Opinion
Franklin: AEW Is Not Just A T-Shirt Company
Not just a t-shirt company–it is truly making an impact.
When businesses refuse to change with the times, the die. Is AEW showing the wrestling world how to evolve?
In early February, AEW held an elaborate press conference in Las Vegas to hype their Double or Nothing Show. The whole night was memorable for a handful of reasons, yet it was a sentence from Cody that has been ringing in my ears since. Dressed to the 9s and looking more like a hotshot comic book hero out sans disguise than a wrestler, he approached the mic and asked: “if not us, who? And if not now… when?”
Recalling it still makes my heart race, and I am reminded of all the seemingly invincible companies that have fallen throughout American history. Sears, not Wal-Mart used to be the undisputed retail king. Now, look at them. Remember Blockbuster? What about Pan Am airlines? Kodak and Polaroid? You were probably bemusing the fall of Toys R Us on social media when it collapsed a few years back, but when was the last time you actually stepped foot in one? When was the last time you had actually given them your business?
Borders, Tower freakin’ Records and General Motors, all blown aside. Replaced. Forgotten.
As I list these companies, I realize they all have another thing in common. One thread that binds them all into a combustible package. They all built a sizable lead over their competition, grew complacent and refused to change with the times. Failed to innovate and remain creative, thus cutting themselves off at the legs.
That sound like any company you know? If that doesn’t scream WWE, I don’t know what does. I don’t know Vince McMahon. I don’t think I’ve ever been in the same state as him, let alone in the same room. Yet we can figure out certain aspects of owners by looking at how their companies do business. Think about Tesla. We know what they are about because Elon Musk is so prominent in our news feeds and headlines. What about your favorite sports teams? The owners’ willingness to spend and take risks is a direct reflection of their values as a human being.
WWE is stubborn, constantly bucking against what fans want to see, seemingly because it just can. All the while, the company tells us that (feel free to read this in Triple H’s voice in your head) we the fans don’t know what we want, only they do. We don’t understand “the business” and Vince, he’s been in the game longer than anyone.
He’s the only Game in Town for a reason. Well, not anymore, pal.
Decades ago, the idea of titans of the industry falling would have been laughable. But times change. So do people, and what they want to see out of their entertainment. Gone are the days of laugh tracks and segregated comedy shows. Recall the countless empires that have come and gone; the ruthless dictators that seemed immortal, only to have their outdated ideas get recontextualized and swept to the side.
Vince is supposed to be more irreplaceable than these humans? Get real. Maybe in his own mind, but the reality will be cold and taste a lot like black and gold.
AEW has the flexibility and size to respond to crowd reaction with haste. While the WWE can’t seem to tell a good story to save its tanking ratings–to save its life–creative from the upstart will come from the performers themselves. The guys and gals who’re feeling the response will get to react to it, free from the worry that has crippled the WWE and their ability to tell compelling stories.
Many have said that All Elite Wrestling is just a t-shirt company. That’s already proven to be laughable. Is AEW guaranteed to take down WWE? Of course not. Yet the company seems poised to, at the very least, sweep the leg. And who knows where this thing will go once it’s on the proverbial ground.
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Opinion
Chris King: The Wyatt Sicks’ Wasted Potential By WWE
Chris King takes a look at the WWE and their wasted potential of Uncle Howdy and the Wyatt Sicks faction.
Chris King takes a look at the WWE and their wasted potential of Uncle Howdy and the Wyatt Sicks faction.
It’s that time of the year again, folks; it’s unfortunate and downright awful that so many WWE superstars got released today. I’m not going to list all of them, but I am going to talk about one of my favorite factions,
The Wyatt Sicks. Nikki Cross, Joe Gacy, Erik Rowan, and Bo Dallas (Uncle Howdy) were something special. After Bo’s brother Bray Wyatt’s tragic passing, WWE felt like there was a hole that needed to be filled. Wyatt was one of the most creative and brilliant characters, and Bo would be taking over his brother’s concept and bringing it to life. In 2024, at the end of an incredible documentary highlighting Wyatt’s career and struggles, Bo appeared on the screen portrayed as Uncle Howdy. The last time Uncle Howdy was seen on-screen was at the 2023 Royal Rumble, where Wyatt defeated LA Knight in a Pitch Black Match. Howdy jumped off a structure onto Knight.
This post-credit scene sparked so much speculation and excitement that Wyatt’s brother would carry on his legacy and possibly debut the faction that was Wyatt’s concept. On the June 17th episode of Monday Night Raw, The Wyatt Sicks made their dramatic debut ,destroying the backstage area as well as “murdering” Chad Gable. It was such an iconic arrival for Howdy as he made his menacing walk from the back into the audience who were chanting “Holy Shit.” The Sicks and American Made (Chad Gable and The Creed Brothers) battled for months, with The Sicks being victorious. On the September 9th episode of Raw, The Sicks defeated them, with Howdy getting the win with Sister Abigail.
The following year, The Sicks would move over to Friday Night SmackDown, and it seemed like WWE had a plan in place. They would win the tag team championships from The Street Profits and start to look dominant. Now, what should have happened next is Howdy should have won the United States title. The Sicks could have held all the gold over on the blue brand, but it never happened. The Sicks entered into a never-ending feud with The MFT’s (Solo Sikoa, Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa, JC Mateo, and Talla Tonga.) It started off exciting, and the WWE Universe was red-hot for their interactions.
After months of repetitive matches and The MFT’s stealing their lantern, the feud grew tiresome and boring. Even Tama asked Solo why they are still holding onto the lantern, as it was destroying them as a whole. Finally on the SmackDown before Mania, Tama
gave the lantern back to Howdy against Solo’s wishes. Please explain to me why both factions fought almost every single week instead of just having one final blowoff match at WrestleMania.
It should have been either a massive street fight or a falls count anywhere match on the grandest stage of them all. Instead, it turned into a meaningless week-after-week extravaganza that benefited no one. The MFTs won the rivalry, and The Sicks don’t even work for WWE anymore. This was the same criminalized creative process that Wyatt dealt with during his first run in the company.
We’ll never know how much of a dangerous force The Wyatt Sicks could have been in the WWE. For all their careers’ sake, I hope they stay far away from the company for as long as possible. Every superstar that was cut deserves better!
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Opinion
Chris King: Bloodline Saga: Is This the Right Call For WWE?
Chris King questions the WWE’s logic in setting up Jacob Fatu as the next challenger for World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns
Chris King questions the WWE’s logic in setting up Jacob Fatu as the next challenger for World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns
Roman Reigns is once again World Heavyweight Champion after his dominant win over CM Punk at WrestleMania 42. On the following night on Monday Night Raw, The OG Bloodline came back together as a well-oiled machine as The Usos stood side by side with Roman. With the WWE Universe asking who would be the first to challenge “The Tribal Chief,” Jacob Fatu shocked the world by answering the call.
Fatu is running hot after his impressive win over Drew McIntyre and feels like he is ready to become the new world champion. This bloodline segment ended Raw, and it picked right back up on SmackDown with even Solo Sikoa and the MFTs involved. This is now two shows that have been centered around The Bloodline saga, and it’s made me question whether or not WWE should be retelling this story.
The Bloodline (Roman Reigns, The Usos, and Solo Sikoa) ran WWE for over four years as Reigns’ henchmen, doing his dirty work to retain his title. Even though Roman has declared he doesn’t want Jey and Jimmy to serve him, it sure seems like WWE are spinning their wheels. Fatu could add a whole new chapter into the story, even if he’s not able to beat Roman at Backlash. “The Samoan Werewolf” could be forced to do the same thing as Jey did all those years ago and fall in line.
In my opinion, I feel like Fatu should be challenging for the Undisputed WWE Championship because that’s a title I feel like he should win. I understand standing up to your blood and trying to prove you’re the best, but I don’t think this is the right move. It feels like 2022 all over again, as The Bloodline is the central focus on both shows. If Fatu doesn’t win, what happens to all his momentum he’s been building over the last two years?
Why did WWE make this the best choice for storyline purposes? Why couldn’t creative have come up with a different challenger for Roman? There are so many other superstars that could challenge The Tribal Chief, such as Rusev, Bron Breakker, Gunther, or even a returning Sheamus.
I just can’t help but question WWE’s logic here, and it kind of reminds me of all the times The Shield reunited. Could WWE be pushing the same storyline too many times here? Could the WWE Universe get tired of this rinse and repeat cycle of The Bloodline Saga?
Are we about to see all the weekly episodes solely focused on The Bloodline again? Will it be cinema… Yes. Is there still money in The Bloodline… Yes. Was it the right call? That’s to be determined!
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Launched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you’ll find!
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SUNDAY - 30 Mindless Minutes
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Attitude Of Aggression Podcast: The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history) Unidentified History (Ufology) & Game Gone Wrong (Game of Thrones Universe)
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