>>12583797In the early years I felt the "identity" was to cater to lapsed fans with a combination of "what would happen if indie stuff was on national TV"?
The presentation is an obvious homage to monday night wars era. The Dynamite intro and theme takes inspiration from WCW Nitro. Having talents from indies, Lucha underground, old TNA stars and of course a few ex-WWE stars and some NJPW style stuff. That, alongside hardcore, blood and profanities that was a clear opposite of PG-13-style of WWE. This gave it that unique international vibe that WCW had. They combined NWA and territort stuff with cruiserweights and Japan. Last but not least it didn't rely on WWE stars. They were an addition to the AEW identity. Like, Jericho, Brody and Matt Hardy had to apply what they had to the AEW style instead of shaping AEW into WWE.
So all of the above as a whole is what could be defined as an "AEW identity". But nowadays it feels like it either has no identity because everything is a clusterfuck and when they try to do something it imitates WWE. It's truly a shame because they were a viable alternative and the reason I watched Dynamite was its unique identity. When that got lost, no story or angle or new signing can save it whatsoever. This is also what makes WWE keep going and surviving for so long. They have a unique identity and everyone who signs with them has to adjust to its culture. When you see Cody or CM Punk or Jade there you dont see them as ex AEW-stars. You see them as WWE wrestlers as if they've been there forever
