AEW continues to go above & beyond with surprises

Tony Khan set the tone for AEW Dynamite with his tweet after Friday’s edition of AEW Rampage. He promised a big signing and a Forbidden Door surprise on the next episode of AEW Dynamite. The promotion delivered big, and they did so in a way that goes above what was promised and rejuvenates momentum, at least for the immediate future.

The speculation picked up heading into Wednesday’s show. Jay White and Keith Lee were the top two names floating around Wrestling Twitter, but few predicted that both would appear. And they did so back-to-back, first with White helping out former Bullet Club members, then Lee squashing Isiah Kassidy to book his spot in the ladder match at AEW Revolution.

This is yet another example of AEW delivering on a surprise, which wasn’t really a surprise. AEW’s fanbase is a hardcore group that follows media personalities and journalists that uncover information about potential signings on a daily basis. Lee’s emergence was foreseen, but that didn’t make it any less of a moment. Same for White, who has consistently turned up on IMPACT Wrestling, so making the eventual jump to AEW was in the cards.

But that didn’t make either one of these debuts any less special. In fact, the anticipation made these moments even more impactful, raising the excitement about what is next for both individuals and who AEW could bring in next. That spark is one of many reasons why AEW continues to build momentum, even while other promotions are struggling to do so. When coupled with the right amount of predictability, therefore it’s important to deliver on surprises in professional wrestling. It’s a space where AEW continues to thrive.

The next piece of the equation is the answer to the question, “what’s next?” In some ways, AEW has answered well, but fans wanted more in others. Lee and White are two big names that come with immediate value. There’s no telling the extent of White’s involvement with AEW, but with Lee as a signed talent, AEW cannot botch this opportunity like his prior employer. Fans want o to see him elevated to the highest level and treated like a main event talent, anything less than that would bring criticism.

But that is in the future. Right now, AEW can bask in the fact that the promotion has delivered on another big night, cashing in on promises made, while further convincing fans that the company will continue to deliver in these big moments.