AEW vs. TNA: The case of “What If?”

After last night’s TNA Rebellion, I walked away viewing the promotion on the rise and going in the right direction. They are growing their audience, their partnership with WWE is helping them build their brand and they are adding to the roster without overcrowding it.

And then I thought that this should have been done earlier with AEW and that it was the start of Tony Khan’s downfall.

This is another long line of reasons why AEW fans should be pissed with Tony Khan because he had this deal first and yet he pissed it away. He did it because he couldn’t put his ego aside and wouldn’t be a boss instead of being a “fanboy mark.”

Think of all that Tony could have had and what might have happened if he just did business the right way.

AEW FEELS THE WARMTH OF “I BELIEVE IN JOE HENDRY”

They had Joe Hendry and let him go when they bought Ring of Honor back in 2022. That’s right kids, the guy who is one of the most popular wrestler’s in the planet was technically part of AEW. And instead of bringing him in, AEW passed and instead brought nearly every other guy on the roster.

But think of what could have happened if the TNA-AEW partnership was done right.

Just on the low spectrum think of Jericho doing one of his rants and instead you hear Hendry’s music paly. Out comes Hendry, crowd popping huge, as he walks to the ring and interrupts Jericho. Instead of Jericho continuing to drag down younger talent, you could have had a Jericho-Hendry feud that turned both men around.

It would allow Jericho to shed his label of “career killer” that he has earned and help him play off a guy with the personality to match him.

Meanwhile you could have teased more cross over matches such as MJF invading TNA to shut up Hendry. Or Hendry confronting Moxley to challenge for the AEW title.

Hell, Joe Hendry could right now make Kazuchika Okada interesting just with some of his parody songs mocking his trademark. Right now everything that Hendry touches, he turns into clicks and money which is why WWE has been quick to cash in on that with TNA.

It would also have showed that AEW wasn’t just here to squash every talent that partnered with AEW from a rival promotion. That if you were NWA, New Japan, AAA or CMLL that there was a chance for your guy to get some shine and to actually go over.

Another big thing that AEW could have capitalized on.

AEW VS TNA “War”.

AEW Tried to do this but unfortunately egos and incompetence shattered that dream but imagine for example that they didn’t.

Imagine if after the Death Riders celebrated beating Edge, lights go out and instead The System comes out and lays them out. X Division champion Moose stands over Moxley and declares that AEW is a second rate brand and that TNA’s System will conquer.

It would be the closest thing we have seen to a full “invasion” since WCW vs. The NWO. You know, one of the biggest gimmick’s that helped breath life back into pro wrestling during its darkest times.

Instead of just doing match after match that has people getting tired of the rinse and repeat, AEW could have challenged WWE and its thinking.

Let TNA’s Moose or Jordynne Grace show up and just beat the dog crap out of Toni Storm or Kenny Omega. Instead of AEW talent just ignoring TNA, they invade and take the fight to them resulting in cross over bouts and storylines that would have gotten people talking.

Picture a TNA vs. AEW Women’s Lethal Lockdown match back in 2021; Team TNA with Deonna Purrazzo, Mickie James, Chelsea Green, Jordynne Grace and Tasha Steelz vs. Jade Cargill, Britt Baker, Riho, Ruby Soho and Thunder Rosa.

The storylines between the two women’s groups attacking each other on Impact Wrestling and AEW Dynamite. Promo battles that could have elevated everyone to new heights while getting fans more jazzed up about what could happen.

Its the uncomfortable truth for “real wrestling” fans but wrestling has always been more soap opera than sport. People love drams, good stories and characters and nothing says drama than invasions.

Would it have forced Tony and TNA to meet in the middle and swallow pride; Of course it would. Any half decent partnership thrives when both sides are willing to treat them other like an equal or at minimum with respect.

But Tony couldn’t do that and instead had AEW continue to beat the entire TNA roster and never promote TNA. It felt less like a partnership and more like Tony just playing with another kid’s toys and refusing to share with them.

TNA was an afterthought, and the title was only defended once on AEW television to be dropped to Christian Cage, an AEW wrestler.

So instead of all the creative stories that fans wanted, it was basically just AEW doing what it wanted and burning bridges.

Speaking of bridges, think of this item before we go further.

AEW TALENT SWAP WITH TNA.

Sammy Guevara was supposed to be the first part of that when he told Chris Jericho during the Inner Circle angle that he needed a break. The plan was that he was going to wrestler in TNA for a bit before he would come back to AEW. Unfortunately, reports are he refused to job to anyone at TNA and instead was recalled back to AEW.

Hindsight being 20/20, the idea had value it was just the wrong guy to go over as Sammy has shown not to be the most professional.

But again, think of the possibilities of swapping talent to freshen things up or just having guys or gals get more experience.

For AEW, you would get a chance to move guys over to TNA who right now are either cold or not doing anything.

Look at the roster and ask yourself how many guys could go away to be missed.

How many wrestlers could benefit from working different styles and being able to wrestle in front of live crowds more often?

You could communicate with Anthem Sports and vice versa to figure out the logistics, pay and creative approach. Concessions would have to be made by all parties, but it would have benefitted everyone to work with each other.

Instead of Anna Joy or Taya Melo getting shelved for half a year and not doing anything, they could have worked with Deonna Purrazzo and Masha Slammovich.

Instead of Top Flight being relegated to once a month, they could be feuding with The Rascalz and learning how to get over and develop.

AEW could have benefitted with being able to build Josh Alexander and Mike Bailey on TV so that when they signed, they wouldn’t be cold with the audience.

Even the pie in the sky of Samoa Joe cutting a promo only to be interrupted by Mustafa Ali about his “Free Ali” movement would have given Joe some new looks.

Again, this is something that on paper is so damn simple its mind boggling to think that they couldn’t execute this. That it would also do the one thing that right now AEW needs that WWE has capitalized on.

TNA SUCCESS REHABS TONY KHAN’S IMAGE.

This is the one thing that our resident AEW honk defender can’t defend with a straight face; that Tony Khan has a bad reputation regarding partnerships.

From NJPW, AAA, CMLL, NWA and TNA the word has been that if you partner with Tony and AEW, it ends badly and isn’t worth it. He won’t get made fun of, he doesn’t want to be the bad guy, he doesn’t share his wrestlers and nobody comes out looking better.

Critics and defenders even must admit that the TNA partnership was a failure for TNA in that it did nothing to help them out. AEW got insider info on who to sign, buried TNA along the way, and TNA looked as foolish as Charlie Brown trying to kick the ball from Lucy.

But what if Tony instead of doing what he did, did the opposite?

Think of this, Tony goes on one of his promo’s and the next night on Dynamite, Sami Callahan or Chris Sabin showed up and slapped the taste out of his mouth. Not just that but run his ass down and call him “a nepo baby bitch” and other choice words.

For starters, it would show that Tony could take it and not let it bother him like considers is the gospel truth. Tony Khan can dish it as well as take it another let it bother him would earn fans and wrestlers’ respect alike.

He could also either lean into the babyface role and take a beating leading to the locker room saving him. Instead of the ill fated pile driver spot that had everyone mocking him, he could have started with just taking some chops and kicks.

And then when he goes back on Impact Wrestling, he could either be the defiant face who confronts his attackers, or heel it up and mock them.

It would show that Tony “got it” and that if your playing a character, then you have to commit to it fully. Not just treat it like a guest act that is out of place and looks like he wandered by accident into a wrestling ring.

Additionally, it would have showed that the “Forbidden Door” was more than just a catchy slogan but a revolutionary idea. That wrestling companies CAN work together and help one another grow while putting their egos aside.

That WWE really was and still is “the evil empire” that treats other wrestling companies like they are their personal feeder system.

That AEW was really about “Enjoy All Wrestling” by helping TNA, NJPW and AAA grow alongside them, rather than dragging them down.

But instead we got the opposite and now for AEW all they can do is wonder when will TNA pass it by. Because that is now on the table with TNA’s recent PPV successes, interest continuing to grow every month and WWE helping them with production and networking.

All of this could have been AEW’s if only Tony Khan just looked at them as a real partner instead of a sucker that could be taken advantage of.

To listen to interviews from fighters, sports reporters and more, check out the website at www.LastCallPodcast.com or follow me on www.twitter.com/LastCallwChrisC