Think the MJF thing is a work. Been wrestling hurt, needs some time off.
For the first time since I started this thread, I have concerns about AEW's future, for a variety of reasons:
1. Sloppy booking from Tony Khan. When he puts his mind to it, like with the Continental Cup, he's still amazing. But too many storylines make no sense, plus it doesn't appear he's certain who he should build up. I really wish he'd give Brian, Kenny or Jericho booking authority of some of the shows.
2. Too many discards from WWE. AEW, meet end-times WCW. (BTW, Keith Lee sucks, a big fat guy who's always hurt.)
3. Unwillingness to build a strong women's division, despite having some real strong women's wrestlers.
4. There's gotta be some smoke on whether WWE is looking to sign with WBD. At best, it weakens AEW's negotiating position for new contracts. If WWE signs with WBD, where does AEW go?
Certainly there is reason for some strong enough concerns on their product (many valid criticisms as you lay out). Although some claims that they are in a dire situation (which I know you are not claiming at all) are largely social media or other media drama in my view.
Regarding #4, my feeling is that WBD was using the WWE deal more for leverage for the upcoming AEW deal. From what I remember WBD hearing is pretty cost cautious, and while WWE is getting huge ratings and is good brand to work with, its expensive programming with a questionable advertising return because its wrestling (per Fox anyway).
My feeling is that Tony Khan has been to trying to package a bunch of programming to WBD -- be it TV, PPV's. Tape Library, ROH -- I think this is WBD's attempt to put pressure on him to get a better price and to "de-bundle" what he wants to sell. Basically keep it to Dynamite, Collision, and perhaps to drop an hour of programming.
Some have speculated a much better TV deal ($ wise) will allow the AEW to become profitable, and if they don't they will be unprofitable and claim the situation is dire.
I think as you said there are concerns, but I think from a company operating viability there are lesser concerns.
1) Who knows how many losses (if any) Khan's family are allowing from this product... they can finance a lot of losses for a passion project.
2) Even if Papa Kahn tells Tony that AEW has to become profitable it seems like there are some very simple tasks to me as a finance guy involved in a number of corporate restructurings:
a) Easy to reduce talent costs. AEW has way too many wrestlers. My opinion is that cutting a lot of wrestlers will actually enhance characters and continuity. Look at the recent Mexican wrestlers - Vikingo, Kommander... they are all great but none of the characters are developed. Less is more in my view.
b) Less "toy" shopping. Go after guys like Ospreay. But you don't need to go after every big name that is no longer at a peak -- for example guys like Ibuhsi that are past their prime.. or much lower tier examples like Ziggler, Benjamin, Mustafi Ali. Let the roster size slowly dwindle this way, while saving costs
3) No large buildings unless big events. The cost savings here are easy to explain.
4) Improve merchandising revenue... I have always heard they have done they have done a pretty bad job with this... don't want to make this an attack on Young Bucks, but I believe this was one of their wives jobs to head, which was ridiculous.
Anyway seems to me they have a path to profitability, with some cost changes that aren't really going to hurt the product and might make product booking easier.
In terms of the on-air product, I also liked the Continenteal Tournament. I am nowhere near a hardcore AEW watcher, but this gave some meaning to matches -- something that is often lacking in my view.
Not sure if AEW is every really going to grow that much... but they do have a very loyal core of fans that should hang for a while.
