Summary

In this episode of the podcast, Marie Shadows discusses several key issues affecting AEW and the wrestling community. She critiques Tony Khan’s approach to building new stars in AEW, arguing that the company relies too heavily on established talent and former WWE wrestlers rather than nurturing fresh, homegrown talent. Shadows highlights the disconnect between AEW’s claim of focusing on the future of wrestling and its reality—filled with pre-packaged stars with minimal investment in new, developing talent. She also criticizes the lack of genuine promotional effort from AEW wrestlers, citing the missed opportunity at the All In Texas press conference.

The episode also explores the rebranding of the acronym IWC, emphasizing how the phrase “I Will Complain” reflects a larger issue within the wrestling community—how negativity is often rewarded on social media over authentic, constructive discourse. Marie shares practical tips for curating your Twitter timeline to filter out negativity and focus on content that truly reflects what fans want to see.

Marie wraps up the episode with a reflection on the unrealistic expectation for fans to “Enjoy All Wrestling,” stressing that every community and fandom has the right to critique and demand more from their favorite promotions and wrestlers. She also hints at a future project, Tape Study, where she plans to help wrestlers improve by analyzing matches and promos.

Tony Khan’s Press Conference for AEW All In Texas: Discussion of Tony Khan’s excitement for the future of pro wrestling, juxtaposed with concerns about AEW’s reliance on established stars and former WWE talent.

AEW’s Hiring Model and Creating New Stars: Shadows critiques AEW’s approach to talent development, emphasizing that many wrestlers on the roster come pre-packaged with their established personas and skillsets.

Missed Promotional Opportunities for AEW: Shadows reflects on the underwhelming turnout for the All In Texas press conference and the lack of engagement from wrestlers in promoting the event.

IWC Rebranding: A look at the transition from Internet Wrestling Community to I Will Complain, and the impact of social media algorithms that reward negativity. Marie offers tips for curating a more positive Twitter experience.

“Enjoy All Wrestling” Critique: Shadows argues against the common phrase used by wrestlers to dismiss constructive criticism and stresses the importance of genuine engagement with fans.

Future Projects and Upcoming Content: Marie announces a new project, Tape Study, aimed at helping wrestlers improve through match analysis and promo breakdowns.

Leave a spotify comment!

Links:

Merch: marieshadows-shop.fourthwall.com

YouTube: youtube.com/squaredcirclepodcast

Newsletter: marieshadows.substack.com

Discord: https://discord.gg/McABYC3c39