AEW: Five bold predictions for 2020
All Elite Wrestling celebrates its first year in existence on Jan. 1 as they continue to make shock waves across the world of professional wrestling.
With an inaugural year highlighted by surprise arrivals, successful pay-per-views, and a national television deal, AEW will be looking to continue their positive momentum heading into the New Year.
How does an upstart league continue to break new ground while providing professional wrestling fans with sprinkles of nostalgia on a weekly basis? Especially with the likes of New Japan, the National Wrestling Alliance, and WWE–especially NXT–chomping at the bit.
The Elite and Tony Khan have their work cut out for them in order to compete for their share of the market. While there’s room for every promotion to be watched and adulated, let’s not forgot why we call it the business in the first place.
These federations don’t solely exist for your entertainment, regardless of what Vincent K. McMahon says. In the end, everyone wants to run a profitable outfit.
With every passing month, AEW will continue to feel the pressure of NXT on Wednesdays, the continuation of NJPW’s penetration of the American market, and the edgy content being produced at IMPACT wrestling.
I’ve already made my list of five All Elite stars who I believe are poised for a breakout year in 2020 and felt it necessary to draft five of my boldest AEW predictions for the start of the new decade.
5. More than four pay-per-views by the end of the year
While the recent ratings dip can be attributed to the Holidays or tremendous booking by NXT officials in the month of December, I firmly believe AEW’s suffering from the dust settling after ‘Full Gear’.
Before you have me drawn and quartered, I am well aware of All Elite Wrestling’s focus on long-term storytelling. I’m also well aware of the AEW’s brilliant use of social media and YouTube as storytelling platforms.
With information moving at a rapid pace and droves of hardcore fans eating up any content the All Elite brass produces, it seems a little counterintuitive to limit themselves to four pay-par-views a year. Especially considering the high quality events they’ve been able to put on without the help of a national television deal.
Look, I’m not saying they’ll be doing monthly pay-per-views like WWE by the time the year is done but I can definitely see them going from four to six events heading into 2021.