2021 was a great year for AEW, with multiple big-name signings, fantastic PPV shows, and consistently strong weekly TV. Like any wrestling company and subjective form of entertainment, there have been critics surrounding some parts of AEW’s programming and booking.
Some of these negatives are more universally agreed upon than others, and there are certainly some parts of AEW that fans don’t want to see in 2022, whether that be the repetition of similar mistakes, potential matches or feuds, or the spotlight being on certain unpopular performers. AEW is still a growing company with plenty to learn, and there are a number of different elements in which they could improve upon, with other things that they should ensure that they don’t do in the coming year.
10 Cinematic Matches
In 2020 and 2021, wrestling went through a peculiar period in which cinematic matches were necessary to freshen up programming, and distract from the lack of fans in attendance, due to the pandemic. AEW saw a couple of cinematic matches on PPV in 2021, with Sting and Darby Allin taking on Team Taz, and the Stadium Stampede at Double or Nothing, with that being a mixture of both cinematic and live wrestling.
The Stampede was a huge step down from the year before, and just didn’t work as well as the original. Cinematic matches, despite their positives, bring back memories of a tough time for wrestling. AEW would be wise to keep within the realms of the arena and live matches in order to keep the audience’s attention, and only use different techniques when storyline’s need them.
9 Mark Henry Or Paul Wight In A Big Feud
Henry and Wight are two huge names of the wrestling industry, establishing themselves as two of the best big men of all time. Wight has looked decent in the few matches he has had, but with the loaded roster in AEW, there really isn’t a place for Wight in a major AEW feud, with the spotlight needing to be put on the stars of today.
When Henry made his debut in AEW, he made the claim that he has a lot more left in the tank, but he, like Wight, shouldn’t be competing often, if at all in AEW.
8 Dark Order Dissension
There was a point in 2021 in which The Dark Order were imploding from within, with a divide between members, and even matches taking place between one another. Out of all the groups in AEW, Dark Order is the one which needs that the least.
The faction is one of AEW’s most popular acts, promoting friendship and love, and they should remain that way. The furthest AEW should go to anyone leaving the group would be someone looking to win singles titles, whilst still being affiliated with the group, if not a full member.
7 Lots More Signings
AEW made an amass of huge signings in 2021, bringing in the likes of Christian Cage, CM Punk, Bryan Danielson, and three members of the Undisputed Era. Signing these names were no brainers, but some new wrestlers have raised questions. Signings such as Tony Nese and Jay Lethal seem like pointless additions to an already stacked roster.
If people are going to be crossing the border between NJPW, with other names such as Keith Lee and Bray Wyatt available for hire, signing too many stars will create a lot of problems, with more factions likely to keep everyone on TV, with the potential for messy and crowded booking.
6 More Factions
With more signings comes the need to make room for everyone on television, and with that comes bigger groups and factions. AEW has a lot teams, with the Inner Circle, Elite, Pinnacle, and Dark Order to name just a few.
At times, feuds between factions have felt messy and lazy, with stables such as Team Taz and the HFO lacking heat. AEW need to resist the temptation to create more groups, otherwise the same problems will arise more often.
5 Daily’s Place
Throughout the pandemic, Daily’s Place in Jacksonville became AEW’s de facto home, with every show emanating from the amphitheatre. Since AEW returned to the road, the prospect of seeing the set of Daily’s Place gives an uneasy feeling, due to the associations it still has with having no fans.
Of course, AEW should return there every so often, but it is still very fresh in the mind for many and is still perhaps too soon to make a return to Jacksonville, especially when there are so many venues around the country and the world who would love to host an AEW event.
4 Offensive Jokes
All humour is subjective, and there will be many on both sides of the coin in terms of what makes a joke. However, there have been a few occasions in the last year where the jokes have gone too far in AEW, notably with the Max Caster controversy, and in Chris Jericho’s feud with Dan Lambert.
AEW have enough talented and witty performers to not have to resort to bottom of the barrel humour, with homophobic or sexist connotations. That may have been accepted in the past, but wrestling, like the rest of the world, is moving in the right direction where these aren’t appropriate. That doesn’t mean to say that talents can’t still tell questionable jokes, but sometimes the company hugely miss the mark, and risk alienating some of the audience.
3 Cody Rhodes As A Babyface
Cody Rhodes is perhaps too far gone in terms of negative reactions to fight back his appeal and support as a face. His over-the-top presentation, title victories, and obvious attempts at trying to claw back fans, have turned many against him.
The best direction would be for Rhodes to go in the villainous direction, whether that be as an oblivious heel who believes he’s a face or go full-fledged evil. Either way, a babyface Rhodes has very few positives going into 2022.
2 Exploding Barbed Wire Deathmatch
At Revolution 2021, Jon Moxley and Kenny Omega wrestled in an Exploding Barbed Wire Deathmatch, which brought a lot of attention and anticipation to the PPV event. The match was great, but the dud explosion at the finish made for an embarrassing ending, and brought a rain of criticism.
Tony Khan had stated his desire to try it again, and he may not be able to resist the temptation to do it right, but is it really worth the risk when all the fans will be waiting for throughout the entire match is whether or not the ring will explode properly? It isn’t worth the hassle.
1 The Same Booking Of The Women’s Division
Out of all the positives in AEW, perhaps the biggest negative has been their women’s division. There have been good moments, good matches, and a lot of popular names, but there simply isn’t enough TV time dedicated to feuds, nor substantial spotlight.
If AEW continues to reserve just one match a show for women, with a lack of creative non-title feuds, they will not seem like a good destination for potential signings, and it will continue to alienate a section of the fanbase. Things certainly need to change.