTE is a great way to promote AEW
Even before the conception of the idea for AEW, "Being The Elite" was a name growing in popularity amongst the wrestling community. "The Elite" was created by the brothers Matt and Nick Jackson to establish an inner group within the reputable Bullet Club faction, with Kenny Omega on their side while working for NJPW.
The Young Bucks concocted an episodic vlogging series on their YouTube channel. The BTE vlogs mainly displayed their frequent travels between Japan and the USA. The videos also included exclusive behind the scenes footage along with many easter eggs in the form of cameos and cheeky mentions of different wrestlers who were the duo's real-life friends.
When AEW began telecasting their weekly show, AEW Dynamite, the Bucks still maintained weekly episodes of their YouTube series. BTE has been judiciously used to run a few concurrent storylines from AEW television.
Many times, the payoffs to the storylines would culminate during AEW Dark or AEW Dynamite. As far as innovational concepts go, this is a fantastic way by which the fans remain engaged with the product.
Many independent wrestlers who get signed to the company manage to get their recognition through moments in these vlogs. Fresh talents properly get accustomed to facing a camera and delivering promos, which helps them generate enough confidence by fleshing out their characters in front of an online global audience.
#4 Versatility of cinematic matches in AEW
Cinematic matches are a common type of match that all the prominent promotions, including AEW, are using these days. The speciality of these matches is that they are always pre-recorded like a movie in parts. All of the segments are then stitched together into one single featured match in post-production.
AEW enjoys an upper hand when it comes to designing a cinematic match, the reason being the presence of the sole proprietor Matt Hardy. Matt has had a huge hand in the success of cinematic matches. His infamous character of "Broken Matt Hardy" had once reigned supreme and has displayed the idea of how wrestling should be more light-hearted, engaging and fun.
AEW has had several of these matches, like the "Tooth And Nail Match" involving Britt Baker vs Swole and the "Stadium Stampede" which looked amazing on TV. A live crowd may not have enjoyed them on the big screen that much, but during the circumstances of the pandemic with a limited number of audience allowed, cinematic matches have been a welcome addition.
Recently another cinematic match took place at AEW Revolution when Sting made his anticipated return, teaming up with Darby Allin and going up against Team Taz. Despite not being allowed to wrestle full time in real life, Sting was able to pull this off thanks to the cinematic circumstances that made it possible in the first place.
#3 The Forbidden door was unlocked by AEW
AEW owner Tony Khan has pulled several surprises out of his sleeve so far. He has managed the incredible task of establishing a working relationship between AEW and AAA, Impact, and most recently, NJPW. Such a pact has made it possible to have stars like The Good Brothers, Kenta, and Laredo Kid appear and have brilliant matches in AEW.
For a long time, the fans never got their dream matches. It was a fan's unworkable fantasy to see cross-promotional matches in the wrestling industry. Who would have thought that this would be a real deal which was put into motion by AEW?
The prospect of matches that this relationship creates is endless. AEW might not have gone full-throttle on this idea yet, which is understandable due to imposed travel restrictions during the pandemic. But once things go back to normal, we can expect to see a lot of cross-promotional storylines, brand warfare, power struggles, stable fights and maybe even a hostile takeover!
In the end, these partnerships help everyone by inviting new eyes to their products.
#2 AEW keeping Hardcore fanatics in mind
AEW saw a demand in the market for hardcore wrestling matches. This subsection of fans were hungry for violent matches, many of them being ECW fans previously. These fans have long demanded a more hardcore style of matches from the major wrestling companies. AEW finally managed to quench their bloodthirst.
Another factor that helped AEW in this venture was that the roster was willing to put their bodies on the line purely due to their admiration and passion for hardcore matches. Wrestlers like Jon Moxley, Joey Janella, Jimmy Havoc and Darby Allin are some of the craziest hardcore specialists of this generation.
A few matches that demand special recognition are
1. Darby Allin vs Jimmy Havoc vs Joey Janela (Cracker Barrel Clash) - All Out.
2.The Young Bucks vs Lucha Bros (Ladder match) - All Out.
3.Kenny Omega vs Jon Moxley (Non-Sanctioned Match) - Full Gear.
4.Cody vs Dustin Rhodes - Double Or Nothing.
5.Kenny Omega vs Jon Moxley (Exploding barbed wire deathmatch)- Revolution.
6.Thunder Rosa vs Britt Baker (Lights out match) - Dynamite.
All of these bouts are worth a match if you haven't seen them yet.
#1 AEW empowers creative freedom
AEW management provides a lot of creative freedom to the wrestlers. They work as a team, discussing several ideas that give rise to brilliant segments and matches. The wrestlers are also encouraged to have unscripted promos, which removes a lot of burden from the wrestler's perspective. Nothing is forced. This way the whole locker room shares a very positive working environment.
“He’s [Tony Khan] very open to suggestions, I talk to him everyday about ideas for the show, live shows, advertising, press, action figures – and that’s a really cool environment for me to be able to use my 30 years of experience in a positive way and not being undermined because I’m just talent. I’m as much part of the office as anybody is and I think that’s a lot of fun and challenging in a great way for me.” - Chris Jericho H/T talkSPORT
A brilliant example of this is when the AEW participants came up with the idea of utilizing the territory of Daily's Place with TIAA Bank Field in the shape of a unique match called the "Stadium Stampede." The Inner Circle was going up against The Elite in a falls count anywhere match, but it was definitely unlike anything that we have ever seen. The match featured a golf cart chase, a messy bar room brawl, and even a real horse-riding cowboy inside of the Jacksonville Jaguars stadium. The match was an overall experience that the fans thoroughly enjoyed. The participants in the match later stated that it was one of the best matches that they had been lucky enough to be a part of.
Such exceptional and wacky ideas often produce great gimmick matches for AEW. Fresh and unique concepts are exactly what a new product like AEW should try to put together. Thus far, AEW has been superb at it, and if they keep using their creative hats this way, there is no stopping them.
