AEW should do more to promote Andrade versus Kenny Omega at Triplemania

There is a major wrestling match scheduled for this weekend. Triplemania XXIX will have the opportunity to feature the much-anticipated matchup between Kenny Omega and Andrade. The two men will battle for the AAA Mega Championship. It is a huge feud that has implications for AAA, even though both men are contracted with AEW. Fans should be excited to see what is going to happen in the ring, but in some ways, this is an example of some of the missteps that have occurred with the “Forbidden Door” being kicked in.

Omega’s run as AEW champion has been one of the most exciting stories in professional wrestling, but that was already expected. What fans and pundits did not expect was the shift that saw Omega take the title to Impact and become the man known as the “Belt Collector.” He is put on some stellar performances with the likes of Rich Swann, Sami Callihan, and even Laredo Kid at Triplemania XXVII in 2020.

Those were all great matches that fans should take the time to check out. But there is something that stands out about the partnership between AEW and these other promotions. None of the individuals that Omega was set to face in these big title matches appeared on AEW Dynamite on a consistent and impactful basis. Laredo Kid had two matches in AEW in 2021, months after his defeat to Omega but no appearances heading into their match.

Much of the traffic has been one way. The Good Brothers are frequently on AEW television in various segments. Names like Private Party and Frankie Kazarian have shown up on Impact, but where are the big names from Impact coming over to AEW? The women’s division has not been utilized at all during this run even though there’s massive opportunity with names like Deonna Purrazzo, Jordynne Grace, and others that could add some star power to AEW’s women’s division.

That brings us to the conversation around Andrade versus Omega. A full month before Andrade appeared in AEW, he was calling out Omega for the AAA Mega title. That match was booked and announced back in May, then the former NXT Champion joined AEW in June. With both Omega and Andrade on the roster, there has been extraordinarily little reference of this match that is just days away. Yes, there is a lot going on within the AEW scene, especially with news of potential signings to come, but this has to be seen as a missed opportunity for what is clearly going to be an exceptional contest.

Andrade and Omega are two of the best in the industry. Omega is on yet another career-defining run and this match is going to be a strong supporting argument for the idea that he deserves to be wrestler of the year for 2021. But to see it go off without any major mention on AEW Dynamite should raise eyebrows. In some ways, it creates an air of predictability around the match that could cause some to not want to go out of their way to see it. Then, what if Andrade is booked to win, would that title change not be referenced at all on AEW Dynamite as both men go in separate directions with other stories?

All Elite Wrestling has been an excellent addition to the wrestling industry, creating an excitement that has been missing for a long time. Kenny Omega’s run is a big part of that and this match against Andrade at Triplemania XXIX is going to exceptional. Hopefully, AEW leverages some time in the days prior to the big match to remind wrestling fans that it is going down this weekend.