Write It In The Ring

AEW’s Faces of the Revolution

AEW Revolution in 2024 marked a turning-of-the-corner for the company, main-evented by the retirement of the Icon, Sting. A match that will surely be remembered as perhaps one of the wildest retirement matches in the industry, it would be remiss not to look over how the rest of the AEW Revolution card set up what could be the future for the company. With a mix of new names coming in and established veterans finding new places in AEW, Revolution played host to the calm before the storm.

At AEW Revolution, Roderick Strong brought AEW gold to the Undisputed Kingdom by taking the International Championship off of the hands of a beaten and weary Orange Cassidy, which, coupled with Wardlow’s victory at the All-Star Scramble, firmly established the Undisputed Kingdom as a force on-screen. Samoa Joe defended his AEW World Championship against “Hangman” Adam Page and Swerve Strickland, cementing his spot as King and laying the foundation for Swerve’s chase for the title by submitting Adam Page. Eddie Kingston earned the respect of Bryan Danielson. Jay White reminded everyone during the pre-show just who the hell he is. Revolution set the stage for AEW to turn the corner toward “restoring the feeling” with the help of several names finding their way into AEW.

“I Am The Feeling”: AEW Welcomes The Assassin

In the months prior to AEW Revolution, much was made about the signing of the Aerial Assassin-turned-Commonwealth Kingpin Will Ospreay. With his NJPW contract expiring in February, Ospreay reached an agreement with AEW to sign with them immediately upon the end of his contract. Upon stepping foot in AEW for the first time as a fully-contracted AEW wrestler, Ospreay commanded the presence like a company ace, speaking from the heart about his place in AEW while showing his undying gratitude to NJPW, his previous wrestling home for nearly a decade. It wasn’t long, however, before Ospreay made his aspirations known.

Ospreay referenced a growing sentiment around AEW needing to “restore the feeling”, in and of itself a reference to the principles of being an alternative in the field of professional wrestling that AEW was founded upon. In recent history, AEW’s feeling had been said to be drifting more toward being just another promotion rather than a unique alternative to what was already out there. Ospreay referenced this by saying, “I am The Feeling”, positioning himself as the top guy the company should get behind into this new era, with a star-making confrontation with Konosuke Takeshita in his in-ring debut at Revolution further cementing his new self-appointed role within AEW’s hierarchy and setting up a dream match against Bryan Danielson.

“On A Whole Other Level”: AEW Beckons the Rainmaker

On the back of the news of Will Ospreay making his way to AEW, rumblings from NJPW gave way to reports that “The Rainmaker” Kazuchika Okada was also on his way out of the company, with reports citing disagreements with management. As Okada finished his dates with NJPW, it became clear that he would be following the same path as Will Ospreay and find himself at the doorstep of AEW. His friendship with the Young Bucks, two of the company’s EVPs, dating back to the days of Okada’s Young Lion excursion to TNA in 2010 seemed to be the strongest hint of Okada’s new landing spot as well as a precursor of what was to come.

In a shocking move, Okada would debut on the March 6th edition of AEW Dynamite as the Young Bucks were confronted by AEW Continental Crown Champion Eddie Kingston, In a move that continues to send ripples through the company, Kazuchika Okada would throw his hat in with the Young Bucks, laying out Kingston with a Rainmaker and setting up a match for the Continental Crown Championship two weeks later. The Young Bucks would also suspend “Hangman” Adam Page for assaulting a referee during AEW Revolution and fire Kenny Omega from the Elite, kicking him out for his inactivity caused by his diverticulitis diagnosis and replacing him with his greatest rival.

Kazuchika Okada showed that there would be no lengths he wouldn’t stoop to, taking a low-blow assist from the Young Bucks to pin Eddie Kingston in a six-man tag at AEW’s Big Business episode of Dynamite en route to showing that he was also the very same Rainmaker he always has been, defeating Kingston and claiming the AEW Continental Championship. Okada’s victory over Eddie Kingston shattered Kingston’s winning streak, splintering the Triple Crown he once held, and proved to the world that the Rainmaker was still, for all intents and purposes, on a whole other level.

“Even A Boss Can Get A Promotion”: AEW Signs the CEO

Around the same time as reports circulated around the free-agency status’ of Will Ospreay and Kazuchika Okada, “The CEO” Mercedes Moné fka WWE’s Sasha Banks would find her own name in the free agent talent pool. After a tumultuous walk-out from the WWE, Moné found herself debuting for NJPW at Wrestle Kingdom 17 on January 4th, 2023. Setting her sights on then-IWGP Woman’s Champion Kairi, Moné set out to show her worth as one of the brightest stars for women’s wrestling. Moné’s trip to Japan led to her proving herself with stellar showings alongside Stardom’s Kairi, AZM, Hazuki, and Mayu Iwatani before injury derailed her momentum in the finals of the inaugural NJPW Strong Women’s Championship tournament with AEW’s Willow Nightingale claiming the title as a result.

It was during her recovery from injury that Moné made her first unofficial appearance in AEW during the All In event at Wembley Stadium, seated in the crowd for the record-setting event. Speculation and murmurings came to the forefront of this appearance, making it clear that even when she wasn’t in the ring, the CEO continued to drive the conversation as the talk of the wrestling world. Months later, promotion for AEW’s Big Business episode of Dynamite at the TD Garden in Boston began with indications that Moné had made her way to AEW.

Promoting the event under the pretense of everyone knowing about the debut but never fully announcing it, the opening of the show saw Mercedes Moné in a wrestling ring for the first time since her injury in NJPW, speaking to the audience about her journey through wrestling and immediately putting a bullseye on the back of Willow Nightingale. Nightingale’s focus up to this point had been on the TBS Championship held by Julia Hart, but with Moné now stepping into AEW, it’s clear that Nightingale will have more opposition circling around her as she continues her march to the TBS Championship under the spotlight of the CEO.

Building A Dynasty: How The Pieces Fit With AEW’s Existing Roster

The likes of Will Ospreay, Kazuchika Okada, and Mercedes Moné finding their way into the mix of AEW finds itself timed perfectly with the rejuvenation of many members of the established roster. At AEW’s Big Business episode of Dynamite, Jay White defeated Darby Allin and finally separated Bullet Club Gold from the Acclaimed once again, re-establishing the Bang Bang Gang as a force to be reckoned with and asserting Jay White as a threat to anyone who would confront him.

“The Bastard” Pac would also make his long-awaited return, standing alongside Eddie Kingston and Penta el Zero M in their confrontation with the Elite. After Okada’s trouncing of Kingston, Pac stood at the top of the ramp, staring down the new AEW Continental Champion and setting the stage for a dream match between the former IWGP Heavyweight Champion of NJPW and the former Open the Dream Gate Champion of Dragon Gate. Immediately, audiences were reminded of the type of energy someone the caliber of Pac brings to the table, and by having him face-off with Kazuchika Okada, it brings a renewed focus to the AEW Continental Championship now that the Triple Crown has slipped from the head of the Mad King.

In speaking of kings, Samoa Joe continues his claim as the “King of AEW” as its World Heavyweight Champion, embroiled in a rivalry with Swerve Strickland, whose star continues to grow with each passing week. The suspension of Adam Page for assaulting the official in the madness induced by Strickland’s mind-games and Page’s own embittered pettiness now allows Strickland to singularly focus on the task at hand, the distractions to his goal of becoming AEW World Champion now neutralized with his eyes set on the prize on Samoa Joe’s shoulder.

Mercedes Moné’s addition to the women’s division adds her own wrinkle to the ongoing saga between the team of Kris Statlander and Willow Nightingale and the House of Black’s duo of Julia Hart and Skye Blue. With Moné now in the fold, Nightingale’s attention may find itself divided. In addition to Moné, Thunder Rosa, who has been a standard-bearer for AEW’s women’s division since the company’s inception, has recently found herself back in the hunt for the AEW Women’s Championship, her sights set on Toni Storm as “The Virtuosa” Deonna Purazzo looks to avenge her loss at the hands of the Timeless One.

How AEW Is Preventing The Mistakes Of The Past

In other wrestling promotions, the fear exists that signing names established elsewhere can lead to a diluting of what was once the company’s identity. It is something that has been observed in the past in varying degrees, with the comparison often made about TNA’s history in the early 2010s. Thus far, while AEW’s roster is full of names known elsewhere, their current positions have done more to bolster the company’s identity, acting as an addendum to what the company was from the start rather than an identity shift from its roots.

The addition of names like Will Ospreay and Kazuchika Okada alongside other big name signees such as Jay White and Samoa Joe works in tandem with AEW mainstays such as Darby Allin, Adam Page, and Swerve Strickland to gel together in helping to create a roster uniquely positioned to offer what has been touted as an “alternative” in the mainstream professional wrestling landscape in the United States. Mercedes Moné’s presence immediately brings a spotlight to the women’s division of AEW as well, with eyes now focused on the TBS Championship while Toni Storm continues the work that’s made her a must-see fixture at the top of the pack, pairing off wonderfully with Mariah May in building a storyline that’s fun while not undermining the rest of the women’s division.

With AEW Dynasty approaching, the company seems to be finding its footing once again with a stacked roster that understands the assignment now arguably more than ever. With speculation regarding the former AEW World Champion MJF’s injury, his removal from the AEW roster page, and the duration he may be gone, AEW’s roster is poised to take the company forward with new additions and an existing wealth of talent that stands as world class or, one could say, truly Elite. AEW hasn’t lost sight of its goal on the path to going all-in on its dynasty, and in signing new talent while equally elevating existing mainstays, AEW seems to be on its way to “restoring the feeling”.

~Fin