When AEW began, there were several aspects of how they presented wrestling that differed from their main American competition, WWE. Every match was set to a time limit, with twenty minutes being the usual amount, and most title matches having a sixty-minute time limit. This adds an element of more realism and authenticity within the product, with matches feeling more competition-based, similar to having rounds in boxing or MMA. There has been some criticism in recent weeks regarding the use of time-limit draws in AEW, and this is something they need to avoid.

Time Limits Have Been A Positive For AEW

Time limits were a welcome addition when AEW announced that their matches would have this format. With wins and losses playing a huge role in deciding contenders within the ranking system, time limits add an extra incentive for competitors to try and win, which heightens stakes and ramps up the intensity within matches.

RELATED: The 10 Weakest Links In AEW Heading Into 2022

When it comes to time-limit draws, it provides a creative way to not book non-finishes, countouts, or disqualifications, which is a huge plus on their programming. Time-limit draws, when used, are usually within big matches, making them feel even more significant. The first instance came with Cody Rhodes and Darby Allin, during Allin’s debut match. This was an important usage of it, as it showed the audience that it was a possibility within matches, plus it elevated Allin a lot, with Rhodes not able to put him away.

Cody Rhodes vs Darby Allin

Draws have been used sparingly since, with the most notable occurrences being in TNT Title matches to set up a rematch, or else setting up more than one contender for a title. These have made sense, but when it comes to championships, fans want a winner there and then, especially when there is a clean finish in the rematch, making the draw feel pointless and potentially a cheap way to extend a feud, running the risk of fans feeling robbed. However, with it not being a common trope, fans accepted it.

Bryan Danielson Has Been Involved In Two Time-Limit Draws Since His Debut

The issues that recently arisen with draws have come with Bryan Danielson, with fans raising some concerns. Danielson came into the company to huge fanfare and surprise, having main-evented Wrestlemania the same year that he joined AEW. He set his sights on then AEW World Champion, Kenny Omega, but since he hadn’t built up wins in the rankings, he couldn’t challenge for the belt. Regardless, he wanted to face the man many perceived to be the best wrestler in the world, so the match was set as a non-title affair.

Bryan Danielson vs Kenny Omega AEW Dynamite Grand Slam

RELATED: 6 Best AEW Dynamite Matches Of 2021 (& 5 Worst)

The dream match took place at AEW’s Grand Slam special of Dynamite. With it being Danielson’s very first match in the company, and with Omega being the reigning champion, fans couldn’t pick a winner. Neither could AEW. The two wrestled to a fantastic thirty-minute draw, which was so good that it left fans wanting more rather than feeling aggrieved. It was the right call, and it set up an anticipated rematch down the line.

AEW Can’t Use Time-Limit Draws Too Often

After Omega lost the title to Hangman Adam Page at Full Gear, Danielson, who had just won the AEW World Title Eliminator Tournament, stepped up as the first challenger. This was a huge match, one which was once again difficult to call, with Danielson looking unbeatable following a major heel turn, and with it being Hangman’s first defense after chasing the belt for over two years.

RELATED: Every AEW World Championship Match In 2021, Ranked From Worst To Best

AEW once again opted for a time-limit draw, this time with the match going an hour. It was certainly a phenomenal contest, but it could hint at this being AEW’s version of WWE’s non-finishes and DQs when booked into a corner and can’t commit to booking a decisive winner. After two high-profile draws involving the AEW World Champion and Bryan Danielson, AEW needs to ensure that they don’t do another draw anytime soon, otherwise, it will become something fans learn to dislike, with people wanting to see a winner.

bryan danielson adam page winter is coming

AEW runs the risk of making big, PPV-quality matches on TV feel less important with these draws, which they can’t afford to do when TV ratings mean a lot when they’re still in the early stages of their life. Going forwards, if draws aren’t used too often, then the debate regarding this will be one of the past, with it just being circumstantial that two major time-limit draws were so close together, but it certainly can’t become a trope used to lengthen many feuds, especially when it comes to the AEW World Championship. The reputation AEW has with booking clean winners is a good one to have and losing that would be a huge negative.