Okay so what's the consensus on the state of AEW now? I used to be the biggest Mox fan but the more I watch of him the less I like. I like his persona and his promos but when he is in the ring I just don't feel it. I actually felt the same when he was Ambrose.
I just feel like after 5 years there should be someone else homegrown in that top spot not named MJF.
I still follow it but not as closely as before.
It would help if they had more faces who the crowd explode for. Too many heels, not enough genuinely exciting faces who get the blood pumping. I'd also echo the usual commentary about too many wrestlers, not enough continuity. It's just piss poor booking.
I also absolutely can't stand the trios and other multiman matches. Every bit of action in them is completely meaningless because the bumps mean nothing story-wise. The proliferation of trios matches is probably the single biggest sticking point for me.
Other complaints: there's so many spectacular spots and sick bumps in every match such that none of them feel special any more. Also their commitment to workrate means that every match is fairly long, so you know going there's no chance there'll be a three count until you're a fair way in. They need to shorten a match or two on the weekly shows.
There's also way too many near falls. And I know the frenetic indie style matches is part of their brand but it would be nice if there was a bit more focus on story.
I do like that they've started making space for more old style gimmicks with Toni Storm's delusional Hollywood diva being the best example. Possibly my favourite character since I started watching wrestling again.
I'm also finding that their womens division is suddenly the best thing about the company, with Jamie Hayter, Toni Storm and Willow Nightingale probably the most over characters there with few exceptions. Britt Baker also had the crowd on her side before she got suspended and there's a bunch of others who are worth watching. But in the best AEW tradition of making stupid booking decisions, they seem to gone back to having **** all womens matches on a card just when they'd got people caring.
I still watch it primarily because the pay per views are amazing and they have top class wrestling, despite my many complaints.
EDIT: I also absolutely agree with the bolded bit. Early on, the maxim seemed to be that AEW "make stars, they don't sign stars". Obviously they now have a long-established pattern of signing everyone in sight, but I also think they've done a poor job of creating the sort of stars who have the star power to carry the company (other than MJF). Wardlow was the one who looked most likely to attain that sort of star power but then every bit of that momentum was somehow squandered.