Fans of All Elite Wrestling (AEW) have asked for YouTube uploads of full matches, and now they have their wish. Taking from contemporaries such as WWE and various indie promotions, fans can now catch up with the best of AEW’s best without shelling out any extra dollars. For newcomers and content creators, this is a blessing.
This isn’t anything new. As I said, WWE and the independent scene have already done it. Before its inclusion in the AEW banner, Ring of Honor did much of the same (and still does!). Even New Japan Pro Wrestling used to air matches from its catalog on Mondays.
Why did it take so long? Perhaps Tony Khan and his media team felt it wise to wait for a wider library. Or, maybe, it came down to money or some copyright issue. Whatever the reason was, it’s here now, and I’m here for it. I’m putting on my party hat as we speak. There are a handful of reasons why this will benefit the company.
AEW YouTube: Free and accessible
By now, AEW has accrued an embarrassment of spectacular matches. Many of which are pure art. Ask any fan of the promotion, and they’ll pluck out a handful or two of the exact types of bouts to show a new fan. It will be easier than ever for potential new fans to stumble onto matches that provide a familiar yet alternative experience. Casual or unaware WWE fans will benefit from this.
Economically speaking, times are tough. Dropping dollars in the double digits for past pay-per-view events doesn’t sound fun if you don’t know if you’ll enjoy it or not. Subscription services have been teetering with their prices. While it’s still a good trade-off, some simply can’t afford it. There are AEW fans who have followed since the “Road to” series or the early Dynamite days, likely only watching via a friend’s house or other means.
Content creators also have another avenue to bolster their work. Reaction channels on Twitch and YouTube will salivate over covering any matches for the first time. Writers in wrestling media doing research will be delighted to cover the moments as they happen. Video essayists and video editors can easily pluck from it to work on clips for their work.
In short, this works for newcomers, creators, and fans, helping to cultivate fan communities.
YouTube Premieres Add Community
Speaking of, I’ve noticed something quite nice within this new front by AEW. AEW has rolled out the red carpet by making these matches premieres. WWE will do the same with livestreams of past content, but those get too clogged. Watching the live comments roll in on premieres of past AEW content, however, something more wholesome happens.
Fans share their emotions for these matches, from the spots to the storylines. Sometimes, fans can be seen sharing their experiences from where they were in life or when they joined the fandom. Sure, some trolls will trickle in, but overall, people simply hanging out like a watch party is just a fun thing to witness.
One of my favorite parts of this is seeing an occasional blind spot air, where fans share their first-time reactions. Vicariously reliving it through the eyes of fledgling fans is so heartwarming. I’m interested to see if these trends develop (if they do), and if AEW continues these premieres.
The Biggest Hits and Hidden Gems
Since uploading these full matches to AEW YouTube, AEW’s iconic bouts are there to rewatch again and again. Will Ospreay vs.Kenny Omega 2 at AEWxNJPW Forbidden Door 2023. Bryan Danielson vs. Zack Sabre Jr. at WrestleDream 2023. Sting and Darby Allin vs. Christian Cage and Swerve Strickland at AEW All In 2023.
But what about the less-mentioned matches? Ones that were undoubtedly incredible, but fall under the radar? Those are there. For example, there’s Orange Cassidy and Adam Cole from Beach Break 2022 in a Lights Out Match. Or if you’re craving further violence, Jon Moxley and Kenny Omega’s Unsanctioned Match from Full Gear 2019 is available.
What I’m curious about is their inclusion of former stars. I’m sure that the company has a fine relationship with some talents who’ve left the company. Blake Monroe (formerly Mariah May) and Jade Cargill come to mind. But for those with public falling-outs like CM Punk, I’d imagine they might shy away from it unless the moment arises.
Then there’s the undisclosed nature of Cody Rhodes. While some may not want to see these matches again, just as many, if not more, would. Matches that are paramount to AEW’s history should absolutely be included. They’re integral to the promotion’s identity.
Final Thoughts
AEW is ramping up its content. While Being the Elite is no longer a thing at present, other things have been present. RJ City brings the laughs in his “Hey!(EW)” series on YouTube. Mikey Rukus drops some banging Hayter Raves periodically that’ll get anyone dancing. Aubrey Edwards and Will Washington record their AEW Unrestricted podcasts with wrestlers, talent, and even outside personalities..
This is the next step in spreading the brand. Allowing for digestible matches without subjecting someone to an entire show simplifies the process. And it’s not as though these matches weren’t viewable on YouTube before; the AEW Timeline series is quite the example. But those were streams of longer moments and/or matches in the history of AEW. Useful, but sometimes a condensed format for something specific is best.
Furthermore, AEW continues to listen to its fans with content strategies like this. In the past, I’ve mentioned how the company would do well with documentary films and series. With these full match uploads on YouTube, I’m confident we’ll get there sooner rather than later.
What can’t be denied about WWE is that they’re a monolith of content. There’s always so much to watch. Previously, I mentioned that one of their strong suits is their documentary-style content. Though often misleading, their documentaries are well-produced and sometimes include information and content not made public before. I previously stated that AEW would do well to dive into that territory as well.
But for now, clicking on these matches from AEW’s past is a net positive. To reiterate, it’ll give new fans a taste of AEW while helping the fan community and media.
After all, many are longing to see why AEW is “where the best wrestle.”
Meanwhile, TNA Wrestling also announced it would give away free content.
Header photo – AEW – Stay tuned to the Last Word on Pro Wrestling for more on Tay Melo, AEW, 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 Collision airs Saturday at 8 pm Eastern on TNT. More AEW content is available on their YouTube channel.
