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The 2020 calendar year has been a tough one for businesses all around the world, including AEW. The COVID-19 pandemic has seen companies everywhere faced with unprecedented challenges. Tony Khan's promotion has been no exception.
In addition to the obvious issues caused by a professional wrestling company being unable to have a live crowd in attendance, AEW has also been affected by a number of travel restrictions in 2020.
This meant that - particularly in the early months of the pandemic - AEW had to tape several months of television with a limited crew of both wrestlers and staff.
Despite these hurdles, AEW's flagship show Dynamite was consistently entertaining throughout the year. Each of the four pay-per-view events that the promotion produced in 2020 delivered some top-notch action as well.
2020 was undoubtedly a major success for AEW, with the company achieving some of its highest ratings of all time towards the end of the year. Not everything has been perfect by any means, but AEW has had far more hits than misses over the past 12 months.
Before launching into this countdown of five things that AEW got right in 2020 from a business standpoint, it feels right to include a few words about Jon Huber, who tragically passed away a few days ago.
Huber, known to the wrestling world as Brodie Lee (and formerly Luke Harper in WWE), debuted with AEW back in March as The Exalted One of The Dark Order.
Brodie Lee last competed for AEW back in October, meaning that he was only an active member of the roster for seven months. In that brief period, though, he made a significant impact on the company, becoming one of only three men to hold the AEW TNT Championship in history.
Brodie Lee also helped transform The Dark Order faction from an undercard comedy act into a legitimate force on AEW television. His presence, however, was perhaps felt even more backstage.
In the days since Huber's untimely passing, it has emerged just how much he was loved and respected by his peers. What has also been revealed is just how much AEW has done to support the Huber family during what must have been a desperately trying time.
The promotion even arranged for Huber's son, Brodie Lee Junior, to defeat current AEW Champion Kenny Omega at a recent Dynamite taping in an untelevised match. Following the match, Brodie Junior was presented with his own AEW Championship belt.
Whilst that in itself was a wonderful gesture, it has now been confirmed that Brodie Junior has been signed to a full AEW contract, which he will be able to take up once he reaches the age to do so.
The decision not to include this as part of an entry on a list article was made out of respect to all who have been affected by recent events. The article itself begins below, but the manner in which AEW has dealt with this tragic situation has been a credit to them. The legacy of Jon 'Brodie Lee' Huber shall never be forgotten.
#5 AEW was right to place proper emphasis on their tag team division in 2020
Given that The Young Bucks are both Executive Vice Presidents in AEW it should come as no surprise that tag team wrestling is heavily focused on by the promotion.
However, so fantastic has some of the in-ring action been throughout 2020, that AEW should still be fully recognized for having hosted some of the best tag team matches in history over the past 12 months.
Matt and Nick Jackson's AEW Tag Team Championship match with Hangman Page and Kenny Omega at the Revolution pay-per-view event back in March was absolutely fantastic. Respected wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer even gave the bout a massive six-star rating, calling it one of the best matches he had ever seen.
The quality tag matches continued throughout the year, with The Young Bucks and FTR having a classic outing at November's Full Gear pay-per-view.
Rarely does an edition of AEW Dynamite go by without featuring a highly watchable tag team contest of some description. The division is stacked with great talent - and the promotion continues to invest in the future as well.
The likes of Top Flight and The Acclaimed have recently been brought into AEW and placed in high profile matches to allow them to display their considerable potential.
An aspect of professional wrestling that tends to continually get overlooked elsewhere, the tag team division is clearly a priority for AEW. The overall product is all the better for it.
#4 AEW was right to be selective about new talent acquisitions in 2020
When WWE fired in excess of 20 active in-ring performers in mid-April as part of a cost-cutting exercise, fans speculated that at least several of them would land in AEW.
AEW boss Tony Khan, though, was far more selective in his recruitment than some had predicted. Of the many Superstars that were released during that particular cull, only Miro (formerly known as Rusev in WWE) is currently a full-time member of the AEW roster.
Of course, AEW did add other former WWE Superstars to their ranks during 2020, but the likes of Matt Hardy, Brodie Lee, and FTR were all brought in prior to the mass releases being announced by WWE.
Each of those performers also had a defined creative path ready for them when they joined - and were not simply signed just because they had recently become available.
It is worth noting that Matt Cardona (formerly Zack Ryder) was also signed by AEW following his WWE release, but only worked a few select dates for the company.
There was no major influx of ex-WWE talent to AEW - and the promotion feels all the fresher for it. Rather than relying on names with years of exposure already, AEW has opted to offer opportunities to talents that have rarely had the opportunity to shine on an international stage.
Performers such as Ricky Starks, Eddie Kingston and Brian Cage (amongst others) have all been given that chance by AEW - and have each delivered.
AEW's recruitment policies in 2020 have proven successful.
#3 AEW was right to turn Kenny Omega heel in 2020
An Executive Vice President, who was also a part of the main event of the first-ever show produced by AEW, Kenny Omega has always been a key part of the promotion.
However, whilst he had a number of outstanding matches during the first year of the company's existence, something was still missing from Omega's presentation.
Omega was certainly a top talent but lacked the superstar aura that he had possessed during his run as The Cleaner for The Bullet Club in New Japan Pro Wrestling. Omega was in need of a shift in attitude.
The build to Omega's new persona began following the loss of the AEW Tag Team Championships that he had previously held with Hangman Page. Omega started to add ever-increasing notes of heelishness to his character - and eventually turned into a fully-fledged heel during his AEW World Championship bout with Jon Moxley at the Winter Is Coming special event in December.
Omega teamed up with his long-time mentor Don Callis to screw Moxley out of the title, becoming just the third World Champion in AEW history.
Far more engaging as a heel champion, Omega's partnership with IMPACT Wrestling's Callis has already offered unique storyline opportunities (which might just be discussed later in this article).
For AEW itself, though, this new-look Kenny Omega is entirely the right direction for the promotion to have taken. A fresh top heel at the head of the card offers a variety of different options for AEW.
At present, Omega has an issue with Moxley that has yet to be resolved. There is also an inevitable feud with Hangman Page that will play out in time, on top of the many other babyfaces in AEW that could step up to face Omega. 2021 looks set to be a very interesting year for the current AEW World Champion.
#2 AEW utilized wrestling legends well in 2020
Whilst historically most professional wrestling companies have tended to use the legends of the industry more for a nostalgia pop than anything else, AEW has taken a different approach.
Never shy of acknowledging wrestling history where appropriate, AEW has actively incorporated icons from prior eras into their week-to-week programming. The result of this is that the product feels like its has both greater depth and storytelling potential.
From Jake 'The Snake' Roberts joining up with Lance Archer to Taz forming Team Taz and even Tully Blanchard's association with FTR, every legend on the show has had a purpose in 2020.
Without doubt, AEW's biggest acquisition of the year has been Sting. The 61-year-old veteran has been a headliner for the NWA, WCW, IMPACT Wrestling, and WWE throughout his distinguished career. Now, Sting has made his way to AEW, having signed a multiple-year deal with the company.
Although it has just to be revealed on screen yet, there is clearly a storyline in place for The Icon. His mere presence on Dynamite adds a layer of excitement to the show - and has also given a boost to AEW television ratings.
The legends of professional wrestling can offer so much to younger talent in terms of their experience. Having so many top talents from years past in the AEW locker room can only be a plus when it comes to developing the talent of the future.
On-screen, though, these individuals also enhance the overall AEW fan experience, particularly when it comes to their ability to cut believable promos, meaning that the company benefits in more ways than one.
#1 AEW was right to begin a cross-promotion angle with IMPACT Wrestling in 2020
Kenny Omega's victory over Jon Moxley at December's Winter is Coming show did not just lead to the crowning of a new AEW World Champion.
As noteworthy as a major title change is, the match also kicked off the cross-promotion angle between AEW and IMPACT Wrestling. Of course, professional wrestling has seen its fair share of 'inter-promotional' angles in the past, but this particular instance seems different.
On a mainstream level, long-time fans will remember famous angles such as the WCW 'invasion' or even the original nWo storyline. In both those cases, although an invading force was being presented on television, everybody knew deep down that all involved were under contract to the same company.
Rarely in modern history has a major recognized World Champion like Omega made his way from a larger promotion to a smaller one. In storyline, Omega has followed his mentor Don Callis to IMPACT Wrestling, where Callis works as a Co-Executive Vice President.
Of course, in terms of overall stature at present, AEW is a more prominent promotion than IMPACT Wrestling. Despite this, Omega has vowed to continue to appearing in IMPACT Wrestling - and will even participate in the headline bout at their Hard To Kill pay-per-view event next month.
For his part, Tony Khan has made on-screen sense of the program by insisting that allowing Omega to appear on IMPACT Wrestling television is great free promotion for AEW. Khan has also appeared alongside Tony Schiavone in 'paid advertisements' during IMPACT Wrestling's weekly television show to further the angle.
Khan has issued an open invitation for any IMPACT Wrestling wrestler to make their way to AEW Dynamite, meaning that we are almost certain to see further inter-promotional activities between the two companies in the new year.
This angle feels natural and grounded in reality. It is an unprecedented move but is one that offers a new creative direction for both AEW and IMPACT Wrestling. It is professional wrestling fans who feel like the true winners here.
What makes Sting special? His first AEW opponent opens up RIGHT HERE.
