How AEW Should Channel WWE’s Attitude Era To Get Its Mojo Back

Highlights

AEW needs more star power to regain its excitement and buzz, as it currently only has one major star, MJF, compared to the star-studded roster of the Attitude Era in WWE.
AEW's main event scene and world title picture have grown stale, with underwhelming challengers and infrequent title matches. The constant desire to win the big one, like in the Attitude Era, would elevate everyone involved.
AEW should take more risks and introduce crazier segments, brawls, and even authority figures to add excitement and buzz to the product, following WWE's success during the Attitude Era. They need to keep up with WWE's improvements under Triple H's creative management.

AEW has received a lot of criticism over the last year, with a product that many have deemed as more stale than it has been before. There is certainly less excitement and buzz around the company compared to its previous years, and this is reflected in both TV ratings and attendances in venues, which has decreased quite a bit. There is an argument to be made that AEW is still the best weekly professional wrestling show overall, but it is true that a spark is missing, and the company feels like it is on somewhat of a decline, with several factors adding to this. What can the company do to change things around?

WWE’s Attitude Era Was Full Of Stars

AEW Needs More Stars

WWE’s Roster Had Names Like Steve Austin, The Rock, And The Undertaker
AEW Is Only Boasting One Mega-Star Right Now: MJF

When AEW first began, it felt like something new and fresh was going to take professional wrestling by storm - and that is exactly what happened. The first few years saw a lot of gang warfare, wild brawls and matches, and many wrestlers who felt like absolute stars such as Kenny Omega, Chris Jericho, Jon Moxley, MJF, Cody Rhodes, Young Bucks, and more. When you fast-forward to today, the likes of Moxley, Omega, and Jericho have lost a lot of steam, and with CM Punk no longer in the picture, the only major “star” in AEW right now feels like MJF. If you compare this to WWE’s Attitude Era, there is a stark difference.

The Attitude Era was a time in WWE with more star power than ever, and that is due to so many distinct names and characters getting time, being featured in big feuds and matches, and being presented larger than life. AEW does not do this, and so often are big names missing from shows with the oyster being on somewhat of a conveyor belt due to how many individuals are employed. AEW needs to focus on building stars because they are who fans tune in for and that is who sells tickets. In the Attitude Era, it wasn’t just the WWE brand that sold, but it was the likes of Steve Austin, The Rock, The Undertaker, Mick Foley, Triple H, and more than the fans were willing to pay to see. One big reason for their strong presentation was the constant desire to win the big one - the AEW World Championship. The title itself needs to take a page out of the Attitude Era book.

AEW’s Main Event Scene Needs To Be Exciting

WWE’s Attitude Era Main Event Scene Was Iconic

The Main Event And World Title Picture In AEW Has Grown Slow And Stale
WWE’s Attitude Era Saw Big Stars Constantly Challenging For The WWE Championship

Whilst hot-potatoing the AEW World Championship would be a mistake, the belt and AEW in general has suffered at times due to underwhelming challengers. Tony Khan is very conscious of his bigger stars losing, but this means that many top names go for months or even years without even trying to win the AEW World Title. The belt therefore feels less important, and the main event scene can sometimes feel like a glorified midcard. If big names were constantly going at each other for the title and in the main event, it would elevate everyone involved. There is no reason really as to why it took nearly a year for Kenny Omega to step up to battle MJF for instance.

Of course, there is logic behind AEW’s booking in terms of not letting wrestlers lose, but as was commonplace in the Attitude Era, a lot of losses didn’t affect momentum or standing due to how well stars were presented. The main event scene needs to be busier and more chaotic, like the Attitude Era, shows need more cliffhangers, and all-star main events should take place. It could be argued that AEW shouldn’t want to “copy” WWE and should remain as an alternative, but there is a balance to reach for sure. WWE are where they are for a reason, so taking influence where necessary shouldn’t be frowned upon.

Tony Khan Needs To Take Risks With AEW

Vince McMahon Was Forced To Take Risks During The Monday Night Wars

AEW Has A Lot Of Its Own Positives, But They Should Take Some Influence From WWE
Triple H Has Improved WWE Over The Last Year, And AEW Needs To Keep Up

AEW needs to take more risks, as WWE did during the Attitude Era. Crazier segments with a lot of creativity, brawls around arenas and in public, and even introducing authority figures could help to add some sort of excitement and buzz to AEW that it is so sorely missing right now.

The focus should of course remain on the in-ring quality of AEW, which is its strongest suit, but as has been the case this year, fans need more than that to stick with the product, especially with WWE improving under the creative management of Triple H. AEW needs to do something to change and combat WWE’s improvements to keep up and continue providing a viable alternative.