AEW has an incredible roster, some of the best in-ring performers in the world, and a passionate fanbase. But if the company wants to continue growing, there are opportunities to improve its presentation, develop its talent, and make the overall experience even better for its audience.
There is no question that All Elite Wrestling has changed the professional wrestling landscape.
Since its arrival, AEW has given wrestling fans another major alternative, created opportunities for performers who might otherwise have been overlooked, delivered memorable matches, and built a roster featuring some of the most talented athletes in the business.
As someone who genuinely enjoys AEW and wants to see the company continue to succeed, I believe there is plenty to be excited about.
But loving a wrestling promotion doesn’t mean believing everything it does is perfect.
In fact, sometimes the biggest supporters are the ones willing to have honest conversations about what could be better.
AEW has the talent. It has the television platforms. It has the passionate fanbase. Now it’s about continuing to build on that foundation, finding new viewers, and making every aspect of the product feel as important as the wrestling itself.
Here are 14 things I would personally love to see AEW implement as it continues moving forward.
1. Give Ian Riccaboni a Bigger Role on Commentary
Ian Riccaboni is one of the most underrated commentators in professional wrestling.
His enthusiasm, knowledge of the business, ability to tell stories, and understanding of the history of wrestling make him an excellent voice for the product.
I would love to see Ian take on a more prominent role on AEW television, potentially replacing Tony Schiavone on one of the main commentary teams.
This isn’t necessarily a knock on Schiavone, who has been part of some memorable moments throughout his career. However, AEW has an opportunity to give Riccaboni a bigger platform and allow his strengths to shine on a weekly basis.
Commentary is an important part of establishing the identity of a wrestling show. The right voices can make a good match feel great and an important moment feel unforgettable.
Riccaboni deserves that opportunity.
2. Reduce the Number of Pay-Per-Views
One of AEW’s greatest strengths is its ability to deliver major wrestling events.
However, sometimes less really is more.
I would like to see AEW eliminate one or two pay-per-view events annually and allow the remaining shows more room to breathe.
When major events happen too frequently, it can become increasingly difficult to make every card feel special. Fans need time to anticipate events, invest in rivalries, and become emotionally connected to the matches.
Reducing the schedule could also give AEW more opportunities to develop meaningful television storylines instead of rushing toward the next major event.
Every pay-per-view should feel like something fans absolutely cannot afford to miss.
3. Reward the Markets That Support AEW
AEW has developed some incredibly passionate fanbases in certain markets.
I would love to see the company make a more concerted effort to return to cities that consistently deliver strong attendance and incredible atmospheres.
There is something special about an audience that understands the product, gets behind its favorite performers, and makes every entrance and major moment feel bigger.
Those markets help create the atmosphere that AEW wants to showcase on television.
Rewarding those fans with more events makes business sense, builds loyalty, and gives the company an opportunity to continue developing its strongest markets.
Of course, AEW should continue expanding into new territories, but there is nothing wrong with rewarding the people who have supported the company from the beginning.
4. Feature Two or Three Women’s Matches Per Show
This is one of the biggest opportunities I see for AEW.
The women’s division has talent, personalities, and performers capable of delivering outstanding matches. Yet I would love to see that division receive more consistent television time.
My preference would be to feature two or three women’s matches per show, with meaningful storylines and character development accompanying those opportunities.
It isn’t simply about adding matches to fill time.
It’s about investing in the division.
Give the women compelling rivalries. Allow their characters to develop. Give emerging performers opportunities to establish themselves. Build multiple storylines that don’t revolve exclusively around the championship.
AEW has the opportunity to make its women’s division an even bigger attraction.
But that requires consistent investment and television exposure.
5. Establish an On-Site Training Facility in Jacksonville
One of the smartest long-term investments AEW could make would be establishing a dedicated training facility in Jacksonville.
The company has an opportunity to develop its own pipeline of future stars while providing existing performers with additional resources to improve their craft.
A training facility could serve several purposes:
- Developing young wrestlers and preparing them for television.
- Providing additional in-ring training for established performers.
- Creating opportunities for unsigned independent wrestlers.
- Helping develop future referees, producers, and backstage personnel.
- Creating a structured developmental environment.
AEW has an opportunity to build something that benefits the company for years.
Rather than constantly searching outside the organization for the next generation of stars, why not invest in developing some of those performers internally?
6. Make Blood & Guts a Major Pay-Per-View Attraction
Blood & Guts has the potential to become one of AEW’s signature attractions.
The match itself is designed around violence, rivalries, personal grudges, and emotional storytelling. It feels different from almost anything else in professional wrestling.
So why not give it an even bigger platform?
I would love to see AEW turn Blood & Guts into its own major pay-per-view event or make it the centerpiece of a special annual presentation.
Imagine an entire promotional campaign built around the concept.
The rivalries would have months to develop. The participants would have something meaningful at stake. The event would have its own identity.
Blood & Guts shouldn’t feel like just another match added to an already crowded card.
It should feel like an event.
7. Put the AEW World Championship on Kyle Fletcher
Kyle Fletcher is someone I believe has the potential to become one of AEW’s biggest stars.
He has the athletic ability, confidence, intensity, and in-ring talent to carry a major championship.
More importantly, he has the opportunity to represent the next generation of AEW main-event performers.
AEW has done a tremendous job bringing established names into the company, but continuing to elevate younger talent is equally important.
At some point, every major wrestling promotion needs to identify the performers who will lead the company into its next chapter.
I would love to see Fletcher become one of those faces.
Putting the AEW World Championship on him would send a message that the company believes in its future and is willing to invest in developing its next generation of main-event talent.
8. Move Away From Eliminator Matches
This might be one of my more traditional wrestling preferences.
I would like to see AEW move away from relying so heavily on Eliminator matches as a way of establishing championship opportunities.
The concept can work, but sometimes it creates confusion.
If a wrestler defeats a champion in a non-title match, shouldn’t that victory mean something substantial? And if a wrestler wins an Eliminator match, what exactly has been established?
I would rather see championship opportunities earned through clear rankings, meaningful rivalries, tournament victories, and decisive accomplishments.
Give fans a straightforward understanding of why someone deserves a title opportunity.
Championship matches should feel earned, and the road to getting there should be part of the story.
9. Give Bryan Danielson a Major Leadership Role in Ring of Honor
This is something I would absolutely love to see.
Bryan Danielson is one of the most knowledgeable and respected professional wrestlers of his generation.
His understanding of the business, appreciation for wrestling history, and passion for developing talent make him an ideal candidate for a major leadership position within Ring of Honor.
Imagine giving Danielson a meaningful role in helping guide the brand.
He could help identify emerging talent, work with younger performers, contribute to creative direction, and establish a clearer identity for ROH.
Ring of Honor has a tremendous legacy. It has historically been a place where performers developed their skills before moving on to bigger opportunities.
That identity should be embraced.
I would love to see ROH become a destination where young wrestlers can develop, established performers can reinvent themselves, and future AEW stars can establish their names.
Having someone like Danielson involved in that process could be incredibly valuable.
10. Do a Better Job Marketing AEW to Casual Fans
This might be the most important item on my list.
AEW has an incredible roster, exciting matches, established stars, and plenty of compelling personalities.
But how many people outside the existing wrestling audience know about it?
There is a difference between promoting a wrestling show to wrestling fans and marketing a television product to the general public.
AEW needs to continue finding creative ways to reach casual viewers and people who may not currently watch professional wrestling.
That means stronger mainstream advertising, more visibility outside wrestling media, creative promotional campaigns, and greater emphasis on telling people why they should watch.
Don’t just advertise a match.
Sell the rivalry.
Don’t just promote a championship.
Explain why winning that championship matters.
Showcase the personalities, the stakes, and the moments that make professional wrestling entertaining.
AEW has plenty of material to work with. The challenge is making sure people know it exists and giving them a reason to tune in.
The goal shouldn’t simply be keeping existing fans happy. It should be bringing new fans into the fold.
11. Improve Merchandise Availability at Live Events
When fans spend their hard-earned money to attend an AEW event, they should have a better opportunity to purchase merchandise representing their favorite performers.
Merchandise is an important part of the live-event experience.
Fans want shirts, hoodies, hats, and exclusive event merchandise. They want to represent their favorite wrestlers and take home something memorable from the experience.
AEW should continue improving its merchandise operation at live events.
That includes:
- A wider selection of wrestler merchandise.
- More variety in shirt and hoodie designs.
- Better availability of different sizes.
- More accessible merchandise locations.
- Exclusive merchandise celebrating individual events.
One particularly important consideration is accessibility.
Fans shouldn’t have to worry about missing significant portions of a wrestling show because they’re standing in a merchandise line.
This is an opportunity to improve the fan experience while creating additional revenue for both the company and its performers.
When fans want to spend money supporting your product, make it easier for them to do so.
12. Make Pay-Per-Views More Affordable
This is another area where AEW could potentially reach more fans.
As much as people love professional wrestling, not everyone can afford premium prices for every major event.
Fans are already spending money on streaming subscriptions, merchandise, tickets, and other entertainment options.
Adding expensive pay-per-views throughout the year can become a financial challenge.
I would love to see AEW explore more affordable pricing structures, bundle opportunities, and special offers for loyal viewers.
The objective should be making major events accessible to as many fans as possible.
There is a balance between generating revenue and making sure the audience doesn’t feel priced out of the product.
AEW has an opportunity to find that balance.
The more accessible the product becomes, the easier it is for casual viewers to become regular customers.
13. Give Dynamite and Collision Their Own Distinct Presentations
I would love to see AEW give Dynamite and Collision more distinctive visual identities.
Both programs feature incredible wrestling, but they should feel like two different experiences under the same company umbrella.
Dynamite should maintain its energetic, big-event atmosphere.
Wednesday nights should continue feeling like the flagship presentation, with an exciting entrance, recognizable graphics, dynamic lighting, and an atmosphere that makes the show feel important.
Collision should have its own identity.
I would love to see a different stage design, distinctive lighting, separate entrance presentation, and graphics that establish a recognizable look.
This doesn’t mean completely reinventing either show.
Sometimes small production changes can make a tremendous difference.
Think about how different wrestling programs have developed their own identities throughout history. Fans should be able to recognize which AEW show they’re watching almost immediately.
Give each program its own personality.
14. Continue Building AEW’s Identity and Long-Term Vision
Perhaps the biggest thing I would like to see is AEW continue developing a clear long-term vision for the company.
The promotion has already accomplished something significant by establishing itself as a major player in professional wrestling.
But the next stage of growth is about sustainability.
That means developing future stars, building meaningful rivalries, creating memorable championships, establishing recognizable television identities, and making sure fans have a reason to remain invested.
It also means understanding that professional wrestling is about more than what happens inside the ring.
It’s about the stories, the personalities, the presentation, the atmosphere, and the emotional connection between performers and fans.
AEW has the ingredients to continue building something special.
Now it’s about putting all those pieces together.
Final Thoughts: I Want AEW to Succeed
At the end of the day, this list comes from the perspective of someone who enjoys AEW and wants to see it continue growing.
I don’t believe the company needs to reinvent itself. I believe it needs to continue evolving.
There are so many talented performers on the roster. There are opportunities to develop the next generation of stars, improve the overall fan experience, make the product more accessible, and create television programming that attracts audiences beyond the traditional wrestling fanbase.
Some of these ideas might be easier to implement than others. Some might generate debate among fans. That’s part of what makes professional wrestling so much fun to discuss.
I also understand that running a wrestling promotion involves financial considerations, television commitments, talent relationships, and behind-the-scenes challenges that fans don’t always see.
But fans should never stop having conversations about how their favorite companies can improve.
AEW has given wrestling fans another place to call home. I want to see that home continue to grow, attract new fans, create unforgettable moments, and provide opportunities for the incredible talent that makes this business special.
I’m not rooting for AEW to fail. Quite the opposite. I want to see AEW reach its full potential.
And sometimes, the best way to support something you love is to be honest about what you would like to see it become.
What would you change about AEW? What would you keep exactly as it is?
Let’s hear it.
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