AEW is wrapping up its residency at the former ECW Arena, and will then present September To Remember, All Out VII, and several high-profile shows to close another year in its young history. The company has gone back-and-forth on various upgrades in trying to improve the product, but now there’s talk of a concerning issue for the wrestlers.
Tony Khan and his crew have made several significant change to the presentation of the All Elite product in recent years. Khan has a team of well-respected and experienced names, such as Senior VP of AEW & Co-Executive Producer Michael Mansury, VP of Show & Creative Coordination QT Marshall, and VP of Production & Creative Coordination Sonjay Dutt, among others.
Pyro has been a hot topic of discussion when it comes to AEW production, along with LED aprons and boards, and the use of various ringside barriers. AEW previously went with a more bare-bones look, featuring traditional aprons and barriers. However, AEW needed to upgrade the presentation in a major way earlier this year for the new HBO Max TV deal with Warner Bros. Discovery. The return of the LED look fueled debates among fans and industry veterans on social media with many negative reactions with some pointing to how rough the barriers are on a wrestler’s body.
AEW Talents Banged Up From LED Upgrades
The safety issue is interesting as two reasons AEW originally got rid of the LED barriers and ring aprons were wrestler safety, and feedback from fans. While no wrestler was named, Fightful Select adds that multiple talents were banged up from working around the LED barrier and apron. This was the case at the recent AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door pay-per-view at The O2 Arena in London, England, fueling concern for future matches.
Critics acknowledge that the LED upgrades are a significant addition for the Dynamite presentation on TV. However, there’s a feeling among wrestlers and other staff that the LED gear is harder on the body than the traditional equipment, which provides more safety and is easier to work on as it is softer. The classic setup reduces the risk of injury, and is a big plus for wrestlers working while suffering from nagging injuries.
AEW is in a tough situation as airing on HBO Max requires high-tech production, and the LED equipment does give the product a major league feel. The downside is the increased risk of injuries to wrestlers, and their comfort.