AEW Just Launched A Modern Version Of The nWo

If there’s one main criticism of AEW, it’s that Tony Khan doesn’t put enough energy into compelling storylines. That changed at the end of the April 24 Dynamite. It was there that Jack Perry made his long awaited return promo, calling out Tony Khan to bury the hatchet and give him a hug. He then punched his boss in the stomach, leading to The Elite coming to the ring, where they proceeded to lay out the AEW President. The act was so shocking that even Shahid Khan came out to check on the health of his son. It’s a big move for AEW, one very reminiscent of WCW’s nWo angle. If they do it right, it could be what gives the company new life.

Jack Perry & The Elite Attacked Tony Khan To End Dynamite

The Young Bucks & Jack Perry Were Involved In CM Punk Drama

• CM Punk and The Elite got into a fight after All Out.
• CM Punk and Jack Perry had a backstage brawl at All In.
• The Young Bucks showed the All In footage on Dynamite.

AEW started off hot when it debuted in 2019. They only got bigger in 2021 when CM Punk joined them. He had a phenomenal feud with MJF and became AEW World Champion, but then it all fell apart. We know what happened next, with Punk and The Elite getting into a backstage fight at All Out. It led to multiple suspensions, and with Punk suffering an injury the same night, it put him out of action for months. When Punk returned, it wasn’t quite the same anymore, but the drama still was, as just a few months later he got into another backstage fight, this time with Jack Perry at All In. It resulted in Punk being fired and Jack Perry suspended, then working in NJPW.

Wheels began to turn a few weeks ago when CM Punk decided to talk about what happened with Jack Perry on MMA Hour With Ariel Helwani. AEW responded by having The Young Bucks show the All In backstage fight footage on the following Dynamite. They were angry, blaming the drama for their loss to FTR that night. Perry has been angry too, calling himself the Scapegoat in New Japan. At Dynasty, Jack Perry made his return, helping the Young Bucks beat FTR to become the new AEW Tag Team Champions. On Dynamite, he sought to make peace with Tony Khan, telling him, “The only thing I’ve ever wanted is what’s best for AEW.” After giving his boss a hug, he dropped him with a punch. The Elite came out and attacked the boss as well, with The Young Bucks giving Khan a Meltzer Driver. It’s the shocking angle AEW desperately needed. On this night, they became more than just a wrestling show. Dare we say, they tapped into sports entertainment.

Related

AEW Showing The CM Punk All In 2023 Brawl Will Make Or Break The Company

After CM Punk made comments about AEW and his fight with Jack Perry, Tony Khan is going to show footage of the All In brawl on Dynamite.

AEW Dynamite’s Ending Reminded Many Of WCW’s nWo

The nWo Angle Turned WCW Around

• WCW was struggling in 1996.
• Hulk Hogan turned heel and created the nWo with The Outsiders.
• The nWo ruled WCW as wrestling’s greatest storyline.

Just as AEW has been struggling in 2024, so was WCW in 1996, with fans sick of the babyface Hulkster version of Hulk Hogan. Then came the biggest heel turn of all time when, at Bash at the Beach, Hogan joined forces with the invading Kevin Nash and Scott Hall, forming the nWo. Hogan explained his actions, saying “Billionaire Ted”, his nickname for Ted Turner, promised him movies and great matches, but he was bored. He was sick of Turner and Eric Bischoff, so he joined The Outsiders to take over WCW.

What followed was wrestling’s biggest angle in history. For the next year and a half, no one could destroy the nWo, which only grew in ranks. WCW wrestlers tried to form a cohesive unit to battle them, but to no avail. It took the Crow version of Sting, watching from the rafters, to finally be the one to take Hogan down. While the angle went on too long, it changed wrestling forever.

Related

How WCW Almost Made Sting The Leader Of The nWo

WCW history would have been a lot different if it was it was Sting, rather than “Hollywood” Hulk Hogan who led the nWo.

AEW Has Created a Fun Angle To Bring Back Fans

AEW Has Been Struggling With Ratings & Attendance

• The Elite gave their reasons for attacking Tony Khan.
• How will Kenny Omega and Adam page respond to their former friends?
• AEW can create interesting drama with what Swerve Strickland, MJF, Jon Moxley, and Bryan Danielson do.

Just as the formation of the nWo did, this one AEW angle can change everything with its limitless possibilities. Now, casual fans have a reason to tune in next week, wanting to see what happens next. How will Tony Khan respond? What will The Elite do next? Following Dynamite, there was a short video where they gave the reasons for their actions, with Jack Perry saying Tony Khan took eight months of his career, and The Young Bucks wanting to take AEW back to where it was supposed to be. It’s an argument that makes sense. If WCW had The Outsiders, AEW has insiders who are ready to shake things up.

Just like WCW had its wrestlers going against the nWo, AEW can succeed by having storylines of AEW talent fighting against The Elite, and some struggling over which side to take. Kenny Omega is advertised to return to Dynamite next week. While he’s not ready to wrestle again yet, there can be built in months of drama as he decides whether to join his friends or fight against them. The same can be said of “Hangman” Adam Page. AEW also has the opportunity to create a new Sting like character who takes justice into his own hands. That could be a fun role for MJF when he returns from injury. And what will AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland, Jon Moxley, and Bryan Danielson do? What matters most is what happens next. If AEW does it right, and doesn’t drop the ball like they did with the Devil angle, then it can give the company second life after its recent downturn in ratings and live attendance. This could be what we all talk about years from now as the moment AEW began a new era.