{"id":126610,"date":"2024-08-26T09:14:13","date_gmt":"2024-08-26T13:14:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/?p=126610"},"modified":"2024-08-26T09:14:13","modified_gmt":"2024-08-26T13:14:13","slug":"aews-all-in-the-legacy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2024\/08\/26\/aews-all-in-the-legacy\/","title":{"rendered":"AEW\u2019s All In: The Legacy"},"content":{"rendered":"

My All In Build Up <\/span><\/u><\/strong><\/h3>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t believe it\u2019s been a year already.\u201d My partner tells me this as we walk from the coach to Wembley Stadium.<\/span><\/p>\n

She\u2019s right. It\u2019s hard to believe that 365 days have passed. In wrestling sometimes, a week brings a month\u2019s worth of news. The landscape of wrestling between now and then has radically changed again.<\/span><\/p>\n

What didn\u2019t change on the journey was the anxiety and nerves. The dyslexic concern was that I had misread a vital travel detail. <\/span>Even <\/span>that<\/span> I had the wrong date for <\/span>All In<\/span><\/em> couldn\u2019t be shaken.<\/span><\/p>\n

But then we\u2019re at Wembley. My partner pops to the toilet. I\u2019m left standing alone looking around at all the other fans. I become calm. I study the various wrestling shirts. Admire the cosplayers: adults and kids dressed as <\/span>Orange Cassidy<\/span><\/strong> and <\/span>Darby Allin<\/span><\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n

There is a feeling <\/span>already<\/span> that despite what gets said on social media and online, this will be a good day, but I was wrong\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

We eat while others queue in huge snaking lines that seem to get longer. We pass the merchandise, but it\u2019s limited, and we buy nothing but a program. <\/span>When we eventually <\/span>get<\/span> to our seats, I <\/span>notice<\/span> the layout change.<\/span> Our view of the ring is even better than last year despite <\/span>we are<\/span> higher up in the stadium.<\/span><\/p>\n

Next to me are five empty red chairs. Across the way, an entire block of red seats is glaringly empty. To their right is a black cloth covering a horseshoe section of the stadium. <\/span>Zero Hour<\/span><\/em> starts<\/span>. Two<\/span> hours until showtime.<\/span><\/p>\n

The first pre-show match starts with the 16-man tag. Each <\/span>match<\/span> gets better and better\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

It was the best day of my wrestling fandom.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Feeling <\/span><\/u><\/strong><\/h3>\n

I\u2019ve written elsewhere about how last year\u2019s <\/span>All In<\/span><\/em> inspired me to <\/span>start writing<\/span> about wrestling. It\u2019s 10 AM here in the UK and I\u2019ve had about six hours of sleep. And there\u2019s something I cannot describe still buzzing in my veins and synapses.<\/span><\/p>\n

A good but almost bastardized name for it would be <\/span>the feeling<\/span><\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s something my partner, a casual wrestling fan who prefers the comedic and bad aspects <\/span>to<\/span> it to work rate and five-star matches, also <\/span>is feeling<\/span>.<\/span> Like a positive hangover. One that made her want to commit again to the long journey to London to <\/span>Forbidden Door<\/span><\/em> next year. Then <\/span>All In<\/span><\/em> in 2026.<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s something I\u2019m sure the family sat in front of us, with their two young daughters, felt. Both seemed anxious. Perhaps <\/span>their<\/span> first wrestling show. One had headphones for noise sensitivity and the other was reserved.<\/span><\/p>\n

That didn\u2019t stop them from clapping with <\/span>Willow Nightingale<\/span><\/strong>. Or<\/span> doing<\/span> Mercedes Mone\u2019s<\/span><\/strong> CEO dance. The girl with the headphones took them off to absorb the crowd singing along to The Final Countdown. The anxious girl did not hold back either. Early on, when the crowd loudly told <\/span>Stokely Hathaway<\/span><\/strong> \u201cYou F# up\u201d after spinebusting <\/span>Tomohiro Ishi<\/span><\/strong>. However, she tried to hide it by shielding her mouth with her hands so her parents might not hear her.<\/span><\/p>\n

Those empty red chairs across from me were a quarter filled by the <\/span>start of the show<\/span>. Those five empty chairs next to us turned into three. Two were filled. Did that impact my enjoyment of the various stories? The victories of the home country wrestlers? The surprise appearances and crushing defeats?<\/span><\/p>\n

No.<\/span><\/p>\n

Business and attendance are not metrics of enjoyment. They don\u2019t measure the impact on individuals.<\/span><\/p>\n

What it Means to Be All In<\/span><\/u><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Comparing <\/span>All <\/span>In<\/span><\/em> to<\/span> WrestleMania<\/span><\/em> is a flawed comparison. Like any comparison, it\u2019s limited by ignorance of context. <\/span>Yet, looking at the history of the three <\/span>All In<\/span><\/em> events that have taken place, there is a similarity in <\/span>terms<\/span> that<\/span> these <\/span>have been<\/span> events that have tried to do something unprecedented.<\/span><\/p>\n

Both were gambles. But the biggest difference being AEW in ideas and principles, even before it was formally named was about being an alternative<\/span>. Before<\/span> Tony Khan<\/span><\/strong> financed it. Before it became a company and challenger brand.<\/span><\/p>\n

Critics of AEW who claim <\/span>Dave Meltzer<\/span><\/strong> loves the company forget the first <\/span>All In<\/span><\/em> was organised to prove the wrestling analyst and historian wrong.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll take that bet, Dave,\u201d are <\/span>Cody Rhodes\u2019<\/span><\/strong> famous words. His counteroffer claims that a company like<\/span> ROH<\/span><\/strong> could never sell out a 10,000-seat arena.<\/span><\/p>\n

They did it. <\/span>The Elite<\/span><\/strong> showed that beyond WWE, wrestling could be successful. Wrestling could be done differently.<\/span><\/p>\n

How this has shaped the industry I\u2019ve written about in multiple articles. <\/span>Giving<\/span> options to<\/span> wrestlers for places to work (<\/span>the signing wars<\/span><\/a>)<\/span>.<\/span> Even<\/span> impacting WWE\u2019s practices (<\/span>here<\/span><\/a>). <\/span>Everyone<\/span><\/a> has benefited from AEW\u2019s existence.<\/span><\/p>\n

And yet, like any alternative, there <\/span>is always going to<\/span> be criticism. How fair or correct this is as subjective and objective and varies depending on your metrics.<\/span><\/p>\n

When AEW announced <\/span>All In<\/span><\/em> London in Wembley Stadium, few believed they could sell out that venue. They did. And they returned to success again this year.<\/span><\/p>\n

Over 50,000 tickets sold. And bizarrely some accounts who denied the previous attendance record said AEW sold 30 thousand less seats than last year.<\/span><\/p>\n

Next year, <\/span>All In<\/span><\/em> comes to Texas. Wembley again in 2026. <\/span>Being<\/span> All In<\/span><\/em> means taking the biggest risks to prove the status quo wrong.<\/span><\/p>\n

Investment Paying Off \u00a0<\/span><\/u><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Many online when criticizing AEW want to talk business. Butts on seats and money and backstage issues and contracts. The easily measurable things.<\/span><\/p>\n

There are things we cannot measure so clearly. Sports events have an impact that only becomes present years later. <\/span>Not all investments are made with money and show profits <\/span>like<\/span> in<\/span> tax returns.<\/span> When it comes to <\/span>the investments<\/span> in human beings, there is only anecdotal evidence.<\/span><\/p>\n

The fact is, whether you like AEW or not, it has and will inspire other human beings of all ages to get involved in wrestling<\/span>. Whether<\/span> that is just as fans, in a social media conversation, or wanting to become a part of the industry.<\/span><\/p>\n

Inspiring Generations \u00a0<\/span><\/u><\/strong><\/h3>\n

I\u2019m part of the generation of British teenagers who saw England win the <\/span>Rugby World Cup<\/span><\/strong>. This inspired a generation of kids to get into rugby. During the<\/span> Olympics<\/span><\/strong> this summer, interviews with multiple athletes spoke about the triumphs of their predecessors. Their success became their inspiration to become Olympians.<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s going to<\/span> be years until a potential generation of new wrestlers states that AEW and <\/span>All In<\/span><\/em> were their reasons for getting into wrestling. Whether it\u2019s the two children who sat in front of me<\/span>. It<\/span> could be the girl who got to chop<\/span> MJF<\/span><\/strong> during the first International Championship match with <\/span>Will Ospreay<\/span><\/strong>. Who knows if\/when another <\/span>Izzy Moreno<\/span><\/strong> will emerge?<\/span><\/p>\n

It could be the generational talent like <\/span>Birdie <\/span><\/strong>or<\/span> Buddy Danielson<\/span><\/strong>. Post-main event, Buddy wrestled with his dad. He was even threatened with a tiger-driver by his father, the new AEW world champion <\/span>Bryan Danielson<\/span><\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Wrestlers<\/span> today<\/span> sign with WWE partly because it <\/span>was<\/span> always their dream.<\/span> Take <\/span>Stephanie Vaquer<\/span><\/a><\/strong> or <\/span>NXT<\/span><\/strong>\u2019s <\/span>Nathan Frazer<\/span><\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n

We will reach a stage where wrestlers will want for AEW (if it refuses to die) because it was their childhood dream. Inspired by events like All In that proved wrestling exists beyond the WWE way.<\/span><\/p>\n

This is the future.<\/span><\/p>\n

Inspiring The Now <\/span><\/u><\/strong><\/h3>\n

In five years, AEW has already inspired and changed the mindset of the current generation. Many have joined AEW. Mercedes Mone was ready to go back to WWE for WrestleMania. Attending <\/span>All In<\/span><\/strong> 2023 changed her mind.<\/span><\/p>\n

Will Ospreay pick AEW over WWE for factors beyond money? I\u2019ve written about various reasons why wrestlers would choose AEW beyond money in the real bidding war of 2024 <\/span>here<\/span><\/a>. Bryan Danielson has repeatedly said this has been the most enjoyable part of his career.<\/span><\/p>\n

Yes, wrestlers will leave AEW. <\/span>The Lucha Brothers<\/span><\/strong> have been part of some of AEW\u2019s greatest moments (you can read about <\/span>them here<\/span><\/a>). They might leave because they have hit a ceiling (which you can read about <\/span>here<\/span><\/a>). That\u2019s part of the process.<\/span><\/p>\n

Others, like <\/span>Ricochet<\/span><\/strong>, will come to AEW, not just for a pay cheque, but because this is where they want to perform their art<\/span>. Regardless<\/span> of discord about the hard cam area. That isn\u2019t going away. Unfortunately, it will ignore the intangible feeling that fans and wrestlers experience from the alternative.<\/span><\/p>\n

Easily Ignored <\/span><\/u><\/strong><\/h3>\n

In the week prior and the hours following <\/span>All In<\/span><\/em>, the amount of negativity around AEW online was noticeable.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mocking<\/span>, dismissive, and trying to turn the conversation with a comparison back to WWE. Even on<\/span> Reddit<\/span><\/strong> on the AEW-centric groups, members were talking about the bombardment of downvotes for their posts. In other prominent wrestling forums, anything disrupting the narrative of AEW is bad-faced downvoting. Things bashing AEW could get upvoted.<\/span><\/p>\n

Going onto one <\/span>Facebook<\/span><\/strong> community I am a part of, the only references to <\/span>All In<\/span><\/em> were jokes. A photo of two fans taking a knee with \u201cStand up for WWE\u201d shirts outside Wembley. Another was a photo criticizing <\/span>Brian Cage<\/span><\/strong> and <\/span>Sammy Guevara<\/span><\/strong> wearing Wolverine-themed gear on the preshow and being on opposite teams. Strange and insignificant, but that\u2019s part of the course with bad faith.<\/span><\/p>\n

When I last looked there was a photo of AEW champions, updated with <\/span>Bryan Danielson<\/span><\/strong> but with <\/span>CM Punk<\/span><\/strong> crossed out. Punk\u2019s exit from AEW has been a wound that the company has been unable to close. Even in trying to take advantage of The Elite\u2019s <\/span>Corporate turn<\/span><\/a>, its limited success has been overshadowed by creative inconsistency. Plus, the a lack of immediate impact on business.<\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019ve written in more depth about both sides of \u201cAEW is under attack\u201d <\/span>here<\/span><\/a>. The Folks who don\u2019t like AEW, whether analysts, grifters, or fans are not going to give <\/span>All In<\/span><\/em> this year or any year its flowers.<\/span><\/p>\n

There\u2019s no point waiting for that to change. What happens and is said online doesn\u2019t change that feeling I felt last night.<\/span><\/p>\n

That\u2019s what wrestling is about, regardless of promotion.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Future<\/span><\/u><\/strong><\/h3>\n

All In<\/span><\/em> for the past two years has been like <\/span>WrestleMania <\/span><\/em>in the sense that<\/span> it\u2019s been AEW\u2019s biggest event of the year. Last year\u2019s was AEW\u2019s peak of 2023. Then like the WWE of old, it went through creative struggles afterward.<\/span><\/p>\n

Unlike WWE, those problems led to discussions about the company\u2019s death. There are worrying issues with ratings and attendance that AEW has to address. Now and in the long term. Beyond wrestling, AEW needs to level up in other areas to compete with WWE (as I\u2019ve discussed <\/span>here<\/span><\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n

Yet, AEW continues to bet on itself.<\/span><\/p>\n

Grand Slam<\/span><\/em> goes to Australia next year. <\/span>Forbidden Door<\/span><\/em> returns to London next year for the bank holiday weekend. <\/span>All In<\/span><\/em> goes to Texas in 2025 and Wembley in 2026. If AEW is dying it is refusing to go quietly.<\/span><\/p>\n

AEW next year bets on itself and will seek to prove doubters wrong by filling the Globe Life Field Stadium in Arlington, Texas.<\/span><\/p>\n

AEW will continue to be the alternative. For many <\/span>All In<\/span><\/em> will be forgotten in a week. The cycle moves on. There will be new things to criticize and the same things in the anti-AEW playbook to reference.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, that feeling I experienced with <\/span>All In<\/span><\/em> last year that got me writing for Last Word hasn\u2019t left. It\u2019s grown stronger. If even a fraction of the fans who attended <\/span>All In<\/span><\/em> feel a similar way, then the legacy of the promotion\u2019s biggest event lives on. A feeling perhaps that fans who have attended over events have also felt and not lost. No amount of negativity online has diminished that feeling.<\/span><\/p>\n

As my partner, the casual wrestling fan who now loves the theatrics and storytelling of AEW said: \u201cThis is going to be an annual tradition.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

More From LWOS Pro Wrestling<\/h3>\n

Header photo \u2013 AEW \u2013 Stay tun<\/em>ed to the\u00a0Last Word on Pro Wrestling<\/a>\u00a0for 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.\u00a0 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\u00a0YouTube<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

My All In Build Up \u201cI can\u2019t believe it\u2019s been a year already.\u201d My partner tells me this as we walk from the coach to Wembley Stadium. She\u2019s right. It\u2019s hard to believe that 365 days have passed. In wrestling sometimes, a week brings a month\u2019s worth of news. The landscape of wrestling between now […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4960,"featured_media":126613,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4677,2192],"tags":[8573,1634,140,8521,423,101],"class_list":["post-126610","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-aew","category-wrestling","tag-aew-all-in","tag-bryan-danielson","tag-cm-punk","tag-mercedes-mone","tag-the-elite","tag-will-ospreay"],"modified_by":"Michael Joseph Sugue, Manager","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/126610","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4960"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=126610"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/126610\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/126613"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=126610"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=126610"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=126610"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}