During an episode of “The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy” podcast, Matt Hardy shared his thoughts on how AEW needs to construct stories leading to matches rather than generating stories out of matches.
In his podcast, Hardy sheds light on various topics.
Regarding AEW’s booking strategy, Hardy stated, “The Internet is not the be-all and end-all. Focusing solely on these most dedicated fans to gauge the product might not be effective. I believe Tony sometimes pays too much attention to them at the expense of the ordinary fans. I like it when AEW uses elements from pop culture or recognizable names, like Tyson or Shaq. AEW should concentrate more on creating a two or three-month narrative and then build the matches around that narrative, instead of creating matches and then trying to weave a story into them. It’s crucial to build characters and their story arcs first, then the matches. This, I believe, could enhance AEW.”
Also, on AEW incorporating the Costco Guys into AEW Full Gear, Hardy shared, “I like their act. I enjoyed their interaction with Private Party… AEW should have been doing more of this. These guys are viral hits, they are familiar to people. They can attract eyes. QT Marshall knows how to get people to dislike him, he’s a great heel. He’s intelligent about the ring and the job he’s doing. This kind of heat generated by true heels is necessary and essential for pro wrestling, and something that AEW needs as well.”
He continued to explain the challenges that Tony Khan might encounter due to his dedication to the more hard-core fans, while also trying to cater to casual viewers. “If the hard-core fans don’t like something seemingly ‘casual’ like the Costco Guys, or a cinematic presentation, they might become disgruntled. Tony needs to tread a fine line to appease everyone” said Hardy.