Video Package Placement

By Scott Keith on October 18, 2019

Hey Scott–

I've been critical of Darby Allin's deathmatch garbage bullshit in the past, but his match with LE CHAMPION last night was awesome. While I greatly appreciated it on an intellectual level (particularly the less horrific version of the 1999 Royal Rumble "hands behind the back" moment) I had a hard time getting emotionally invested for one glaring reason.

Earlier in the show, we got a slick promo video detailing Cody's desire to overthrow Jericho and become champion. I found the airing of that really perplexing. You just showed us an incredible segment all about building Cody v. Jericho on November 9th; There is now no way I'm going to buy that Darby Allin has a chance, no matter how great of an in-ring story they tell, because there is no way AEW airs that video package and then switches the title.

They've got three weeks of TV left before the Full Gear PPV. Would it have been that hard to wait until next week to start airing the Jericho/Cody stuff and not undercut any of the drama that the Jericho/Allin match was building so beautifully?

Don't get me wrong, when it comes to logical inconsistencies, AEW isn't even in the same Universe (if you weeeelll) as Vince's Monday and Friday clown shows, but it's my hope that these are the little wrinkles that get ironed out as Cody/Kahn/The Bucks become more experienced at producing TV that is meant to build towards a climax.

That, and Kenny's barbed-wire broom is STUPID. Yes, you're the Cleaner. We get it.

Strongly disagree. The whole drama of wrestling revolves around moments where you establish that someone can't possibly beat the champion for all the external factors listed, and then make the audience believe that, holy cow, this kid might actually pull the upset and destroy all their plans! And even if he doesn't actually win, you've done your job.

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