WHERE CHATTERS GO TO TALK ABOUT OFF TOPIC STUFF!
So, we finally got to the first weekly TV production of AEW last night on TNT. It aired at exactly the same time as WWE's NXT show on the USA Network.
I am not going to get into a rundown of every specific match, like I might for one of the WWE PPV threads I do previews for, but rather focus on general things I saw, impressions I got, as I flipped between AEW Dynamite and NXT. As far as being a competitor to the WWE goes, AEW's production values were miles ahead of TNA/Impact Wrestling when that debuted. AEW is bankrolled by billionaire Shahid Khan, who owns the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars and the British Premier League's Fulham FC team. This isn't an organization like the original ECW, where wrestlers are going to wonder if they are getting paid week to week, AEW has a shit ton of cash they can spend. From the very opening of the show, you could tell that their set design, with the lights, the smoke, etc was expensive. This isn't Ring of Honor, folks. These guys aren't trying to be the biggest independent Wrestling promotion, they want to be the WCW to Vince's WWE. AEW's first show came from the Capital One Arena in Washington, DC, which has about a 20k seating capacity...Normal size for RAW or Smackdown audience. On NXT, the production quality is...minimal. NXT, as the WWE's "developmental territory" doesn't get the budget RAW or Smackdown do for entrances, pyro, or anything like that. Of course, it's not supposed to either. NXT isn't about the production, it's about the matches themselves. Plus, NXT doesn't get the big arena treatment, it comes live from Full Sail University's Live Venue, which has a seating capacity of about 1,500. AEW easily beats NXT when it comes to the "presentation" aspect. However, that's where honestly, it all kind of went to shit. First things first: It pains me to say this, but it might be time for Jim Ross, "Good Ol JR", to retire. The pairing of him and former WCW announcer Tony Schiavone was AWFUL. They had no chemistry between them whatsoever, their announcing felt...wooden, like they were unemotionally reading from a script or something. Maybe that will improve in weeks to come, as JR gets better acquainted with AEW's roster, but it seemed to me like he was struggling to remember names, and Schiavone wasn't offering much help. There just wasn't any emotion in the commentating, it kind of felt like both were on autopilot, neither one really excited about what they were watching. Meanwhile, over on USA, Mauro Ranallo, Beth Phoenix and Nigel McGuinness were doing the commentary for NXT. None of them have nearly the individual charisma that Jim Ross used to have, but they sounded engaged, like they were into the matches while Jim Ross and Tony just sounded like they couldn't wait for the show to be over so they could get back to their hotel room. And don't look now, but that referee looks familiar...It's one of the 70 year old Hebner twins! Was it Dave or Earl? Who cares? Despite the history and decades of commentary experience the AEW team had, it just didn't click for me. NXT's commentary team just felt more alive and into it. Rosters: Obviously, NXT's roster are wrestlers were are still learning the trade, and aren't quite ready for Prime Time yet. At least, that's theoretically the case...while AEW's roster, in theory, should be RAW or Smackdown caliber talent, given that's who they want to compete with. Honestly though, outside of Chris Jericho and Cody Rhodes, NXT's roster is more talented than AEW's is. AEW fans love Kenny Omega...but he came across to me like a spot-monkey without a personality. Maybe I just need to see more of him, but he was so hyped, I guess I expected...more. AEW had Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes (Jay and Silent Bob) in the front row, as guests of Chris Jericho. That was pretty cool, apparently Y2J is in the Jay and Silent Bob reboot that comes out soon. Now, for the surprises at the end!!!!! NXT reveals that WWE fan favorite Finn Balor is back on NXT permanently, while AEW gives us the highly anticipated wrestling return of.... Jake Hager, aka Jack Swagger. Jack fucking Swagger is their surprise. WOO HOO. Let me contain my excitement. Maybe next week they will bring out Chris Masters! OOOh or Shawn Stasiak! Maybe Buff Bagwell! Wouldn't that be a hoot! I really want to like AEW. I love competition, I was one of those guys who constantly flipped between Nitro and Raw during the Monday Night Wars, not really picking a side...but if AEW wants to make sure I do the same on Wednesdays, they are gonna have to do better than what I saw last night. Despite all of the money behind AEW, it felt like an independent show a hell of a lot more than a potential WWE competitor. Overall, NXT gets a 3.5/5.0, and AEW's Dynamite premiere gets a 2.5/5.0. It has potential, but they have a lot of room for improvement.
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February 2021
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