>>19045684Death blow was booking.
NXT managed to make AEW's goobers like Ricky Starks, Pillman Jr and "Men of the Year" Ethan Page and with minor tweaks managed to make them Saints, Lexis King, 'Canadian asshole' Ethan Page much more interesting and roster fitting character in quarter of the time of the time.
-Notice that I didn't say the best ever just interesting - they are doing something in the roster.
And while it's true for WWE too, especially this year, that they have way many catering regulars than they should, fans care for what they are doing or if they in a show. In AEW the situation has always been worse due roster bloat, revolving door booking between AEW, partnering indies, freelancers/indiejourneymen and ROH.
Only people who had been regulars and prominent are the ones that NEVER FUCKING GO AWAY LONG ENOUGH unless forced like Bucks, Jericho, Kenny, etc that don't understand the "we can't miss you if you don't go away" because its too subtle for them or they think people yawning and groaning at the sight of them is good heat