AEW could solely be over three years outdated, however the firm has already produced among the largest wrestling matches and moments within the historical past of the enterprise. They’ve, for essentially the most half, been a breath of recent air within the business, giving followers an excellent various to WWE.
Nonetheless, AEW remains to be skilled wrestling, and with that comes controversy, unhealthy reserving, and the facility of hindsight. There have been some basic moments, from sadly very dated title wins to debuts to babyface or heel turns. These moments are nonetheless vivid in a vacuum, however on reflection they’ve aged poorly in some methods.
10 Thunder Wins Rosa’s Ladies’s Title – Unhealthy Reigns, Warmth and Damage
Thunder Rosa ultimately defeated Britt Baker to win the AEW Ladies’s World Title in her hometown after a hard-fought Metal Cage match. Nonetheless, his title reign was gentle with none entertaining brawls.
Then he would get harm, backstage sizzling information about him, and he would ultimately should relinquish the belt after followers grew uninterested in the “interim champion” idea. His title win now not feels particular due to every part that adopted.
9 Owen Hart Cup – Zero chase for the winners
Adam Cole and Britt Baker every received the Owen Hart Trophy, finishing two robust brackets, and an important second Martha Hart obtained again into wrestling to rejoice her late husband.
As an alternative of boosting each winners, they did not get a lot out of their win. Their wins are barely remembered, which leaves AEW with a whole lot of work to do to make followers care concerning the subsequent match.
8 Gained CM Punk’s AEW World Title – Accidents and Feud
CM Punk defeated “The Hangman” Adam Web page at Double or Nothing 2022 to develop into the AEW World Champion. The emotion on his face confirmed simply how a lot the second meant to him as he confirmed his aid at lastly reaching the highest once more after seven years of turmoil away from the job he cherished.
Nonetheless, Punk was shortly injured, and even after his return, his run grew to become mired in controversy. Backstage feuds at All Out and public insults to co-workers, along with harm, led to him being stripped of gold and faraway from tv together with his identify showing taboo. His title win was an enormous mistake on reflection.
7 Sammy Guevara ends Miro’s streak – Unhealthy reserving and compelled heel flip
After ending Miro’s undefeated streak and profitable the TNT title, Sammy Guevara felt like one of many largest babyfaces in AEW. As an alternative of constructing him a gritty and combative champion, AEW revealed his relationship with Ty Melo, which made him look unlikable.
Tony Khan’s hand was compelled and Guevara turned heel. On reflection, another person ought to have dethroned Miro, particularly because the TNT Title hasn’t been reinstated since Miro captured the gold.
6 Elita wins the Trios Championship – Brawl and stoppage
Not solely did CM Punk’s antics at All Out 2022 have an effect on him, but it surely additionally made The Elite’s Trios Title win a weak senior second.
After being topped the primary Trios Champions, The Elite’s backstage battle with Punk led to them being stripped of the gold and faraway from tv. Though they’ve since returned and received again the belts, their reign will probably be much less spectacular than those who got here earlier than it.
5 William Regal’s Heel Flip – Break up After AEW Weeks
At Full Gear 2022, William Regal shocked the world by serving to MJF win the AEW World Title. Showing to be a brand new alliance, MJF stopped this by attacking Regal.
Quickly it grew to become identified that Regal was leaving AEW to return to WWE. Regal having this angle as the focus and profitable the title felt utterly pointless, leaving followers confused as to why Tony Khan booked it this fashion.
4 Adam Web page’s AEW World Title Winner – Lackluster Reign
At Full Gear 2021, Adam Paik accomplished one of the crucial unimaginable storylines in all of wrestling as he captured the AEW World Title from his former buddy and rival, Kenny Omega.
However within the months that adopted, he did not really feel like he was within the highlight on AEW TV, and whereas his matches had been robust, the storyline was removed from him. A lot of his nuance and character was stripped again, making his time as champion really feel underwhelming.
3 Jeff Hardy’s debut – no suspension
Jeff Hardy’s arrival in AEW was met with nice response at a good time as he nonetheless had an enormous stage of recognition and he needed so as to add extra star energy to AEW.
Only a few months later, Hardy was arrested and charged with DUI, which led to an indefinite suspension.
2 Cody Rhodes Loses AEW World Title Shot – Big Reserving Mistake
AEW did one thing fairly unprecedented early within the firm’s life as Cody Rhodes was defeated in a match that price him the possibility to as soon as once more problem for the AEW World Title. It was a daring transfer and got here with an enormous return from MJF as nicely.
Sadly, As Rhodes’ time in AEW has been up and down, it is created a horrible domino impact, and has develop into tough to observe in the previous couple of months. It was by no means introduced again in MJF and followers began calling him out for some horrible bookings. Had he nonetheless been in a position to problem for the World title, issues might have been very completely different.
1 Wardlow’s Babyface Flip – MJF Strolling Out and Unhealthy Reserving
Wardlow bounced again from MJF to an enormous pop at Revolution 2022 and continued to achieve a whole lot of steam as a serious babyface forward of his PPV conflict towards his former boss. Nonetheless, MJF’s warmth with Tony Khan induced him to virtually not present the occasion.
This stored Wardlow’s consideration on the star-winning victory and This was adopted by months of up and down orders that stalled his momentum.
