Our Chairshot Take – WWE, Storyline Recaps, New Japan, AEW TV, and the Forbidden Door

Welcome to Our Chairshot Take! This week, 5 of your favorite contributors answer questions about what it would take to stop watching WWE, recap segments, New Japan’s relevance, AEW’s TV deal, and wrestlers in other companies!

Welcome to a new weekly wrestling column featuring some of your favorite Chairshot contributors (and some outside of Chairshot as well) – Our Chairshot Take! Every week, we’ll have 5 contributors answer 5 of the most interesting, intriguing, and relevant questions that you want answers too. Please, feel free to tell us why we’re right or wrong, and most importantly, let us know YOUR take!  And don’t forget, #AlwaysUseYourHead!

What would it take for you to stop watching WWE?

Greg: To be fully honest, I don’t know how to answer this question. I have been watching ever since I was a little kid, listening to my dad’s stories about Bruno Sammartino and Antonio Rocca. I’ve seen every WrestleMania, and I even promote wrestling events. Plus, I have my system–I watch Raw after it’s over, and Smackdown on delay as well. I’ve made it fit into my life. My guess would be seeing it become a total overhaul that isn’t even WWE anymore. Like, if they make it boxing or something.

I guess we can get extreme–if they start pushing political candidates on television, or spreading hate speech, I will stop watching. But as a wrestling product, I can’t see a situation where I stop watching.

Andrew: You’re asking the wrong person, it’s usually a bigger surprise if I actually DO watch WWE. Honestly, I tune in when there’s something that catches my interest. A good personality, someone I liked from elsewhere joining WWE, but I’ve never been a diehard, so I don’t think I’ll ever stop because it’s never been a fandom that defines me as a person. 

Rey: I want to say nothing, and I feel that way now, but anything can change. I’ve loved this company practically my entire life, and I’ve dealt with and put up with a many number of terrible atrocities that have been associated with people in it. Unfortunately, the world has forced me to learn how to compartmentalize, so I’m able to watch wrestling (and other things) and separate the art from the reality. That line is getting closer every day, but right now, I can deal with it.

Mat: I hardly as it is but Vince McMahon coming back would be one way to stop completely. Outside of that, seeing the people that I still enjoy watching get let go or the product somehow turns out worse than the 2018-2019 era

Jason: Not sure there’s one red button that would make me stop, I’m gonna cop out and say when I stop having fun, but it got real dark in the period Roman was away for treatment.  Fascinated to see how long I last after he’s gone.

Should companies be forced to recap segments on other programs for fans to keep up with storylines?

Greg: Can we really force them to do anything? No.

But to play along, let me ask you a question: What is the most successful wrestling program? WWE Monday Night Raw, right? What do they have plenty of? Recap segments. Impact Wrestling? Recap segments. I think AEW has some, but probably not enough. Would it help their product? Absolutely.

If I had the ability to truly force something, I would likely pick something else. But if this can make the product better, then yes–force the recap packages.

Andrew: Depends. Too many shows use them basically to fill time, and also when they’ve been hammering the story for the previous weeks, it feels inane to do it on a Go Home Show AND before the match on the PLE. If you’ve been pushing a match for 5 weeks prior, a video package isn’t gonna sell extra tickets. Stop wasting TV time and run a damn match!

Rey: The catalyst for this question was the Will Ospreay/Death Riders story where Ospreay was abducted and taken to a warehouse to meet with the Death Riders on Collision, and then showed up to train with them on Dynamite. For people who don’t watch Collision (which aren’t many if we’re honest), this was massively confusing because the last thing they saw was Ospreay, embroiled in a vicious feud with Moxley and his faction, being attacked and abducted.

Ultimately, there’s a reason wrestling companies and television shows in general do recaps. As much as fans hate it, it’s an extremely arrogant thing to expect that your audience knows and remembers every single thing that’s ever happened on every iteration of your programming. In this world where everything is used as a part of storylines – in ring, backstage, social media, etc. – it’s on the company to make sure the audience knows what they’re watching and why it’s important. Especially if you’re trying to garner new viewers. So this was a very, very poor move by AEW.

Mat: If it involves the people at that event or progresses a storyline, then yes.

Jason: Forced to? Nah.  You’re presenting your cartoon on television, you can present it however you want.  If dude was Don the Dump Truck Man in one federation, you don’t *have to* explain how he became Don the Dog Catcher when he joins yours.  That being said, as someone who consumes all the major wrestling at some level, it’s 2026 and folks follow these guys and gals the same as pro athletes.  I would lean more into the WWE method of alluding to the past without spelling it out documentary style, and unless there’s some legal nonsense, stop being afraid to say other show’s names.  They run commercials during your shows anyway!

How would you make New Japan relevant again?

Greg: Two words: JEFF COBB.

Seriously, I would put the IWGP Heavyweight Championship on Jeff Cobb, and have him sit upon the mountain top for at least two years. The man was literally built for New Japan. And New Japan was seemingly built for him, too. 

You can make a ton of other changes as well, but it all starts at the top. And I am sitting Jeff Cobb at the top.

Andrew: They need to break away from being a farm system. Focus on consulting with Japanese companies, homegrown talent, no more pushing gaijins. When Tanahashi turned things around in the late 00s it was because they changed their focus from Inoki-ism (MMA, Shoot Style and Outsiders) and focused on rebuilding as a puro company. We’re in a big decline, a lot of big names have left and they’re starting to have a chance with Yota Tsuji, Shota Umino and Ren Narita…but we’re still a long way from New Japan looking like more than just a minor league if they keep up this one sided AEW collaboration.

Rey: Maybe the first answer is get a new booker. Gedo has been at the helm of some of the best times in New Japan history, but it’s time for a change. AEW and the Forbidden Door has robbed New Japan of most of their major stars, but Gedo’s booking hasn’t helped the situation at all.

Secondly, they need new stars. And not just new stars that New Japan chooses. They need people who would be stars anywhere. Callan Newman is a fantastic wrestler, but I guarantee you that if I put him in a line with 20 other wrestlers, most people wouldn’t know who he is. He’s the IWGP Heavyweight Champion! Your company is only as good as the roster, and if nobody knows who the roster is, you’re going to have a tough time. And yes, I know New Japan is a touring company primarily focused on the in ring product, but it’s 2026. You still gotta sell tickets.

Mat: Actually focus on their own product and help build up the future with upcoming talent and who they want to push without heavy reliance on outside promotions. Also signing new talent to freshen up the divisions

Jason: Get a likeable top gaijin.

If AEW loses their television deal, what does that mean for the good of the wrestling business?

Greg: If AEW were to lose its television deal, it would be terrible for the wrestling business as a whole.

Competition creates leverage, opportunity, and urgency. AEW has given wrestlers another national platform, increased earning power across the industry, and provided fans with a true alternative to WWE. Even people who prefer WWE benefit from that reality. Without television, AEW loses visibility, momentum, and likely a major revenue source. That means fewer opportunities for talent and less variety for fans. Wrestling has historically struggled most when one company dominates the landscape without meaningful competition.

Whether you love AEW or not, a strong alternative pushes the entire industry forward. Losing that would be a major step backward.

Andrew: We’ll start to see another WWE Monopoly era, and given the fact booking is already starting to plateau…less visible competition would be bad for the general wrestling product. But unlike 2001, we have Kick, Twitch, YouTube and Streaming Services that are all desperate for unique content. During 2018-2019 when WWE product was God awful, we saw a lot of streaming start up and even bigger indies like WrestleCircus and HOG saw ways to make money with subscriptions and what not. While the financial aspect may take a hit, since with no TV deal I doubt the AEW contracts would stay as lucrative, but from a consumer perspective, things won’t change too much beyond the platform for viewing.

Rey: I’m not the biggest AEW fan, but it’s impossible to ignore their importance to the wrestling ecostructure. Losing that would be massively detrimental. Most people think it’d be most hurtful for the talent, but I think the biggest effect would be on the perception of companies. AEW literally walked into a TV deal. Every other company other than WWE has had to fight, scratch, and claw for TV money. If AEW fails, there’s enough wrestling around for the wrestlers to go, but the possibility for another company to get that kind of deal is massively lessened.

Mat: We might not see a massive TV deal for pro wrestling again unless another billionaire comes along.

Jason: Nothing good, time and time again this industry has shown competition brings the best out of everybody, not to mention it encourages competitive pay for the wrestlers.

How would you handle talent being booked on shows with other rival organizations?

Greg: I’ve never understood the idea that wrestling companies should completely isolate their talent from everyone else. If handled correctly, crossover appearances and outside bookings can help everyone involved. The WWE NXT and TNA Wrestling relationship is proof of that. WWE gets fresh matchups and buzz, while TNA gains visibility from working with the industry leader. That feels healthier for wrestling overall.

That’s why AEW reportedly blocking MJF from wrestling Nic Nemeth because Nemeth works with TNA feels shortsighted to me. Fans care more about exciting matches and moments than company boundaries. You still protect your champions and your major stars, but there’s a balance between complete openness and complete lockdown. At the end of the day, I want to see talent elevated, companies benefit from collaboration, and fans get matches worth caring about.

Andrew: Who actually cares? It’s wrestling, no one cares about wins and losses, just entertaining the crowd. Now if you find your talent is often against the same opposing company, you should turn it into a crossover opportunity. Make some real money off a throwaway match. The real problem is certain promotions being in bed with “the enemy” so it’s hard to find feasible crossover opportunities. So I guess a reasonable answer beyond “grow up it doesn’t matter”, is make sure the indie matches can become something more. The current landscape we live in of wrestling allied nations, it’s harder to make one off throwaway matches that aren’t a conflict of interest, but figure it out, or make the portion “card subject to change” much larger on your posters.

Rey: I’m a major fan of this in Indy companies, and even in smaller mainstream companies. But If I were WWE and AEW, I’d be extremely hesitant to do this. Because look at the number of issues that have arisen. The problem is simple. It’s wrestling. Someone has to win. Someone has to lose. How do you pick? Who gets the right to put their guy or girl over? How do we make both companies look good in the process? Does one company dominate? What happens to the roster when the partnership or show is over? And if there isn’t a partnership and it’s just a Jon Moxley situation (where the wrestler has the right to wrestle where he pleases despite his contract), what if he gets hurt on the other company’s dime? I mean, Ridge Holland is a perfect example of this.

There’s too many detrimental things that could happen. So, I’d lean against letting wrestlers do it unless it’s in their contracts, and if I’m a company that makes a partnership, I’d add addendum’s to everyone’s contract that’ll be involved that makes sure their paid fairly, compensated in case of injury, and protect both companies from any tomfoolery.

Mat: If they’re facing each other, don’t air it and make it just for the fans in attendance. If they’re not, then they should be able to work the event still.

Jason: Clear communication with the other side as to what the plan is for the talent and what everybody gets out of it.  At the first sign of someone going into business for themselves, break it off, drop it, over.  I don’t care what stories you’re in the middle of.

Greg – @GregDeMarco44

Andrew – @IWCWarChief

Rey – @itsreycash

Mat – @DamianPhoenix12

Jason – @JediFett