>>13222416The issue isn't strictly that ratings are steadily dropping, it's that payroll is steadily increasing. For every Sonny Kiss, Andrade or Bunny who has a contract expire, they're being replaced by Mercedes, Okada and Ospreay that cost millions each. They're spending all this extra money just to see ratings slide and buildings get emptier.
It would be like a baseball team increasing payroll from $100M to $200M and getting bounced out of the playoffs 1st round again. Yes, making the playoffs is good and is a sign of success.....but at a certain point, all that extra payroll is supposed to come with more success, not the same level.
AEW has shot well past the point of diminishing returns because Tony doesn't want to hurt anyone's ego. Best for Business would be Samoa Joe squashing Hook in 1 1/2 minutes. Best for Business is Swerve beating RVD in 6 minutes. But Tony prefers to protect all his toys' feelings, so instead we get these matches that drag on and on and on, killing the audience and making their main eventers look weak
Imagine dropping $30 on a Powerhouse Hobbs Big Black and Jacked shirt just to watch him stand around outside the ring for the next month. WTF?
