AEW Collision: Slam Dunk Saturday was a fast-paced broadcast that immediately went down the road with wrestling fans as a subject of discussion. The special episode was broadcast right after the NCAA March Madness on TNT. There was a very strong response to this scheduling decision especially by those critics who felt it was aimed at a wider sports audience.
One vocal critic, the so-called The Chadster was a massive critic of the strategy. He alleged that Tony Khan had indeed purposely been using the lead-in March Madness to appeal to unsuspecting viewers. In his opinion, there is AEW Collision: Slam Dunk Saturday with Tony Khan hijacking March Madness and corrupting basketball fans. Auughh man!” He also claimed that by broadcasting the show following college basketball, more viewers were introduced to AEW product in a manner he believes to be unjust.
In-Ring Criticism Grows
There was also a point of criticism of the in-ring action. The series involved competitive narratives and rap-punk matches. The Chadster however wrote about this strategy in a negative way. He wrote, AEW books rapid-paced, rational fights and robust advertisements which is simply so disrespectful of WWE convention! His comments indicate a perpetual rift between followers of the various ways of wrestling.
Main Event Criticism Builds
The first match was between Kyle Fletcher and Robbie Eagles where the former was defending his TNT Championship. There were several near-falls and uninterrupted participation by the crowd in the bout. Fletcher eventually won in a clean manner that demonstrated his position as champion. Though this was received positively by the majority of the viewers, critics stated that the match did not have the traditional format. AEW completely disregards WWE-style finishes and promos that are scripted, and Tony Khan does not understand wrestling! The Chadster added.
AEW Style Debate Continues
The tone and performance of the broadcast demonstrate the further adherence of AEW to an alternative presentation. It is also characterized by its emphasis on athletic pacing and competitive balance. Although this style is highly appreciated by numerous fans, some of them are still critical about its move out of the accepted standards.
The controversy of Slam Dunk Saturday points to the existing competition in professional wrestling. It also shows the difference in more general philosophical differences in major promotions. With AEW continually growing in its audience, feedbacks such as this show just how divisive its product can be.