I’m much more excited about AEW right now, and there are some big reasons why

I love AEW. That’s what got me back into professional wrestling after years of ignoring it.

That said, I’d be lying if I didn’t say I’d grown tired of the brand over the last few years or so. I have written articles about what I thought was wrong with AEWbut after the last few weeks being as enthralled with the product as ever, I want to write about all the things that I currently think are great about AEW!

Because honestly, I’m now super back into everything the title belt changesas well as being all in (see what I did there?) when it comes to the upcoming PPVs. In other words, I am so back to AEW! Here’s why.

Bobby Lashley throws his hands up in the air in AEW. — (Image credit: AEW)

First off, Bobby Lashley And The Hurt Syndicate is a big deal

You know, last I saw WWEThe Hurt Business was tearing it up. Featuring MVP, Shelton Benjamin, Bobby Lashleyand Cedric Alexander, The Hurt Business was one of my favorite factions during the ThunderDome days.

And then they weren’t. Shelton Benjamin was released from WWE in 2023, and MVP and Bobby Lashley’s contracts expired in 2024. Cedric Alexander, on the other hand, is still with the company.

So when Shelton Benjamin debuted in AEW with MVP in early October, the idea of Bobby Lashley reuniting with his Hurt Business brethren seemed like an inevitability.

And dreams came true when Lashley became All Elite in late October at Fright Night Dynamite. When he attacked Swerve StricklandI knew Hurt Business was back in… uh, business.

But now they are the Hurt Syndicate. Even so, it’s just another name for a similar outfit.

And I just love this. I once wrote about the best tag teams in AEWand it would be really cool if Lashley and Benjamin ran through AEW as a duo. They add a whole new electricity to AEW that I haven’t felt in a long, long time, and I can’t wait to see what they have in store for Full Gear later this month.

An angry Jon Moxley in a white t-shirt at AEW

(Image credit: AEW)

Heel Moxley is the best Moxley

Jim Cornette doesn’t like Jon Moxleybut i do. And while I don’t think I’d ever consider Moxley a complete face (in the same vein that I’d never consider “Stone Cold” Steve Austin a complete face), I always prefer Mox when he’s a complete heel, as he is right now.

Moxley shocked fans over All Out when he turned on Bryan Danielson and put a plastic bag over his head, which was a stunning scene, to be sure. And now he’s taking the Death Riders (formerly Blackpool Combat Club) to new heights, subtracting Danielson and adding Pac and Marina Shafir to go along with Wheeler Yuta and Claudio Castagnoli.

Which is totally crazy. I know there are people out there who like to compare AEW to latter day WCW (I don’t see it, but I know those people exist), but a story I kind of do see AEW aping WCW is the NWO saga, with mainstays trying to take over the promotion and reshape it in their image. The Death Riders have always done that, but Danielson once cast an anchor in the role he wanted improve the rest of the dressing room.

However, Mox seems to have an agenda to usurp the brand as he senses weakness among its ranks. He makes for a truly terrifying heel, and it will be interesting to see how the Death Riders will stack up against other heel factions like The House of Black, and yes, the Hurt Syndicate. Will they adapt? I don’t know, but I will tune in week after week to see how it all goes.

Private Party flexes with the title belt in AEW

(Image credit: AEW)

Private Party Winning the Tag Team Championship is so well deserved

I love the Young Bucks. It might be a weird way to start this, but I think they’ve always been willing to put other wrestlers over if it’s what’s best for the company. In the past we’ve seen some interesting tag teams win the belts, but I don’t think I ever considered Private Party becoming Tag Team Champions.

And I don’t know why that is, because they’ve always made an effort. Isiah Kassidy and Marq Quen have never put in a bad performance, and they’ve always been interesting (and fun!) to watch.

That said, they’ve also been jobbers over the course of their careers in this promotion. For example, when Keith Lee debuted in AEW (Where has he been, by the way? I hope he’s okay), he shopped Private Party all by himself to immediately join the crowd.

Likewise, there have been other examples of Private Party just being sent out to be thrown to the wolves. So it was a very pleasant surprise to see Private Party not only get into a feud with The Young Bucks, but actually defeat them.

I was happy when The Acclaimed (whom everyone loves) became Tag Team Champs, but I’m even happier that Private Party is finally getting their chance to shine. Just as the crowd chanted for their victory, “they deserve it.” Oh, and speaking of the crowds…

Tony Schiavone on mic in AEW

(Image credit: AEW)

The crowds are as electric as ever

One thing that has kind of gotten me down about AEW is the internet.

Yes, I know, I know. I should just look at the product and not let naysayers and non-believers dampen my spirits, but it’s hard when people post pictures of sparsely populated arenas with lots of empty seats.

This has obviously psychologically taken me out of my enthusiasm, as it has made me think that AEW is on its last legs. It’s just one of many reasons why I have been worried about the brand.

But honestly, AEW is apparently in a better place now than I thought it was in. The recent promotion signed an agreement with MAXand they don’t look like they’re closing their windows anytime soon.

That said, it’s the crowds themselves, reduced as they are, that restore my hope.

The fans seem as enthusiastic as ever, and while I haven’t been as pumped up with the campaign as I once was, the crowd seems like they never stopped being pumped up. They still breathe life into the company. All you have to do is listen.

Jon Moxley stares down Bryan Danielson at AEW WrestleDream

(Image credit: AEW)

I feel like AEW finally realized they don’t need to compete with WWE anymore and are now doing their own thing

Finally, and this is a big one for me, I really feel like AEW is really coming into their own. I know this may sound strange since AEW is still acquiring ex-WWE stars, but I don’t know. There is something very different about the product now that I just feel is palpable.

It could be the plastic bag-over-the-head place to Bryan Danielson who led me to this conclusion. I saw recently The Vince McMahon documentary on Netflixand while it brought me back to memories of how wild WWE once was, I don’t think there was ever a time when WWE would have allowed a wrestler to do to Danielson what Moxley did.

Would I ever allow my kids to watch AEW? Absolutely not, because even though my kids are smart, I would never want them to get the idea that putting a plastic bag over someone’s head is somehow safe. But if anything, it brings me back to the old ECW days, where every spot looked like it could end a person’s career (if not their life).

I truly believe that AEW has finally decided to let go of the idea of being an alternative to WWE, and instead has decided that it doesn’t need to compete with their biggest competitor. Their core audience is still here, and they look like they’re here for the long haul.

But, what do you think? Still interested in AEW? For more news on all things AEW, be sure to stop by here often.

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I’m much more excited about AEW right now, and there are some big reasons why

First off, Bobby Lashley And The Hurt Syndicate is a big deal

Kaneb

First off, Bobby Lashley And The Hurt Syndicate is a big deal

Kaneb

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