More on AEW's roster split, what happened
Added 2023-06-19 00:24:11 +0000 UTCAEW has gone back and forth about the potential of a roster split, with Tony Khan saying “not as of now” in recent interviews. We’ve since learned more about it.
As far back as a month ago, there were preparations and details sent out in All Elite Wrestling indicating that there would be two distinct rosters for Collision and Dynamite. However, there were special exceptions to be made, especially for champions.
The move at the time was met with mixed reactions internally. There were several wrestlers who weren’t happy they’d be missing out on signings and independent bookings, which is something AEW has long looked at as a luxury, as AEW is the first priority on all of their contracted talents. However, there were some that were happy about the move as an effort to minimize the drama and backstage squabbles we’ve heard about over the last several years in AEW.
Originally planned for a hard split, some on the roster were then told it’d be a softer split, before being told there would be some natural sharing between the rosters. WBD sources we spoke to said that they preferred no split, but under the right circumstances, anything could work.
We’re told that the “transfer portal” trademark was supposed to be in relation to the brand spit, but that they’ve tabled the idea for the time being.
Comments
As someone who has tickets to Dynamite next month, good haha
Chris Podymaitis
2023-06-20 15:06:26 +0000 UTCReally? I fly more then twice every week (so at least 4 times round trip). Its not ideal but definitely not a horrible travel schedule
Troy A Palek
2023-06-19 17:50:12 +0000 UTCWould be good if they used this to send/receive talent to NJPW for a while like a trade.
slick
2023-06-19 17:39:08 +0000 UTCThe problem with admitting to a hard split is that it ties their hands somewhat. Without labling the split as anything, it gives them more flexibility to do whatever they want and adapt as needed.
e d
2023-06-19 04:24:55 +0000 UTCThey don’t work in WWE because Vince can’t allow a show to go by without changing things up to and including during the show. That’s a WWE problem. TK has shown he will stick with a storyline for the most part. I think he absolutely could do it and it’s not like they need to do a draft, they could have certain main even talents and a couple good midcarders that will always be on one show or the other and allow the rest to “freelance” I don’t think it’s a bad idea to at least make 5-10 guys stick on one show no matter what
Talk About Your Psalms Talk About John 3 16 Femboy 3 16 Says I Just Licked Your Ass
2023-06-19 01:47:11 +0000 UTCHe mentioned he will feature many talents on one or the other shows. Brand splits never work how many times has WWE introduced them and then eventually ditch them when flexibility issues arise? They never happened until WWE bought WCW. Then they did it to artificially create competition internally.
slick
2023-06-19 01:42:36 +0000 UTCGood... Brand splits suck. WWE seems to make them a bigger deal when they have to sell new tv contracts and then starts to stop caring.
slick
2023-06-19 01:39:18 +0000 UTCI think outside of the title holders, the roster SHOULD be split. It’ll make Tony book different wrestlers weekly rather than rely on the same dudes over and over again. I’m so sick of seeing Jericho weekly. Every damn week for 4 years is just too fucking much. He’s absolutely stale
Talk About Your Psalms Talk About John 3 16 Femboy 3 16 Says I Just Licked Your Ass
2023-06-19 01:37:24 +0000 UTCI'd imagine a talent wouldn't work both shows in one week for the most part.
Doogie
2023-06-19 01:18:47 +0000 UTCSomeone made the comment that if a talent is working both Dynamite and Collision, they would have a horrible travel schedule. Far worse than wwe.
Super Dave Osborne
2023-06-19 01:13:08 +0000 UTCAll this talk of Brand Splits, the new stage sets, the mass amount of In House Champions on the shows. It's taking away everything that was different and unique about AEW and making it look more like a WWE product. If they split the shows, it's going to look a lot like WWE over the last year. 2 separate shows with separate rosters with some occasional cross over. One main World Champion that travels between the 2 and a smaller brand(ROH) in a studio arena with its own set guys & Champions. To be an actual alternative, AEW has to be different. Other wise it's going to be looked at as a well funded knock off of WWE.
Jonathan Cooney
2023-06-19 00:42:33 +0000 UTCThank goodness it's not a thing. Transfer Portal gives me bad Wildcard Rule vibes.
Shmingy Dingy
2023-06-19 00:34:37 +0000 UTCHopefully they never have a brand split
Tucker
2023-06-19 00:34:25 +0000 UTC
