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AEW President Tony Khan. Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

AEW could be rolling the dice with rumored changes

By Adam Taylor | Last updated 11/28/23

QT Marshall is leaving AEW. The veteran producer wants to pursue an in-ring career. Marshall has been with the company since its early stages and has held multiple roles with varying degrees of influence. However, Marshall has decided to call time on his career.

According to Nick Hausman of "Haus of Wrestling," Marshall has called time on his career with AEW primarily because he believes Tony Khan is heading in a new direction.

"One of the reasons he listed for his AEW resignation was that he felt the company had changed since its inception in 2019 and was now moving in a new direction," Hausman wrote. "Based on those I have spoken with close to Marshall, he was alluding to the fact he believes AEW is heading in a more NJPW-related direction that is more focused on matches than storytelling. When asking around about why Khan is going that way, one source told me flatly, “[Tony Khan] has always liked that style.”"

Haus of Wrestling: Based on speaking with those close to QT Marshall, his "AEW moving in a new direction" comment was alluding to the fact he believes AEW is heading in a more NJPW-related direction that is more focused on matches than storytelling.

When asking around about why… pic.twitter.com/hg0RiC7grt
— Drainmaker ️ (@DrainBamager) November 28, 2023

AEW is an alternative brand for wrestling fans. It makes sense that the company would be looking at ways to differentiate itself from WWE and other companies.

However, moving toward match-based programming is a risky move. That style of wrestling doesn't appeal to a large fanbase. At least, not large enough to contend with the likes of WWE.

Modern wrestling is built around storylines, narratives, history, and, of course, in-ring performance. Fans want to feel connected to the matches. They want everything to have meaning. It's been that way since NWO was reigning supreme on WCW and has continued growing ever since.

Dream matches are fun. There's no denying that. Yet, they can get stale pretty quickly.

2023 has been a big year for AEW. The additions of Jay White, Adam Copeland and Will Ospreay have built upon the success of All In at Wembley Stadium.

Everything is trending in the right direction. Changing course now, just when the company was showing signs of creative life, would be an ill-advised move.

Of course, Marshall was sharing an opinion, not a fact. But considering his time within AEW and his experience in the wrestling industry, that opinion will undoubtedly have fans concerned about the programming they will be expected to watch in the coming months.

Tony Khan could be planning on rolling the dice, and if he does, he may not get the results he's hoping for.

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