Performance Review
Evaluate Performance and achieved goals
Have a seat. I really appreciate the work you’re doing. I’m enjoying your progress and this week was strong, again. There are a few missed opportunities, but I recognize there’s only so many hours in the day.
This week was the final show before Saturday’s Full Gear PPV. It was tight, solid, and highlighted by a tremendous promo from World Title challenger Cody. And going into a PPV, a promo from the guy going after your top prize is definitely what you want people talking about. So great work.
The wrestling was pretty quality too, though it can run together. PAC, Private Party, and Jamie Hayter are the only acts I saw wrestle this week that don’t require some tender loving care story-wise to make their in-ring matter more.
Discuss areas of excellence within performance
The pillar angle of AEW right now is The Elite + MJF and Dustin Rhodes vs. The Inner Circle and that’s working out great. Anybody even tangentially involved in this is all the better for it.
The Inner Circle has been a home run: Chris Jericho as stable leader is an ideal role, Santana & Ortiz are immediate big deals, Jake Hager actually finally looks like a big badass, and most of all Sammy Guevera has blown up and found his calling.
Cody‘s promo on Jericho was phenomenal, endorsed by no less than THE ROCK on Twitter: “rhythm, cadence, tone, intent, passion, execution.” I can’t really say it any better than that. The “stupid dick” and “carny succubus” lines could easily come off bad but with his passion they worked, and I think he pretty deftly addressed the management thing.
The Jericho self-produced hype video was great too, legit funny satire that also properly promoted a wrestling match. Sammy’s “youngest champ ever” line, Jake Hager staring at the camera silently, VIRGIL, and Patricia Bobski dropping an F-bomb was professional wrestling.
Tremendous closing angle too, weaving all the big stories together with The Elite and The Inner Circle: Jericho/Cody, Kenny/Moxley, PAC/Page, Bucks/LAX, MJF, Hager… a rollicking good time.
Discuss areas of improvement
I think the positioning of everything else needs work. It’s early, but the build to Full Gear for lot of matches lacked juice and the folks not on Full Gear feel even less relevant. There’s talent all over this show, but Kenny/Moxley and PAC/Page are hurting, while SoCal/Party/Luchas, Riho/Emi, and Britt/Bea have barely registered. Those latter two are where I’m most disappointed, because there’s all kinds of ladies coming into this company but I’m not feeling any attempt at making anyone give a shit about them.
Excuse me for the language.
Develop future goals with set expectations
Flesh out the roster, establish more characters, and for your lighthearted guys (think Best Friends, The Hybrid2, Sonny Kiss), do a little bit to make them dominant so they’re not flash in the pans that don’t develop.
Additional Feedback
I hope these lists, initially envisioned as SportsCenter-esque rundowns (because AEW is like SPORTS), can help guide you on your way.
Top Plays of the Week
3. Hangman Page’s Moonsault to the Floor: Did I just hear Orihara Moonsault on TNT?
2. Chris Jericho Makes a Video: Actually good comedy in wrestling? Uh?
1. Cody Cuts a Promo: Money.
Dum Dum’s Got Something to Say
3. Someone has got to give Tully Blanchard more to do. I know WE know who Tully Blanchard is, but do THEY know?
2. I like this! Sometimes ya just gotta say it out loud.
1. They actually addressed the management thing well, and should do it more. I mean, keep the idea that Jericho is a VP quiet, but Cody not running from him being office and the first challenger for the AEW World Title was handled about as well as you can expect. Dusty’s kid was prepared for this.
SoftBank Presents, The Ugliest Acquisitions of the Week
3. AEW Dark: I read that interview this week where Cody said these matches go long so guys can get their reps in – and that’s cool – but this show is just terrible, and so far has done nothing to help out any act. This week was especially dire, so it gets mention here.
2. Brandi Rhodes: The idea behind this isn’t horrible, but so far it’s high-up playing dress-up.
1. The PAC/Trent/Bryce Kickout: Tighten your shit up, guys.
5 Questions
5. Where is Darby Allin?
4. Will this new format stay?
3. Is it a double standard to say Brandi’s promo was bad but Cody’s was good?
2. Can Kenny Omega delete his Twitter?
1. Can we talk about Tony Schiavone’s earrings?
Oh Yeah, The Wrestling
Fucked up finish aside (Trent didn’t kick out of the Black Arrow but Bryce stopped at 2 anyways), Trent vs. PAC was a great example of two excellent wrestlers being treated seriously and delivering. Fun, athletic, high-impact wrestling plus hijinks with Orange Cassidy that ended when PAC quite rightly kicked him really hard.
Riho & Shanna vs. Emi Sakura & Jamie Hayter was good stuff, with Hayter being a HEEL, Shanna being impressive, and Riho/Sakura properly previewing their match on Saturday.
Private Party vs. The Dark Order in a Bronze Model Match to see who placed third in the AEW World Tag Team Title Tournament and would thus be added to the Tag Titles match on Saturday was good stuff too, maybe a bit too long but Dark Order did a fine job keeping the pressure and Private Party is OVER.
Kenny Omega & Hangman Page vs. Chris Jericho & Sammy Guevera was… again, good stuff, a fun TV match that led to the wild closing angle with everybody running out and fighting before Nick Jackson channeled Sabu and dove off the entrance setup.
Official Star Rating
4 out of 5 Stars
