Welcome back to a series we’re calling “Must See,” a collection of articles about TV shows, movies, or anything you watch that we’re suggesting you see. Reviews would fit a single episode, but some shows or movies require a broader discussion. Let’s say there’s a TV show you must see (pun intended), but one episode doesn’t do it justice, or a movie with one scene that’s only described with words like fantabulous or dreck.

Today, I thought we’d talk a bit of a ‘rastling, specifically AEW, or All Elite Wrestling. The newest, biggest, and possibly WWE’s greatest competition in years in the North American market, something that has been said before about a few other promotions as well. This one comes from former WWE staff, which simply begs a TNA comparison. It airs directly across from their own show on TNT (much like the WCW before it) and is praised like the sun, except in Liverpool. Yes, AEW is the hot new thing with many former wrestlers, commentators, medical staff, and anyone with a pulse.

What I want to focus on today is their weekly show, Dynamite. It features some of the best in-ring product I’ve seen in years of watching wrestling and possibly the best (or just eking past others) in North America. Fantastic storylines, great wrestling, a colorful cast of characters of all kinds, and a focus on the wrestling. Given the visibility and hype, it is WWE’s greatest competition, something the company doesn’t take lightly. Soon after Dynamite‘s announcement for Wednesday nights, a shot fired at WWE, the company issued a rebuttal with their Wednesday night darling NXT moving to the USA Network, extending an hour, and going live.

I will, however, note as someone may be looking to jump down my throat for putting AEW on my lips with that much praise that I do love NXT. The wrestlers are fantastic, the show is phenomenal, and Mauro Ranallo is an energy to behold. Though, I’m not here to debate “the Wednesday night wars,” I will say I find NXT’s extra hour hampering a truly delightful product that’s tighter than your mum’s Spanx. If I had one criticism of NXT it would be the new length and sometimes a lack of interest in women’s wrestling.

So as I’ve gobbled down on both the names of AEW and WWE, let’s do as the internet wrestling community, use inside terms, and pull a heel turn on AEW. I’ve already stated, I absolutely adore Dynamite and any gripe I have is but a fly urinating in the winds of a hurricane. Though I’ve already given the game away, I want to talk about AEW’s part in what’s being dubbed as the “Wednesday Night Wars,” a play on a WCW and WWE’s (then WWF) Monday Night Wars. Something many fans pine for WWE to recreate or face again, for some of those same fans to complain at AEW’s part in this.

To many wrestling fans in their 20s-30s at the time, now in their 40s-50s, wrestling was at its best because it was more adult and popular because of overly sexualized women. These fans are conflating mainstream success with a bit of a ratings grab. The reason WWE and WCW were mainstream and successful was the competition, there’s no denying that. Many have proclaimed this the return of that hey-day already before both racehorses have crossed the line. Though that’s the problem, it is fine to draw parallels, but when we’re repeating history for no reason I don’t see the point.

AEW: Dynamite is just WCW’s Monday Night Nitro right now. A billionaire is funding it, it is the hot new thing, and it is already treading the same old lines. Seemingly with older wrestlers taking the main focus of the leading storyline, factions aligned, and an overall feeling akin to that of Nitro, I’m worried we’re going to see the same fate befall AEW.

What I’m particularly talking about today is the worry that without defining itself, AEW will doom itself by living in a past not befitting it. With AEW being headed by Chris Jericho and Cody Rhodes, constant appearances by “legends” such as DDP and the Rock and Roll Express, and Tony Schiavone’s reminders, it is hard to get out that shadow. WCW was built on the then WWF’s well-known names, faces, and background, but did so without the history of it being the “_________ Night Wars.” Do it again and you’re bound to suffer the same fate.

That’s not to say Jericho and Cody’s story isn’t interesting, that they have to run with lesser-known talent all the time, or turn their whole program one-hundred and eighty degrees. As I’ve already said, I think highly of the show and think it is one of only two wrestling shows you should be watching weekly. That doesn’t hold back some issues that the show has.

One of the biggest issues I’ve found with the few weeks the show has been on the air is the lack of talent used. With several tag team matches used in a tournament to crown champions, I can’t fault that being used to further storylines. However, I’ve got an overall feeling that the time could be used to introduce more talent at the same time. With few women’s matches and no women’s storylines really taking place, it all feels very much like WWE-lite. It is a weekly show of WWE with better in-ring work being done, it is a take on NXT without WWE’s limits.

It is hard to get out from the shadow of a monolith that’s stood tall for almost 20 years with no one really taking swings at them. To have over 10 to 15 former stars of “the other place” taking the limelight, it is hard to take away the comparison. Of course, there will be some transitions from one company to another, I can’t deny AEW of that, and it is great to see some of the talent that was misused in WWE used well here. Though that’s not my only gripe.

I’m not a fan of the three-man commentary team, it is too busy and shows they want to make WWE fans comfortable crossing over. A two-man team does the same business, it is easier to decipher what’s being spoken about, and it is simple enough to know who is heal and babyface. A three-man team shows the weakness of either two babyfaces and a play-by-play, or a play-by-play with a heal and face either side. It may be aping the past, but really what isn’t already doing that.

I’d also like to see a bit more from the women’s division or add intergender matches if possible. It isn’t the 80s, we aren’t stupid, and it opens up storylines on another level. By far, one of the best matches in the first few weeks I’ve seen of the show has been Shanna and Hikaru Shida, which has led to Shanna reportedly signing a three-year deal with the company. This is ignoring the presence of Bea Priestley, Awesome Kong, and Nyla Rose, all fantastic talents.

Though let me cap off today before wrapping up with praise. I love the time-limits on matches because it gives a sense of urgency to matches. Giving a verbal notice that the match has to end in five-ten minutes or it goes to a draw puts more emphasis on the win and lose, making for a better story to a loss. In a match, it shows a change in pace from big meaty punches to quick jabs suggesting the wrester wants to win. It also means a match isn’t stale after fifteen minutes, it ramps up.

My point today wasn’t to say that AEW or Dynamite needs to change right now, though, without a shift or display of difference, I’m sure we’ll be walking the same line in history again. As a way to tease people over and make them comfortable, I can’t blame them for doing roughly the same thing. Though the point of the competition is to be different enough to draw those battle lines. Right now it is comfort food for older and more hardcore wrestling fans. To bring back the hey-day of mainstream appeal, I’d suggest catering not just to cynics.

AEW: Dynamite is a must-see wrestling show if you have recently done as I have and fallen into a lull. If you aren’t a wrestling fan, firstly I want to ask how you read this long without getting confused, bored, or angry at my incessant desire to not explain somethings in great depth. Secondly, I want to say that if you have gotten this far, you should at least give an episode a watch. Finally, I want to state that whether this does or does not lead to a big Monday Night Wars-style battle for ratings for years to come, just enjoy wrestling.

The best thing about AEW as competition WWE may or may not be scared of is the wrestling. Now with two major companies in every wrestler’s phonebook (a big book with numbers), WWE can’t be complacent with good talent. There are more spots for wrestlers to shine in North America, everyone is fighting for the top spot, and it will lead to damn fine wrestling being on your screen every week. If we can, I don’t want either company to be put out of business, I want them to, as idiot crowds chant, “fight forever!”

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