AEW has turned the differences between pro wrestling & sports entertainment into a long, drawn-out storyline. That doesn’t mean there isn’t substance.
Ricky Starks and MJF had a promo-off on the most recent episode of All Elite Wrestling‘s Dynamite, and they stole the show. Usually, a show-stealing performance happens during a mid-card match. On Wednesday night, however, Absolute and The Salt of the Earth put on a 10-minute segment that showcased AEW at its absolute best. Starks won the Dynamite Diamond Ring battle royal, leading to MJF storming the ring to ruin his big moment. What resulted was a back-and-forth that made Ricky look like a bona fide star for Tony Khan’s promotion.
Writing about the exchange of words in the most recent edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer noted that one key difference between WWE and AEW made the promos possible. “There were a ton of inside references in his promo that most wouldn’t get, but the delivery was great and that’s the key, and because people listened probably could figure out some of his thoughts were real or seemed real enough that it was convincing. [Starks] said he would take the responsibility of being world champion off his plate. Sometimes when there are bad promos people say AEW needs scriptwriters, and with no scriptwriters this is a sink or swim promotion. But with scriptwriters, you literally never get a promo of this caliber.“
AEW & WWE Both Have Methods That Work For Them
Meltzer is right on the money about how Starks and MJF couldn’t have had a similar promo battle if things were scripted. They are both talented speakers and can make the most out of the creative freedom because of it. Sometimes the exact opposite thing unfolds on AEW television, though, when it’s clear that a talent could have used a bit of direction with their words. Like all things, a good balance is better than existing at either of the scripted or unscripted extremes. Just as All Elite Wrestling can sometimes feel too loose, at times, WWE can come off as stuffy and overly scripted.
That feeling has started to fade for WWE since Triple H took over. Clearly, the wrestlers have talking points they need to get to, but most of Vince McMahon’s forbidden words seem unbanned. It’s led to some excellent mic work for the company lately. An August exchange between Kevin Owens and Drew McIntyre comes to mind. Both styles work for certain wrestlers, and both companies could learn a bit from each other when it comes to how strong promos are conducted and produced.
For Starks and MJF, in this instance, having the freedom to riff and feed off the crowd allowed them to put on a memorable segment. The two are set for a match at AEW‘s upcoming Winter Is Coming show, and it should be a banger. It remains to be seen whether this will be a long-term feud for the company. If their initial confrontation is any indication, there’s a lot of money to be made by turning it into one.
Source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter
