A Quick Fix: 3 Changes to Make with AEW Programming
I like to keep things as positive as possible.
I like WWE.
I like AEW.
- Mr. Money in the Bank… Finn Balor! - November 28, 2023
- A Quick Fix: 3 Changes to Make with AEW Programming - November 4, 2023
- And The DEVIL is….. - November 2, 2023
Before we get into the swing of things, allow this to be my disclaimer for the reader. This is all opinion based on the views of yours truly through the lens of my own perspective. I’m a fan first at the end of the day and that doesn’t necessarily make me qualified to tell others how to fix problems that might not even exist in the first place. I also know that these changes don’t happen unless the executives at Warner are on the same page, which is much easier said than done.
So, now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, let the show begin!
1. Get Rid of Collision
When Collision debuted, it was great. Another program that showcased a different side of what AEW had to offer. A show that was tailor-made for the critics and gave them exactly what they had been saying they wanted to see from day one. It was different but still felt like an AEW show. Fast forward to more recently though and it has transformed into a Dynamite 2.0-esque show and that’s where I think the problems begin.
This is not to say Dynamite is bad, because it’s not. I watch it every single week. But what seems to have happened over the course of the last month or so is creative and booking being stretched too thin. Dynamite and Collision both offer up some great stuff on a weekly basis but the parts that aren’t great are nothing to bat an eye at. By eliminating Collision, you can take the great that you had from that show, throw it in a pot with the great content on Wednesday nights, and cook ’em all on one show again, like the good ol’ days. Make Dynamite great again by eliminating the fluff and loading Wednesday nights up to the brim to get those crowds going crazy for the entirety of the show once again. Bring back that must-see feeling that has been lost.
2. Move Rampage
Unlike others, I happen to like Rampage for the most part. It gives a lot of talent a chance to get some television time that they wouldn’t normally get. The issue I have though, along with plenty of others, is the time slot. Late Friday night, at the end of the work week after another wrestling show is less than desirable. I sometimes find myself struggling to get through the shows, not because of lack of quality but more so due to exhaustion from the week. On the nights I can’t stay up or am not home to watch it, I end up watching it anyway. When do I watch it? In the very timeslot that I suggest moving it to…
Saturday mornings.
I know what you’re thinking. “You just got rid of Collision on Saturdays! Why are you moving Rampage to Saturdays? You make no sense!” Well, I happen to think Saturday mornings are not only a better option but a safer one as well. We have already seen that Collision suffers from the competition of WWE PLEs and college football. Not to mention it being a popular night for getting out of the house with friends and family.
Having an early morning show that takes place before any of the competitions gives them the best opportunity to be seen by the largest audience possible by eliminating choice. You wake up, have some breakfast with the kiddos, and watch some ‘rasslin to kickstart your day. This is a world that I wish to live in.
One more positive to this and maybe the most important of all? Fans from overseas get to watch a live product at a very reasonable time. And if you want to run a yearly show over there, why not help them out a bit and give them a show that fits into their schedule?
3. Combining Ideas
What I like the most about Rampage is that it highlights the “lower card” talent.
What I like most about Collision is how it structured the shows and gave us more variety.
Combining those two ideas creates a show that I think is perfect for a Saturday morning show. Make it fun. Make it story-driven from beginning to end. Let talent flourish.
It’s not even a crazy request. Once upon a time, Rampage was structuring their shows similar to this anyway and that’s when it was at its best. The days when Ricky Starks and Will Hobbs were being built up. They ran the show and were the highlight of the night for weeks and showed that they were more than capable of being stars. And it worked!
Since those two have “graduated” from Friday nights, we have seen some other programs follow that formula and deliver. Julia Hart and Anna Jay is another one that comes to mind. They told their story over the course of several weeks and had a payoff match that was worthy of a slot on pay-per-view.
There are plenty of talents in AEW that get next to no time on TV. There are others that deserve more time. This is what Rampage should continue to be but on a bigger scale. Make it live and add 30 minutes to the show. Or at least tape it on Friday nights to scale back on spoilers as much as possible. Let Abadon build herself up there instead of giving her 2 matches a year during Halloween weekend. Give Danhausen some time to actually develop a better connection with the audience. Build the show around the TBS Champion and make her feel like a big deal. Hell, you can even cycle your Ring of Honor champions on there on a week-to-week basis as well to make it a complete variety show. Make it fun!
So once again, there you have it. If by some luck of the draw I was given the power to make some changes to AEW TV, that’s where I’d start. Don’t change the matches. Don’t stop pushing the people that brought you to the dance. Just dial it back a bit because as I always say, less is more. Let me know what you think.
About Author
