After Four Years, Here’s Why AEW’s PPV Schedule Needs To Change
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AEW’s PPV schedule looked to be perfect for them. Having their very own “Big Four” of Revolution, Double or Nothing, All Out, and Full Gear spread out across the year gave each show time to breathe. Initially, AEW’s PPV’s were impressive from all fronts, offering up some of the very best shows in all professional wrestling history, and that is no overstatement. 2022 has seen a small dip in quality though, and this is down to a variety of reasons. There is no denying that the shows still have a lot of quality, but it is high time that AEW makes a change to their PPV calendar.
AEW’s Storytelling No Longer Suits Their PPV Schedule
One thing which AEW has impressed with over the last three years is long-term storytelling. Stories such as Adam Page vs Kenny Omega and MJF vs Wardlow were both very strong, for example. With AEW spreading out their PPVs over the year, it allows longer-term storylines to be built up, with there being no big shows getting in the way for several months. However, AEW hasn’t really produced an enthralling long-term story for quite a while, with the last two PPVs feeling as though they’ve been built up just a few weeks before the event.
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This has meant for some dead time in between PPVs on occasion, with AEW not progressing angles to ensure they reach the following checkpoint of whatever the next PPV is. This means that wrestlers are left off TV, or else get very short interview segments as ways of extending a storyline. Building up shows in the short-term isn’t a terrible thing, with WWE doing so for the last few decades, but it means that the excitement level of weekly TV needs to improve, and that would benefit from having a few more PPVs on the schedule. AEW would be able to then not feel bad about booking some bigger matches, instead of saving their marquee bouts for PPVs.
Their lack of “hotshot” booking and “not rushing” into things has seen the likes of CM Punk not step into the ring with Bryan Danielson, Kenny Omega, Malakai Black, Miro, Jungle Boy, and countless others, with him now probably leaving the company without those big matches. The industry is very unpredictable, and AEW has suffered at times from waiting too long to pull the trigger. With more PPVs, Tony Khan may have more inclination to book bigger matches more often, avoiding any missed opportunities.
There Are Not Enough PPVs And Spots For Some AEW Wrestlers
In addition to that, AEW’s roster must come into the equation. Much has been said about how AEW’s roster is continuously growing, with the company trying to get ahold of as many top talent free agents as possible. Unfortunately, this has led to many wrestlers not finding spots on cards, and even going missing for weeks and months on end with no plans for them. When it comes to their PPVs, the huge roster can get in the way.
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Tony Khan tries to fit as many wrestlers as possible on the card, which can sometimes be at the detriment of better storyline focus. The cards of AEW’s PPVs have steadily gotten much more full, longer, and even then, there isn’t enough room for everyone. AEW’s most recent PPV, Full Gear, had 13 matches including the pre-show, but still couldn’t find a place for FTR, Dark Order, Bandido, House of Black, Daniel Garcia, Athena, Hook, Serena Deeb, Scorpio Sky, and many more. If AEW had more PPVs, they would have more opportunity to feature other names on shows, with it not feeling as bad when someone misses out.
AEW’s PPVs Are Too Long
AEW’s PPVs are around four hours on average, including an extra hour for the countdown and Buy-In. This has led to some issues when it comes to fan engagement. There are noticeable dips in interest on AEW’s PPVs, with the crowds not as hot due to getting burned out, and needing to build themselves back up. Although the matches have been good, some main events such as CM Punk vs Adam Page and MJF vs Jon Moxley weren’t quite as red hot as many might expect.
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AEW is becoming too prominent now to risk their PPVs failing, so allowing their big shows to not feel rushed, overfilled, or lackluster, could be bad for business. Therefore, adding a few more shows into the calendar should happen. The addition of the Forbidden Door show in 2022 was a welcome one, but perhaps an extra two PPVs would be the perfect amount for the company to fix some of the problems it faces in terms of roster morale and tired audiences.
