At Double or Nothing, two of the biggest signings of the real “bidding war of 2024” have claimed their first championships in AEW. In the process, several questions were answered about Will Ospreay, Mercedes Moné and the general direction of several major storylines. Along with Kazuchika Okada, whose Continental Championship victory has helped cement the Rainmaker’s character, all three signings have made a clear impact in AEW.
All now hold championship gold. Yet answers only lead to more questions. Again, related to the new individual champions as well as the wider landscape of AEW. The most important being, what’s next?
Ospreay – Problems Solved?
Will Ospreay defeated Roderick Strong to become the new AEW International Champion in an insanely engaging contest. Strong deserves his flowers for his entertaining and revitalizing run in AEW so far. His contributions to the match cannot be overlooked. However, this is Ospreay’s moment. But does it solve other issues?
I’ve written elsewhere about Ospreay as a potential elevator. As someone who could restore the fabled feeling. Someone who can further heighten the athletic expectations of wrestling. But there are risks.
The biggest is that, if Ospreay raises the standard of competition too high and too quickly, other top wrestlers will have their weaknesses exposed. Think of last year’s Double or Nothing main event: the four pillars four-way. Not everyone was on the level of the devil.
It showed. It impacted the build and long-term exposed weaknesses in the other three pillars. Thereby impacting fans’ perceptions of their capabilities.
Likewise, by raising the expectations of what is standard in AEW, there is the threat of normalizing what is currently incredible and spectacular. The fact that NJPW president Hiroshi Tanahashi showed up to take part in a six-man match on Collision is still a treat. It’s a treat like going for a cheeky Nando’s with the lads rather than a trip to the steak house for a Wagyu ribeye.
With regularity, the risk is eventually such treats become unimaginative. Much like McDonald’s after a long day at work.
These risks remain, but so far, Ospreay’s excellence has not overshadowed anyone. In giving Ospreay, like Okada, his own division, it does solve one issue. It gives Swerve Strickland his time to run the house without Ospreay’s looming shadow soaring above his head.
Still Finding His Comfort Zone
Comparably with Okada, placing Ospreay with what might be deemed a “mid-card” championship, could also aid Ospreay in developing his character and microphone skills. Eventually, Ospreay will become the world champion, but why rush?
Especially because Ospreay recognizes that he is still developing as a weekly TV character. Recently, Ospreay told Denise Salcedo of Instinct Culture how he feels his promo skills are developing:
“I would not put me down as a promo guy. I still don’t, in some ways, because I’m still learning. Where my ADHD has been a constant thing, I always have problems with eye contact. I really try to avoid eye contact a lot. I’m really trying my best to work on that and harness in on that and focus in on it. The fact that I’m doing okay, I wouldn’t say I’m doing incredible. I would say that I’m doing better than what I expected. I’m proud of myself for that just because I’ve never been a promo guy. I’ve never even tried to hide that I’m a promo guy. I feel I’m getting a lot better.”
Will Ospreay – Transcript from Fightful.
If you are interested in reading more about how neurodivergent conditions impact wrestlers and have shaped the industry, you can read about the subject here.
International Grind?
Some fans are hoping that Ospreay brings back an element of the International Championship from Pac’s inaugural reign. Ospreay, condescending swipes that say otherwise, is no stranger and has no fear of the grind. Ospreay worked a match in TNA Wrestling in Newcastle, England last year for the fun of wrestling “Speedball” Mike Bailey.
Will even suggested he would love to go work for the Ugandan-based wrestling company and social media phenomenon, Soft Ground Wrestling.
Ospreay is fully invested in AEW as a company. Will wants to elevate not only himself but the entire organization. As hinted on Strickland’s Swerve City podcast, Ospreay said:
“For me, I’m a guy that enjoys seeing the world. I love doing that,” Will Ospreay said. Coming over here, obviously, I bring a little bit of flavor from around the world. I don’t want to forget about what made me. My main goal, I want to take AEW everywhere. I want to do shows in Tokyo, I want to do shows in Osaka, I want to do shows in Sydney, Melbourne, Dublin.”
Will Ospreay – Transcript from Wrestlezone.
Although doing more international shows is not up to Ospreay, being able to take the championship to different countries and defending it would put the international back into the International Championship. It could also help lay the groundwork for further growth between AEW and other international companies. There could be other long-term benefits if AEW goes down this path.
Future Challengers
If there are lingering tensions between Ospreay and The Don Callis Family, this has not been clearly presented for weeks on Dynamite or Collision. At present, Ospreay plays the babyface while being aligned with heels. Ospreay has beaten all his fellow stablemates but a rematch with Konosuke Takeshita could be a possibility?
Beyond Forbidden Door, All In in London approaches, and it is in Ospreay’s homeland. Given Jon Moxley is currently having issues with Callis, Mox vs. Ospreay could be a good marquee match for the Wembley show.
Beyond these options, there are still plenty of new faces to challenge Ospreay. Although, realistically, who could take the championship from Ospreay? The next champion is going to need to be built up over time.
Moné Walks
A lot of folks online for the past few weeks have been increasingly negative about Mercedes Moné and her presentation on AEW programming. There have been valid questions and points raised. After Big Business, segments each week where Moné danced to the ring, spoke artificially and stiltedly, and showed her rings that spelt “Mone Talks”, diminished their returns. Moné as a face has never been a strong talker.
Perhaps more video packages focused on Moné’s red-carpet and celebrity-level lifestyle, contrasted with Willow Nightingale’s active wrestling presence could have utilized her better. Perhaps after Boston, making Mercedes the clearer arrogant heel – something Moné excelled at – would have aided proceedings?
However, in the long-term, the repetition of this build feels familiar to when Sting first debuted in AEW. Each week, there was a segment where (it’s) Sting(gggggggggg!) would talk with Tony Schiavone. The same format and same thing each week. An interruption. No contact.
Until Brian Cage powerbombed Sting. We gasped. The Icon took his first bump. The same vibes were in my head with the Moné/Nightingale contract signing segment. Moné’s cartoony flapping arms couldn’t save the new CEO from going through a table.
Does anyone still talk about that repetitive build with Sting? No. What happened in-ring rinsed that away like a pressure-jet on a grubby patio.
What Moné always excelled at was wrestling. Moné might have struggled with talk, but as shown Sunday, Moné can walk the walk after a year on the shelf. Now is the time to feel excited again.
Women’s Division- Long-Term Investment?
Even when Moné was in WWE, her style of wrestling was different. Sometimes described by some fans as dangerous, Moné was one of the few women’s wrestlers whose style, even within the restrictions of WWE, stood out as different.
For the women’s division, AEW seems to have learnt that making the new name recognition signing (Saraya) the centerpiece is a mistake that failed a previously attempted women’s revolution. There have been positive signs of development in women’s storylines, presentation, and representation on the card since Moné’s arrival and the hiring of Jennifer Pepperman.
Yet still only one woman’s match per Dynamite.
“Timeless” Toni Storm’s growth as a character and finding the balance in-ring has addressed another issue that plagued the reign of some AEW women’s champions like Britt Baker and Jade Cargill. Storm’s progression is one that I’ve analyzed previously here. So, giving Moné the TBS championship could allow her to turn it into the workhorse-women’s championship, while Storm’s reign remains character-driven.
With a better balance between in-ring and character work that Julia Hart and recently Nightingale as TBS champions were able to find, the potential for continuing the open challenge concept with interesting storylines and exciting matches is there. A full breakdown of potential fun one-off matches, feuds for TV and PPV, and even possible legacy feuds for Mercedes I’ve discussed in my article: Following the Moné.
The Elite On Board a CEO?
Being a heel is where Moné thrives. As a character, the CEO still has potential, despite a rocky start in terms of promos, interviews, and commentary. Being in the ring is Moné’s comfort zone. Yet one thing fans have wondered about, and fantasy booked is the possibility that the CEO merges with the EVPs.
This feels somewhat like wish fulfillment and something some fans have asked for on social media. Not just Moné joining The Elite, but for any female member of the roster to join one of AEW’s top factions. Yes, Kris Statlander was in The Best Friends. Also yes, Tay Melo and Anna Jay were in The Jericho Appreciation Society.
In the former, rarely did the friends work a consistent main event program like The Blackpool Combat Club, The Pinnacle, or Inner Circle. In the latter, Melo and Jay were never prominent and served as background characters rather than front and center.
It would be another positive step forward for the women’s division. Plus, for Moné also, it could be a positive fit that would not only aid her own confidence on the microphone. It could add a new dynamic to The Elite with all kinds of potential for wider storytelling. It would make sense and could feel organic.
I mean, outside of The Young Bucks, I cannot think of which other wrestler, in WWE or AEW, is as loathed so intently and hated on such a personal level. Given the level of meta being played with in this latest chunk of the Elite saga, raising the blood pressure of AEW detractors higher isn’t going to hurt.
Beyond “Mid-Card”
Maybe there is a point to be made given all three top 2024 free-agent signings are now holding secondary championships. It’s become a pattern, which adds predictability. Championships are props that in wrestling can be used to represent different ideas, concepts, and values in a promotion.
The world champion is the top prize, the peak of the mountain. Nonetheless, this notion of “mid-card” championships being less valuable feels like a WWE McMahonism hang-out that is slowly being changed. Back when it felt like holding the IC and US championship was pass the parcel.
The fan-made myth of the Intercontinental Championship as the workhorse belt has been restored under Triple H. Yet the IC championship in origin was designed for the house show loop to give each tour their separate champions. When Hulk Hogan was the WWE Champion, Randy Savage held the IC Championship. Both were and felt like main-event stars.
In a similar manner, AEW could be seen as trying to position their top contenders in slots 1A and 1B by giving Okada and Ospreay their own championship with different, distinct rules.
If that’s the case, the belts need to be made to feel distinct also. The Continental Championship feels more distinct with its no interference rules, time limit, and less frequent defenses compared to the TNT Championship. If Ospreay takes the International Championship abroad, this again will make it separate from the open challenge rules of the TNT Championship.
For Moné as TBS Champion, if they continue with the concept of open challenges, there is the risk of burning through Mercedes opponents too rapidly. But there’s always risks and rewards. Again, balance is needed. How realistic that a balance can be found, we will have to wait and see.
More From LWOS Pro Wrestling
Header photo – AEW – Stay tuned to the Last Word on Pro Wrestling for more on this and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the major news in the wrestling world. As well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world. You can catch AEW Dynamite on Wednesday nights at 8 PM ET on TBS. AEW Rampage airs on TNT at 10 PM EST every Friday night. AEW Collision airs Saturday at 8pm Eastern on TNT. More AEW content available on their YouTube.
