AEW is on a phenomenal run currently with the quality of the company’s roster, feuds and in-ring matches. Their first PPV of the year, Revolution, drew the company’s third highest buy-rate behind All In 2021 & All Out 2023, and whilst a large part of this success can be attributed to the draw that is Sting’s final match, the other part can be credited to AEW’s remarkable turnaround from a company that lacked an identity and filled with controversy in 2023 to one that has now found its identity and a style of wrestling and storytelling that it can build on for years to come.
This new blend of Japanese-style in-ring storytelling and intensity matched with the pomp and circumstance of American television wrestling has become AEW owner and booker Tony Kahn’s new philosophy since the first Continental Classic tournament at the end of 2023, and this new vision can be seen in AEW’s three biggest signings this year; Will Ospreay, Kazuchika Okada and Mercedes Moné.
Will Ospreay
Ospreay was actually signed to AEW in 2023 with an announcement made on the 2023 Full Gear PPV in November. Ospreay however has not been working matches for AEW until February due to him needing to finish his obligations in New Japan Pro Wrestling. Ospreay was the breakout star in 2023, with his feud with Kenny Omega and their two awe-inspiring matches at NJPW’s Wrestle Kingdom 18 and at AEW and NJPW cross-promotion PPV Forbidden Door propeling Ospreay into the best wrestler in the world conversations.
Ospreay is no stranger to AEW, with appearances at Forbidden Door through NJPW and at AEW’s first British show All In 2023 in which Ospreay celebrated his homecoming with a great match with Chris Jericho. Will Ospreay’s move to AEW felt inevitable given AEW’s ability to let Ospreay live in the UK and the ability to work with NJPW, however this move also signals the type of wrestler that Tony Kahn is now looking to showcase, with Will Ospreay having the ability to tell great in-ring story’s and a unique ability to hit huge move after huge move in such a natural way. This ability has been showcased already in his first two matches as an official AEW wrestler with Konosuke Takeshita and Kyle Fletcher, with both receiving prominent spots on their respective cards and both being contenders for match of the year already.
Ospreay is not the finest orator in the business, although Ospreay’s AEW promos thus far have been filled with enough passion and fire to make Ospreay an engaging promo, but at only 30 years old, Ospreay has an incredible amount of time ahead of him to evolve further and write an all-timer career, and should AEW treat him right, he will be the face of AEW, and will likely become AEW World Champion in very short notice, potentially even at Wembley for All In 2024 in August.
Kazuchika Okada
The wrestling world was surprised when NJPW announced that Kazuchika Okada, the man who had defined the promotion for almost a decade, was not extending his contract with the company. Rumours spread of interest from AEW and WWE for the signature of one the greatest wrestlers of this generation, however it was AEW who managed to sign the Rainmaker, and debuting him in an unexpected way by joining the Young Bucks in the Elite and immediately setting up a future match with the now replaced Elite leader Kenny Omega.
Okada is the definition of the Japanese style of in-ring storytelling that Tony Kahn is looking to implement, with Okada being a multiple time IWGP Champion and being involved in feuds with the likes of Kenny Omega that helped to redefine the boundaries of pro wrestling. Whilst NJPW have lost out massively with Okada leaving the company, AEW have gained a real gem and Okada’s position being alongside the Young Buck’s current obnoxious Executive Vice-President gimmick (mirroring their real-life position within the company) has added a new wrinkle into Okada’s Rainmaker character, which have been helped with his entertaining sketches with the Bucks on tv.
Okada thus far has only featured in six-man tag matches with the Young Bucks which has meant his in-ring work has been limited, however his match against Eddie Kingston for the Continental Crown next week should showcase his incredible wrestling ability and a long-run as the Continental Crown champion will do plenty to help lift the championship and to feature Okada as the flagbearer for the new direction of AEW.
Mercedes Moné
AEW’s biggest criticism has been its reluctance to give women’s wrestling the coverage and the prominence that it deserves on AEW programming. Mercedes Moné’s debut at AEW Big Business however, at least for one night anyway, gave the women’s division the prominence that it has so desperately needed. Mercedes Moné, FKA Sasha Banks in WWE, was presented as the huge markee name that she has warranted as one of the best American women’s wrestlers in the world and as a WrestleMania main eventer with her bout against Bianca Belair on Night 1 of WrestleMania 37, with her being given the opening segment to cut a promo and embrace her hometown Boston crowd and additionally making the save in the main event segment after Julia Hart and Skye Blue attacked Willow and Riho after their match to a huge ovation.
Moné has the presentation of a megastar and her addition to the women’s roster gives AEW a huge marketable star that it lost following Jade Cargill’s departure in 2023 (granted, Mone is leagues ahead in terms of her in-ring ability and experience) and should be integral in lifting the importance of the whole women's division given the huge financial investment that Tony Kahn has made. We’ve seen this already with the Willow and Riho match main eventing Big Business, and subsequently becoming the first AEW Dynamite main event to feature a women’s match since Hikaru Shida won back the AEW Women’s title on Dynamite 200 in August 2023, and with several women’s storylines being featured including Deonna Purrazzo and Toni Storm’s feud and the current Kris, Willow and Stokely Hathaway story.
The hope is that Moné will be the catalyst to give women’s wrestling far more matches and screentime on AEW tv, especially on Dynamite, something that should be a certainty if anyone else was booking AEW. What I am excited for the most as a wrestling fan is the opportunity of the ‘forbidden door’ opening for the women’s division. Mercedes Mone spoke about a worldwide revolution in her first promo, and given the presence of STARDOM’s president Taro Okada backstage at AEW Big Business, there is huge potential to see AEW women match-up with CMLL and STARDOM talent, and give Moné the run that she should have had before her injury in 2023 and square up with the likes of Tam Nakano or a rematch with Mayu Iwatani.
The Future
These three signings indicate the new direction of AEW, one that can hopefully provide more consistent programming and showcasing some of the greatest wrestling talents in the world today. AEW has figured out a great formula with it’s A-show Dynamite and it needs work on defining what Collision and Rampage are going to be moving forward, however if more great storylines such as Hangpage Page & Swerve Strickland’s bloodfeud and gives more time to a great women’s division, then AEW should be set for their most successful year yet.
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