All Elite Musings - #9 Booking Full Gear

All Elite Musings

Booking Full Gear

   AEW Dynamite set up Full Gear in the most sensational fashion! Promos from Cody and Jericho ramped up the levels of intrigue for their AEW Championship clash alongside a fiery post match brawl to end the show. 

   This is AEW's first PPV with a weekly build and the anticipation is sky high. All three titles will be on the line for the first time ever. Moxley, Pac and Omega will all be in action as well as intriguing feuds such as Baker/Priestley and Bucks/Proud and Powerful set to light up the card. 

   Statistics and AEW rankings will be referred to throughout. These are not the official AEW produced stats and ranking. These are the PWM stats which create the +1/-1 based PWM Rankings Tables. These can be found here:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1_4-Gs5TfEQ-ZYfyRqQ6P6Zfoh1GxfQ9Ve0EcvNh1PhE/edit#gid=1251272314

Britt Baker vs Bea Priestley

      This is scheduled to be on the 'Buy In' which a lot of people have an issue with. I would have liked this to have been built up more however it seems Bea Priestley's scheduling has restricted the regularity of opportunities to further the heat between these two. What does seem likely based on their previous skirmishes is that this will he a frantic, fiery encounter between two women both aiming to be the face of AEW.

   This will be Bea Priestley's first one on one match in AEW while Baker is 1-1 in one on one competition. Overall, Baker is ranked 3rd in AEW's women's division with a 4-2 record and Priestley is ranked at 10th in the women's division with a 1-3 record. 

   Statistically, it would be a disaster for Bea to lose again especially with the rare nature of her appearances meaning a -3 differential would be an arduous process to rectify. Britt, on the other hand, would remain 3rd in the rankings and would still have a +1 differential which at this stage in the evolution of AEW's win-loss record is a good record.

   Bea Priestley should win here to start the process of maximising her notable talent. Assuming, Riho remains champion, Bea Priestley would be an excellent bullying heel to match up against the best underdog performer in AEW. Baker has already had a title match and would benefit from a prolonged road to title glory to flesh out her character. Just being a doctor is not enough...

Shawn Spears vs Joey Janela

   This match was build in true AEW style, in a series of short character driven videos. The clash of styles is noticeable and the rivalry has been heat up quickly and effectively. This won't be anyone's favourite match of the evening but it should be a great clash.

   Neither man has excelled in the early days of AEW in terms of their win-loss record. Spears is sitting at a -1 record at number 27 in the men's overall rankings. Janela has actually fared worse, sitting at 46th in the men's overall rankings with a -3 record. However when we look a pure matches, one on ones, Spears is evens with a 2-2 record with Janella lagging behind with a 1-2.

   Spears needs this more therefore should come out victorious. Janela will be a big deal in AEW eventually, he has star quality and is very likeable. Shawn Spears has been packaged very well and his match with Cody was excellent. However, he does not have the same following as Janela, is much older and is not a stand out performer in the ring. If he is going to lose tonight it will hurt him.

AEW Tag Team Championship Match - Private Part vs SCU vs Lucha Bros

   This is set-up to be an exhilarating clash. A high paced, mad-cap dash filled with multi-man spots. Although we have just seen Lucha Bros vs SCU, the participants make sense from a win-loss record stand-point.

   Private Party are now the top ranked team in AEW with Lucha Bros now at number 2. SCU are ranked 5th with the obvious caveat they are the champions. Private Party have a 3-1 tag record, Lucha Bros have a 4-2 tag record and SCU have a 2-2 tag record. This doesn't make the champions look strong however when you factor in all match types Sky and Kaz are now ranked 2nd and 3rd in AEW overall rankings.

   Booking a winner from this match is tricky. Taking the belts off of SCU already seems like it would devalue the belts, however the way they presented the tournament to crown the first champions build a lot of prestige around the belts possible giving it some protection. Crowning new champions already would add to the sports based anything can happen including upsets.

   Despite all of this, SCU should prevail here as the other two teams will be AEW Tag-team champions in the future and a loss for SCU here would undermine their status as the inaugural champions.

Pac vs Adam Page

   These two have been associated with each other since the inception of AEW. Both would benefit from being separated for a while and with all the friction between Page and the other members of The Elite it seems likely another focus is on the horizon for him. Nonetheless, this match needs to be a success to ensure both men's stock rises with fans to legitimise AEW's match quality.

   Pac is joint second in the Men's Singles (one on ones) standings whereas Page is joint 10th, +3 and 0 differentials respectively. When we include all male wrestlers and all match types Pac is 9th with a +2 and Page is 16th with a +1. From this we can surmise that Page hasn't had the success of Pac in one on ones but isn't too far behind within the Overall standings.

   Pac will win this match. Page doesn't need to win, he is now more over than ever before and looks as if he is about to enter an Elite faction disfunction storyline. Pac on the other hand, has been packaged as a big threat as a wrestler and a badass. He needs this win to cements this.

Young Bucks vs Proud and Powerful

   This could be the in ring quality match of the night. Both teams are excellent workers and are masters of their craft. The factions will be a big part of this match with it almost being a opening act for Cody/Jericho. The build for this match has seen Proud and Powerful get the best of the Young Bucks repeatedly on Dynamite. It seems they may have got in the heads of the Bucks with this week's episode of Dynamite seeing Nick Jackson take a huge risk to get at his adversaries and Matt Jackson being the trigger for the Inner Circle's and Elite's re-engagement after being successfully separated briefly.

   Proud and Powerful have a 100% record in AEW thus far, having won both of their matches. Young Bucks have wrestled in significantly more matches with a more mixed record. They are 3-2 in tag team competition and 6-3 in all match types.

   Proud and Powerful need this more and should take the victory. This wouldn't be a defeat in the same upset vane as the one to Private Party for Matt and Nick so it would not undermine their standing or the sports-centric packaging of AEW. The Bucks are established, uber-popular and can climb the rankings at any point. It would take an unnecessary re-building job to re-establish Proud and Powerful after a loss and would be to the detriment of the Inner Circle's build.

AEW Women's Championship Match - Riho vs Emi Sakura

   A hastily put together match perhaps suffering from the defending of the title against Britt Baker on Dynamite. The mentor-student dynamic is an engaging one and will need to be highlighted more via a preview video or commentary. However, it is disappointing to see AEW's Women's division struggling already and giving the impression of being an afterthought. With the championship belt looking sub-standard in comparison to the other belts, this is not a good look and is many people's biggest criticism of AEW thus far and I would echo these sentiment.

   Riho is 4th in the company statistically with Sakura languishing in 28th. Overall records are at 6-2 for Riho and 2-2 for Sakura. Significantly, Riho is 3-0 in one on one singles competition with Sakura not even having wrestled a match on on one in AEW.

   Riho will win here, Emi Sakura is not going to be pushed as champion. This will be a good match due to the numerous previous times the competitors have worked together. Hopefully, this match will aid the ailing Women's Division.

Lights Out Unsanctioned Match - Kenny Omega vs Jon Moxley

   Potentially going on last as it is outwith the show, this is a huge matchup and a first time meeting of two global stars. The animosity between Omega and Moxley has followed a refreshingly untraditional format. This is not heel versus face. Moxley has crossed the lines between the two traditional roles. Both assaulting Kenny Omega from behind and refusing to use numbers advantages against him. Even saving him from beatdowns at the hands of others.

   Moxley is unbeaten in singles competition in AEW, with a victory over Shawn Spears and an unsanctioned match win against Joey Janela. Omega has had his ups and downs, he has a 2-2 one on one record and a 4-4 record overall. Omega also holds a lights out victory over Joey Janela.

   Moxley needs this more than Omega, therefore he should take the win. Some will argue Omega hasn't been built up like the megastar he was in NJPW to the newer members of the AEW audience and must start to collect victories in high profile matches to do so. However, Omega is such a talented worker and character-builder he can shoot himself into the stratosphere whenever the company is ready to make him the main man. 

   Moxley, albeit, the most recognisable face outwith Chris Jericho needs the win more. He suffered from being off TV with his injury and does not have all the momentum he built during his indy run and New Japan exploits post-Dean Ambrose. Moxley should be a huge star in AEW and this could be the next step.

AEW Championship Match - Chris Jericho vs Cody Rhodes

   The build for this match is unlike anything wrestling has seen for some time. The character work by Chris Jericho and Cody Rhodes has been on a different level.

   Chris Jericho has reinvented himself yet again and has produced memes, character work and promos of the highest echelon. Some may have questioned his position at the top of the card as the very first champion due to his age and WWE affiliation. However the way he has taken on the role and elevated others in adversary or co-operation is gold-dust for AEW.

   On the other hand Cody, another ex-WWE performer, has matched Jericho's wonderous heel work with some spectacular babyface work of his own. The promo this week and the segment where he stormed the VIP box will live long in the memory of wrestling fans. The stakes being raised, putting his eligibility to challenge for the top title in the future on the line, alongside the already intriguing stipulation of judges separating the competitors in the event of a time-limit draw, makes this a layered and hard to call match up.

   Jericho leads the AEW standings with a +6 differential, 2 points ahead of everyone else. He is 3 and 0 in one on one singles competition and has an unblemished record in AEW match ups. Cody also has a strong record matching Jericho's unbeaten status in one on one matchups and is 4-1-1 in all match types. He is unpinned in AEW.

   The future implications for Cody do make this match seemingly more difficult to book but they don't. Jericho must win here. He is doing an incredible job in his role thus far and should be permitted to continue. The Inner Circle would immediately look far less threatening with a loss of the title belt and AEW would benefit from Jericho being dethroned after a lengthy reign.

  The future of Cody becomes fascinating if he loses here. It seems unlikely that he will actually never challenge again. This opens up the possibility of a truly cathartic babyface moment years down the line when he eventually becomes champion after years of fighting his way into a position where he is undeniable. Alternatively this is how Cody replaces Jericho as the uber-heel of AEW. Throwing his promises out of the window and politicking his way to AEW champion. The storyline possibilities are mouth-watering.

Thank you for reading! Let me know what you think. :-)

All Elite Musings - #8 Booking AEW Dynamite 2

All Elite Musings

Booking AEW Dynamite Ep. 2

AEW Dynamite's debut was a solid, if unspectacular, episode of television. They exhibited good wrestling and sowed the seeds of a few different potential storylines. Hopefully, this week should see at least one excellent match.

Riho and Britt Baker vs Bea Priestley and Eni Sakura

   This match will see the continuation of the rivalry between Bea Priestly and Britt Baker. Don't expect these two to meet in a singles match on TV as this is definitely being saved for a PPV.

   It is unlikely that Eni Sakura is going to be a big player in AEW so expect her to be in this match to make up the numbers. She is a strong candidate to be the one taking the fall to either of the women on the opposite team.

   Riho should pin Sakura to further establish her as a major force in AEW.

Jon Moxley vs Shawn Spears

   This needs to be a competitive match to ensure Spears is protected and doesn't get damaged too much by his inevitable loss. Moxley will win here as he moves towards his big match against Kenny Omega.

   Expect to see Omega involve himself in some capacity. Hopefully, byt perhaps, unlikely at the end of the match. High hopes for this potentially excellent encounter.

Jimmy Havoc vs Darby Allen

   This set up has been criticised on Twitter by fans confused as to how these two men are in line for a title shot. They have a point. I would go further and enquire as to why the title will be defended on television shortly before Cody's opportunity at Full Gear. This kind of booking is far closer to WWE logic than NJPW's.

   Two very promising stars, this one should be an exhibition of their talent and promise. Havoc should win here, Allen would benefit from establishing himself further before moving uo the card whereas Havoc is ready now.

The Young Bucks vs Private Party

   I have written about this in a separate post devoted to the Tag Team Championship tournament. Sports-centric booking allows for upsets but they should be rare and that makes them a big deal. Private Party should defeat the Young Bucks here and progress into the next round as talented underdogs.

Adam Page and Dustin Runnels vs Chris Jericho and Sammy Guevara

   A match made on BTE as a result of Page failing to assist The Elite during last week's show closing segment. It will be fascinating to see Dustin in AEW again.

   Hopefully, this will be a wrestling match first and angle-progressing second so we can receive full benefits from the talent in the ring. Jericho should pick up the win here pinning Dustin after Page is incapacitated due to an injury.

   Whatever is planned, re Jake Hager, can and should wait till after the bell.

Additional Thoughts

• An MJF backstage interview.
• Young Bucks-Private Party should be match of the night.
• The Women's title, now, needs a direction.
• The unhinged BTE version of Kenny Omega needs to start coming across on TV in glimpses.
• Kylie Rae return... Please?

All Elite Musings - #6 Booking the Tag Team Tournament

All Elite Musings

Booking the Tag Team Tournament

   The first episode of AEW Dynamite was very story driven and perhaps not the sports-centric product that was promised. Hopefully, this was due to them establishing characters and storylines to move forward with. A tournament is the perfect antidote to this. The most sports-like aspect of most companies is often tournaments,  from King of the Ring to the G1, these competitions add story based around competitiveness around each match that mirrors real sports competitions.

   AEW needs to have this built into their product. If they are a wrestling league then the majority of matches need to be in this ilk which the first episode of Dynamite did not showcase. The Tag Team Championship tournament must be the first steps of establishing this.

First Round

Young Bucks vs Private Party
  Another Bucks/Lucha Bros match could be tricky. They have faced each other a lot in the run-up to AEW on TNT and the matches have been excellent. Would the fans tire of these matches? I believe having it in the final would run into that problem therefore having them in the same half of the bracket avoids this issue if they are going to cross paths again. That brings us to the match in the first round versus Private Party.

   Private Party have looked great so far, a really compelling and exciting tag team who feel like the next big team to follow in the footsteps of the Hardy Boys and the Young Bucks. If this was the WWE, Private Party would have a real possibility of winning here. However, AEW are aiming to be a more sports-based brand therefore the Young Bucks should win but would put over Private Party in the process.

   That would all be well and good. On the other hand sports have upsets, the best teams don't, generally, win every single match. Tournaments should include upsets occasionally and in this tournament Private Party are the best placed team to do this with. Private Party shock the Young Bucks.

Lucha Bros vs Jurassic Express
   The Lucha Bros are two of AEW's most premier teams, along with the Young Bucks. Neither should win the competition especially not the Young Bucks. The Lucha Bros winning it could make sense however handing the first ever AEW Tag Team reign to another big team would really establish them.

   The Lucha Bros should go far in the competition to use their star power to elevate another team as the Young Bucks-Lucha Bros feud, excellent as it has been, is risking becoming stale. It is for this reason that the Lucha Bros will defeat the Jurassic Express.

   The Jurassic Express could be an option as a shock win however there's probably more sense in elevating Private Party first and the Young Bucks can bounce back from a first round loss easier than the Lucha Bros.

Best Friends vs SCU
   A match that has already taken place but one that will still be an outstanding contest.

   Best Friends are an outstanding duo. They can be serious and excellently proficient competitors or goofy entertaining performers. Their gimmick is simple and very over and their relationship with Orange Cassidy is a potential goldmine. However, they don't need this victory nor are they particularly strongly positioned to pick it up.

   SCU, Frankie Kazarian and Christopher Daniels, are veterans of professional wrestling and as they enter the last phase of their careers, they have the opportunity to become synonymous with AEW as it establishes itself as a promotion. These men have wrestled excellent matches in the road to AEW Dynamite and their connection with the crow is a precious commodity.

   SCU should win out over the Best Friends and go far in the tournament.

 

AEW Power Rankings - 02.10.19

All Elite Musings - #7 Top 5 - AEW Should Sign...

All Elite Musings

Top 5 - AEW Should Sign...

The list below details five wrestling acts that AEW should sign. This is a list of signable names. AEW signing Kazuchika Okada and Daniel Bryan would lead to some incredible matches however this is unrealistic. Below are 5 exciting yet viable options.

1. Tessa Blanchard

   Impact Wrestling's brightest star and one of women's wrestling's biggest stars. A future megastar in the making. Everything about her is top class. She looks like a star, wrestles compelling matches and has the charisma of a big time player.

   There is no doubt that WWE will want to sign her. However, it seems that if she wanted to go there she would have done already. A stint in Japan would make sense, following in the footsteps of the likes of Bea Priestley and Toni Storm. However, AEW will want to sign her and they should.

   AEW's women's division is not up to the same standard as the men's or tag divisions. The WWE has hoovered up most of the talented female wrestlers available in the world today. Not only is Tessa Blanchard a talented female wrestler out with the WWE but also she is arguably more valuable than any women on the WWE roster. Her work for Impact wrestling has become renowned within the wrestling industry and community over the last year and she has become a revolutionary figure with her matches against Sami Callihan and oVe.

   AEW's women's division needs Tessa Blanchard and AEW could be the perfect platform for her to fulfil her astronomical potential.

2. Will Ospreay

   It will be the goal of any wrestling company to sign and create stars. If AEW want to create a main event scene full of big names that can wrestle excellent matches they need to find these talented individual's wherever they can. Men in the ilk of Kenny Omega, PAC or Jon Moxley are hard to come by. AEW will want to avoid just signing any decent wrestler cast off from WWE however an excessively high percentage of wrestlers with main event star potential are with the WWE or have been through the system.

   One man who does not wrestle for the WWE and has best in the world potential (if he's not there already) is Will Ospreay. Currently wrestling for New Japan Pro Wrestling, Will Ospreay is an upper midcarder with limitless potential. A man whose talent is scarcely believable .

   Ospreay, seemingly, has his heart set on becoming the IWGP heavyweight champion. A prestigious achievement but not one that is out with the grasp of Ospreay's potential. Yet, AEW must find a way of bringing him to the company. It needn't happen this year or even next, but they should aim to have him wrestling in their main event scene regularly within the next five years.

   This would make sense. His partner, Bea Priestley, is already working with AEW and he is often muted as the successor to Kenny Omega. Additionally, this ever more capable version of Will Ospreay versus Kenny Omega is a 'match of the decade' contender potential proposition.

3. The Revival

   Contracted to WWE, alike many other that AEW would probably like to sign, The Revival have still managed to flirt with the idea of wrestling for AEW and more specifically against the Young Bucks.

   AEW are aiming to have the best tag team division on the planet and they are very much on the way to achieving that if they have not already assembled it. The best tag team wrestling in the world over the last five years has taken place in NXT, with The Revival very much being a part of that. The idea of matches between The Revival and the Lucha Bros or Ortiz and Santana is mouth-watering.

   The sticking point is whether they genuinely want to leave the WWE or have just stoked the fire to encourage a new deal. The other difficulty is the manner in which the WWE is treating it's want-a-way talent to ensure they don't benefit other companies.

4. Minoru Suzuki

   This man is a phenomenon. At 51 he is a unique talent that can have an engaging match with anyone. Wrestlers across the world covet matches with him and he has taken part in some of the best stuff NJPW has put out over the last few years.

   News has recently surfaced that Suzuki is not fully content in New Japan and baring in mind that he has been a journeyman throughout his career this doesn't seem like too much of a stretch. He has previously done a lot of work with New Japan's western partners Rev Pro and Ring of Honour.

   AEW would be foolhardy to miss out on such a compelling talent. He may be 51 but Suzuki's style and conditioning means this isn't an issue and he can still have matches at the top level. 

5. Marty Scurll

   It seems a foregone conclusion that Marty Scurll will be rejoining his 'Being the Elite' cast mates again in AEW. In fact his contract is, reportedly, up in September.

   This is great news for AEW. Scurll is a wonderful talent. A talented wrestler who can have matches with anyone due to his cerebral style and infectious charisma.

   Again this seems an unimaginative pick as it seems likely that Scurll to AEW is a sure-thing. However he is included on this list because of the scale of his talent. The Villain in AEW is a must thing.

All Elite Musings - #5 Booking AEW on TNT Ep.1

All Elite Musings

Booking AEW on TNT Ep.1

   Today is the start of the Wednesday Night Wars in America, or for those of us the UK tomorrow is. In anticipation of the first television episode of AEW, I am going to attempt to book the card in the blog post below. I will suggest what would be the decisions that should be made to give the company a strong first show.

Cody vs Sammy Guevara

   Cody has ended up being positioned as the premier babyface in AEW as the show proceeds through it's genesis. I still find this a little strange in light of his outstanding heel work during his ROH/NJPW run. However, he is so intensely likeable it works. Solid in the ring with a great look and a strong promo, Cody is well positioned to shine at the front in the early days of AEW.

   Guevara looks a supremely talented worker with decent charisma, especially as a heel. He is young, was relatively unknown before AEW and seems to have his finger on the pulse. Guevara won't rise up the card quickly but will eventually due to his buckets of charisma.

   How to book the match? Cody wins. It will be a showcase to punctuate the beginning of AEW on TNT. Cody will build his momentum as he heads towards a World Title match with Chris Jericho. However Guevara will get time to put his best foot forward and get his moves in.

Brandon Cutler vs MJF

   What a build to this match it has been! Built around Twitter and comments around Dungeons and Dragons, it has been a refreshingly different narrative to build the feud.

   Cutler could do with a win here to help establish himself as a competitor out with his friendship with the Young Bucks. It could be suggested MJF doesn't need the win, that it wouldn't affect his character. However, in MJF, AEW have a star in the making. He must cut a promo, it's a guaranteed home run for AEW. This should come after the match after MJF wins. He is a valuable commodity in the early days of the 'war' and should be utilised.

PAC vs Adam Page

   This is a hard one to call. It seemed at the beginning of AEW that Page may be one of the biggest stars of AEW. However the loss to Jericho really harmed Page's momentum. A lack of star making charisma and a truly star-making feud or match means he has taken the loss to Jericho heavily. A victory over someone as renowned as PAC would be the ideal solution.

   PAC is a star. A potential mega-star. The way he carries himself, his angry charisma and unreal talent in the ring. The AEW World Championship must be in his future. PAC just defeated Kenny Omega in his only AEW match to date, momentum is very much on his side.

   The deciding factor here could be the relationship between PAC and AEW management. Is he in it for the long haul? Because Page most certainly is. This may lead them to push Page ahead of PAC. PAC should win. Page isn't a main-eventer yet, PAC is and could become a huge draw for AEW.

Riho vs Nyla Rose

   AEW's women's division is the weakest part of their product. Neither Nyla Rose or Riho are established nor have they really built any intrigue in their characters. The cultural differences are a factor for Riho and the other Joshi talent and Nyla Rose's character is hampered by the disparity between her on screen and off screen rhetoric.

   With Nyla they have a dominant heel champion for the babyfaces to chase. A safe and engaging tactic. However her comment on Twitter was both extremely inappropriate and unintelligent.

   Riho provides a deserving champion and sets up a unique women's division. This would be an unexpected move and may build up a lot of interest. This is the path they should take, Riho wins.

The Elite vs Jericho, Ortiz and Santana

   Despite the criticism of the reveal of the formerly LAX being prematurely debuted, this will be a barn-stormer of a main event. The dynamics here are great! Jericho vs three of the companies EVPs that he keeps antagonising, Kenny's continuous slide into defeat after defeat and delirium, and the potential of Ortiz and Santana putting themselves on the tag team map in AEW.

   A win for the Elite would establish them as a force in AEW which would work for the fans would followed them to AEW. It would also fit in with Kenny's arc having him struggle when he is without the Young Bucks. However this isn't the best way to go in regards to potential storylines.

   A win for Jericho, Ortiz and Santana should be the result. Jericho needs to be booked strong to build him as a champion that will be a challenge to dethrone. A loss to the Young Bucks makes no sense and it's too soon for him and Omega is the last person who should be pinning Jericho at the moment. Jericho pinning Omega could work, elevating Jericho and further building Omega's story. 

   The obvious route is for one of the formerly LAX to pin Matt or Nick Jackson thus elavating them as a legitimate top-tier tag team immediately. Having this pin fall occur with something significant going wrong for Omega would be the smartest booking. Jericho could 'Juda's Affect' Omega in the closing sequence to take him out of the equation.

Additional Points

• AEW should give promos a prominent platform. MJF and Moxley must be given significant mic time.
• WWE or NXT shouldn't be referenced.
• The women's match needs to be noteworthy in terms of match quality.
• Promotion of women wrestlers in backstage segments. An unlikely return from Kylie Rae would be incredible.
• No Jake Hager. He just doesn't fit what the product should be.

All Elite Musings - #4 How to Structure a Sports-centric Wrestling Company

All Elite Musings

#4 - How to Structure a Sports-centric Wrestling Company

   The first thing you will notice here is that there are a lot of titles. I like the idea of a lot of very distinct divisions which wrestlers compete in depending on their record or style. Having such a variety of divisions and titles means that wrestlers can be absent for a couple of weeks as the spotlight is put on other wrestlers and divisions.

Tier 1 - AEW World Championships and Tag Championships

   World title competitors will have strong statistical records and will have to ear their place. Currently Cody is getting a title shot as he has the best win-loss record so far. However, in the future I would expect wrestlers to have to win a lot more than three matches to earn a shot at either the top men's or top women's spot in the company.

   I wouldn't have the title defended on every show and I would not have the champion pinned out with a title match except very rarely. I would like to see number one contenderships earned through tournaments and fierce competition.

   Wrestlers such as Chris Jericho, Kenny Omega, Jon Moxley, Cody Rhodes and Adam Page seem suitable for the men's top tier and competitors such as Nyla Rose, Britt Baker, Bea Priestly and Awesome Kong for the women's top tier within the company's current roster.

   The tag division would be alongside these divisions. With teams having to work together for an extended period of time before having the synergy to be able to compete for the titles. Currently, The Young Bucks, Lucha Bros, SCU and the former-LAX seem appropriate leaders of this division.

Tier 2 - AEW Intercontinental

   There should be secondary tier titles for the male and female divisions. I've called them 'Intercontinental' as is the convention in wrestling companies however the name isn't important and an unique name would be better.

   This could be an explicit system where contenders for tiers are recorded based on ability and results as happens on old '2k' WWE games. Wrestlers working their way to the top of a division to earn a title match or get promoted to a higher division will give matches meaning without needing overly elaborate soap-opera stories.

   Competitors such as Riho, Brandi Rhodes, Sadie Gibbs and Big 'Swole or competitors such as MJF, Jimmy Havoc, Sammy Guevarra, Darby Allen and Shawn Spears would be well-positioned to build these divisions in the early days of AEW.

Tier 3 - Alternative Divisions

   The TV Title should be a thing. A title that does not appear on PPV but does on most TV shows would be another way of differentiating action in AEW. This title would be competed for by wrestlers looking for a platform to show off their talent to earn further opportunities. Wrestlers from other divisions looking to make a point or even wrestlers from other companies looking to earn a spot would comprise this division.

   AEW is aiming to avoid the cookie-cutter approach of the WWE. Therefore divisions should have clear characteristics. They have shown an interest in more extreme/hardcore wrestling in the early days of the organisation. A title for hardcore, death match or strong style wrestlers would be an interesting differentiation and offer variety to the card.

   The New Blood title would be a version of the Junior division, cruiserweight division or X-division that you see in other companies. It would be a division for younger, lesser known talent who are looking to wow the audience with their youthful talent and athleticism.

   A lot of companies have trios titles however the faction system in New Japan is a very effective story driving system. By having a set of Faction championships, AEW could use them flexibly to add interest to matches between different groups of wrestlers. They could be defended in six man, eight man or ten man matches depending on the number of wrestlers involved in each faction. AEW already have various groups of wrestlers out with the tag division.