Over the past two years, AEW has constructed arguably the most talented in-ring roster in professional wrestling history. Tony Khan has worked tirelessly to sign elite wrestlers to the promotion.
However, regardless of how many big names have walked through the door, the company has continually faced criticism for a lack of long-term and short-term storytelling.
Fortunately for AEW, they have some Hall of Fame talent to lean on. Adam Copeland has previously spoken of the importance of storytelling in professional wrestling and has certainly contributed some ideas. Jon Moxley appears to be spearheading an evolution within the company. He has been front and center during the recent Death Riders story.
In a recent interview with Yahoo Sports Uncrowned, Moxley explained why narratives and stories are so important in wrestling.
“Storytelling is always needed, it’s essential, it’s non-negotiable,” Moxley said. “It’s a vital element to wrestling. You need a hook. How much more do you enjoy sports when you have an investment in who the person is or the story of the season? Wrestling is no different. You’re not going to pick up a book that has a bunch of descriptions of random objects or events — there has to be a story or a thread that will take you on a ride. … We’re building. It’s about a lot more than what happens in the ring. Building something sustainable for the future that we can take pride in, we’ve been doing that for the past few months.”
As AEW has found out over the past 12 months, having elite in-ring performers only works when the audience has a reason to be invested. Dream matches are a hard sell to the majority of fans, and you can’t build a sustainable business model on the back of a niche and hardcore subset of wrestling lovers. Stories drive clicks; they drive viewers, ticket sales, merchandise, and everything in between.
Even now, with the Death Riders angle struggling to gain traction, the fanbase is united in discussing why the story isn’t working. The byproduct of those online conversations is that others tune in to see what everyone is talking about.
Moxley, a former member of WWE’s The Shield, knows what it takes to drive a successful story. He’s been there and done that. There’s a reason Khan is trusting him to help guide the ship. And while there will be some rough waters along the way, AEW will be much better off once there’s an established creative team.
Hopefully, then, the company can start churning out new angles to help draw in new fans and create some homegrown star talent.
